Leighton Ford | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 22, 1931 Chatham, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian–American |
| Education | Wheaton College (B.A., Philosophy, 1952); Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div) |
| Occupation | Evangelist · Mentor · Author |
| Years active | c. 1955–present |
| Organizations | Leighton Ford Ministries; Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Lausanne Movement |
| Known for | Associate Evangelist & VP, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (1955–1985); Chair, Lausanne Committee (1976–1992); founder of Leighton Ford Ministries |
| Notable work | A Life of Listening: Discerning God’s Voice and Discovering Our Own (2019); Transforming Leadership: Jesus’ Way of Creating Vision, Shaping Values & Empowering Change (2006); The Attentive Life: Discerning God’s Presence in All Things (2008); Sandy: A Heart for God (1985) |
| Spouse | Jean Graham Ford (m. 1953–2024) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Two Hungers Award (1990); Clergyman of the Year (1985); Presbyterian Preacher of the Year (1985) |
Leighton Frederick Sandys McCrea Ford (born October 22, 1931) is a Canadian-American evangelist, author, and mentor. He served as an associate evangelist and vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) for three decades and later founded Leighton Ford Ministries to focus on mentoring and spiritual formation. Ford is also known for his leadership in the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization and his role in nurturing new generations of Christian leaders.
Ford was born on October 22, 1931 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. [1] He was adopted as an infant [2] and did not discover the identities of his birth parents until he was 50 years old. Ford began to attend a local Presbyterian church in his youth, [3] and he was appointed president of his local Youth for Christ chapter at the age of 14 under the mentorship of Canadian evangelist Evon Hedley, thus becoming the youngest Youth for Christ leader globally. He was later mentored by Billy Graham during high school, who encouraged him to attend Wheaton College in Illinois. [4] After Wheaton, Ford pursued theological training at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. [5] [6]
In 1953, while still in seminary, Ford married Jean Graham, Billy Graham’s sister. [5] [6] [2]
In 1955, Ford joined the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), initially planning to assist for one year. His role quickly expanded, and he became a prominent evangelist in his own right, known for his charisma, preaching, and administrative ability. He eventually served as vice president of the BGEA, working closely with Graham until 1985. Ford was considered a gifted communicator and a leading figure in the post–World War II evangelical movement. [7] [5] [8]
Ford was a key figure in the global evangelical effort to mobilize Christian leadership around missions and evangelism. He served as chairman of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization for 16 years, helping to shape strategic conversations on global Christianity and missional leadership. [9] [10]
Following the death of his 21-year-old son, Sandy, in 1981 from complications of Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, Ford shifted his focus toward mentoring younger Christian leaders. In 1986, he established Leighton Ford Ministries, a nonprofit organization aimed at developing emerging leaders in character, mission, and spiritual depth. [11] [12] [8] [13] [14] [15]
The ministry launched the Arrow Leadership Program, an 18-month nonresidential training initiative blending spiritual formation, evangelism, and leadership development. Through this program and other initiatives, Ford mentored hundreds of young leaders, with an emphasis on spiritual direction, personal storytelling, and vulnerability. [8]
In the 1990s, Ford became increasingly drawn to the practice of lectio divina , influenced by Christian contemplative traditions. He began to offer one-on-one mentorship to ministry leaders and peers, facilitating spiritual retreats and forming mentoring communities worldwide. His emphasis shifted from programmatic leadership to deep, relational engagement focused on the inner life and the movements of God in the soul. [8] [6] [16]
By 1999, Ford had entrusted leadership of the Arrow program to one of the graduates of the program, allowing him to devote more time to spiritual mentoring. Ford continued to provide spiritual direction, lead retreats, and invest in a global network of Christian leaders. [8]
An artist and poet, Ford found spiritual renewal in painting and drawing, particularly during a sabbatical in 1992. His artwork and poetry became forms of contemplative practice, which he described as ways of “paying attention” in prayer. [8]
Ford lived for many years in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he and his wife Jean were deeply involved in the local community. Jean Graham Ford died in 2024. The couple had three children; their son Sandy predeceased them in 1981. [17]
Ford is ordained as a Presbyterian minister. [18] [1] [19]
Ford’s legacy includes shaping generations of Christian leaders, promoting the integration of spiritual formation with evangelism, and helping popularize spiritual direction within evangelical contexts. His work is sometimes compared to that of Catholic spiritual writer Henri Nouwen, emphasizing attentive listening, relational mentoring, and the discovery of God's presence in everyday life. [16] [8]
Ford's later ministry focused less on public evangelism and more on intimate, one-on-one spiritual friendship and direction. He has been described as a “spiritual friend” who helps others discern the movements of God in their lives. Through this quieter but deeply personal approach, Ford has continued to influence Christian ministry well into the 21st century. [16] [8]