Because I was away, I missed the opportunity to express my gratitude for John Stott's ministry after his death on July 27th. But I wanted to take a moment to draw attention to two of the many wonderful tributes written about his long and full career as a worldwide evangelical leader.

First, Christianity Today's obituary, which offers an overview of Stott's life and ministry.

But I'd also like to point out Nicholas Kristof's tribute to John Stott: Evangelicals Without Blowhards, in which he commends Stott as a leader of many evangelicals who put their faith in action by offering compassion and care for many around the world. Kristof acknowledges the "blowhards" within the evangelical tradition, but he defends evangelicals who follow Stott's (and, I hope, Jesus') example:

Those self-appointed evangelical leaders come across as hypocrites, monetizing Jesus rather than emulating him. Some seem homophobic, and many who claim to be "pro-life" seem little concerned with human life post-uterus. Those are the preachers who won headlines and disdain.

But in reporting on poverty, disease and oppression, I've seen so many others. Evangelicals are disproportionately likely to donate 10 percent of their incomes to charities, mostly church-related. More important, go to the front lines, at home or abroad, in the battles against hunger, malaria, prison rape, obstetric fistula, human trafficking or genocide, and some of the bravest people you meet are evangelical Christians (or conservative Catholics, similar in many ways) who truly live their faith.

I'm not particularly religious myself, but I stand in awe of those I've seen risking their lives in this way — and it sickens me to see that faith mocked at New York cocktail parties.

People credit St. Francis of Assissi with the saying, "Preach the gospel always. If necessary, use words."

John Stott preached the gospel with words–in sermons, in books, in lectures, in conversations, in letters. He also preached the gospel with his actions of humility, simplicity, and mercy. I'm grateful for his example, and grateful that Nicolas Kristof chose to draw attention to the faith of many like him.