About

Stuart Robinson was born and grew up in the city of Brisbane on the north-east coast of Australia. In his youth he excelled at football, playing at intercity level. This blended well with his achievements as a champion athlete.
In his late teens his life changed dramatically. From a non-Christian background he became a committed follower of Jesus Christ. He sensed an immediate call to Christian ministry, which through secular University and Theological College studies, crystallised into cross-cultural mission into South Asia. Upon arrival in his adopted country, he was dismayed at the paucity of results from among people of the majority community even after centuries of missionary presence.
As a result, he and another colleague, in 1972 agreed to attempt what for those times would be something quite different. While remaining conservative in theology, they would be radical in methodology. As others learned of the cultural, contextualised adjustments they were trialling these were universally opposed by church and mission bodies. But as positive results eventually followed, with others adopting similar approaches, gradually the principles they developed became acceptable in other countries as well.
In 1982 Stuart reluctantly agreed to accept a call to return to Australia in 1983, even though he had no idea of what God wanted to achieve through him. The result today is known as Crossway (officially Crossway Baptist Church) which during his 25 years of leadership grew to become one of only five churches of its size in Australia.
During Stuart’s time as Senior Pastor, Crossway also became known as a church planting, training centre and a major incubator of cross-cultural staff all supported and sent out to many other countries. Stuart himself has ministered in over 70 countries.
He transferred his Senior Pastoral responsibilities to his successor in 2008-09 and since then has been released to write books, three of which have reached “best seller“ status, to mentor younger pastors and cross-cultural workers and to speak at conferences. His conference themes arise out of his life’s work. These include prayer, church growth, cross-cultural mission and Islam.
Where he worked in Asia, national level leadership has referred to him as “a father of the (new) church”. In Australia he is regarded as one of the premier preacher teachers of his generation. Some even regard him as an “apostle”.
Ever a student, he has obtained four tertiary qualifications. He holds board positions on several Christian organisations and is also a Research Fellow of the Melbourne School of Theology.
When asked to describe his life and ministry he replies that he is, “Just a nobody who has been sent to tell anybody that Somebody died for everybody.” That Somebody is Jesus Christ whom Stuart still follows.