Regent College announced on Monday that its founding principal, Dr. James MacIntosh Houston, passed away peacefully in Vancouver on March 15, 2026, at the age of 103. Houston, a revered figure in evangelical theological education, was known for his profound contributions to spiritual theology and his enduring legacy at Regent College.
Born in 1922 to a missionary family in Edinburgh, Scotland, Houston spent his childhood in Spain. He later demonstrated remarkable academic talent in geography, completing a doctorate at the University of Oxford in 1950. After teaching for twenty-five years at several Oxford colleges, he relocated with his family to Vancouver in 1970 to serve as the founding Principal of Regent College, an institution devoted to Christian theological education.
For Chinese-speaking Christians, Houston is widely recognized as a spiritual theology writer. His influential books, such as The Transforming Friendship (Taiwan edition: 《轉化生命的友誼──禱告良緣》) and The Mentored Life (Taiwan edition: 《門徒生涯──跟隨真正的導師》), have had a profound impact across the Chinese-speaking world.
Beyond these, Houston's research and writing covered a much broader range. His book I Believe in the Creator is regarded as an important work advocating for environmental stewardship. He also co-authored two commentaries on the Psalms with Old Testament scholar Bruce Waltke. His courses, including “The Christian Spirit,” “Child Theology,” and “Theo-Anthropology in the 21st Century,” were widely appreciated for their depth and insight.
As a scholar deeply shaped by his faith, Houston devoted his life to exploring issues of spiritual life and the meaning of human existence. In his twilight years, he remained intellectually active, reflecting on the theology of aging and the value of life, and writing tirelessly. Even after moving into a hospice, he co-authored Letters from a Hospital Bed with his son Chris, a work that records his reflections in the final years before his death and bears witness to a lifetime of unceasing exploration and service.
J. I. Packer once remarked, “Jim Houston has a special gift for forming spiritual friendships.” His friends are spread all over the world, and many who spoke with him only once nevertheless found their lives renewed through those never-to-be-forgotten conversations. In his final years, Houston continued to stay connected with the outside world, encouraging many visitors and praying for them.
Since receiving what he considered God’s call in January 1962, Houston remained steadfastly faithful to his “heavenly calling” for sixty-four years.
