Dr Michael Griffiths, renowned author, speaker and former General Director of OMF International, died at the age of 93 on 9 January.
Michael was born in Cardiff in 1928, and came to faith in Christ in 1942 at a Christ’s Hospital School Christian Union meeting, under the preaching of an exiled German pastor. Studying Natural Sciences at Peterhouse College, Cambridge, he served on the Executive Committee of the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union in several positions, including as President. He graduated in 1952, but stayed on at Ridley Hall to train for Anglican ministry. At this time Michael met his wife Valerie, at a conference on English Puritans at Martyn Lloyd Jones’ Westminster Chapel.
Michael was not ordained in the Church of England owing to an issue of conscience over infant baptism. Instead he served Christian Unions as a Travelling Secretary with InterVarsity Fellowship for two years, before he and Valerie went to Japan with OMF in 1957. Serving alongside the Christian student movement there, Michael was responsible for 110 campuses in Tokyo.
The call to become OMF’s sixth General Director, at the age of 41, came as a surprise to Michael. Yet he was a visionary leader, helping the former China Inland Mission adapt to working in 11 countries across East Asia. He was particularly keen to increase the participation of Asian missionaries, and was frustrated that the Lausanne World Congress of Evangelism in 1974 did not include more speakers from the Global South.
Throughout his time as General Director, Michael became more widely known as an author and speaker, writing over 20 books including, Consistent Christianity and Cinderella with Amnesia, which were among his bestsellers. On leaving OMF in 1980, Michael moved into theological education, first at London Bible College and then at Regent College, Vancouver. He returned to student work with IFES and continued to support student mission well into his 70s and 80s.
Michael recalled his life’s ambition at 21 was to perhaps become minister of All Souls Langham Place. However, ‘in the event, this life, which I certainly did not seek, nor could ever have imagined was thrust upon me’.
‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine … to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen’ (Eph. 3:20-21).
