By Chris J. H. Wright.
Chris Wright was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1947, the son of missionary parents, and nurtured as an Irish Presbyterian. After university in Cambridge, he started his career as a schoolteacher in Grosvenor High School, Belfast. Then, after completing a doctorate in Old Testament economic ethics in Cambridge, he was ordained in the Anglican Church of England in 1977 and served as an assistant pastor in the Parish Church of St. Peter & St. Paul, Tonbridge, Kent.
In 1983 he took his family to India and taught at the Union Biblical Seminary (UBS), Pune for five years as a mission partner with Crosslinks (formerly BCMS). While at UBS he taught a variety of Old Testament courses at BD and MTh levels. In 1988 he returned to the UK as Academic Dean at All Nations Christian College (an international training centre for cross-cultural mission). Then he was appointed Principal there in September 1993.
In September 2001 he was appointed International Director of the Langham Partnership International. It is a group of ministries originally founded by John Stott, committed to the strengthening of the Church in the Majority World through fostering leadership development, biblical preaching, literature and doctoral scholarships. He as written dozens of books, including The Mission of God, Old Testament Ethics for the People of God and The Message of Ezekiel.
Over several weeks we shall listen to Chris speaking and teaching on a range of topics and issues. This week talk he challenges the people of God to confront the idols of power and pride, popularity and success, and wealth and greed. He calls the Church to repentance and simplicity. It is entitle: Plenary 2: Confronting Idols - Chris Wright - Cape Town 2010.