GNN Epi#72 – Dr. Ralph Winter – A Pauline Approach to Missions among the Unreached Peoples

Ralph Winter (December 8, 1924 – Wed., May 20, 2009) was an American missiologist and Presbyterian missionary who helped pioneer Theological Education by Extension, raised the debate about the role of the church and mission structures and became well known as the advocate for pioneer outreach among unreached people groups. He was the founder of the U.S. Center for World Mission (USCWM), William Carey International University, and the International Society for Frontier Missiology.[1] His 1974 presentation at the Congress for World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland – an event organized by American evangelist Billy Graham – was a watershed moment for global mission.[2] It was during this presentation that Winter shifted global mission strategy from a focus on political boundaries to a focus on distinct people groups. Winter argued that instead of targeting countries, mission agencies needed to target the thousands of people groups worldwide, over half of which have not been reached with the gospel message. Billy Graham once wrote: “Ralph Winter has not only helped promote evangelism among many mission boards around the world, but by his research, training and publishing he has accelerated world evangelization.”[3] In 2005, Winter was named by Time magazine as one of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America.[2] Dr. Ray Tallman, shortly after Winter’s death, described him as “perhaps the most influential person in missions of the last 50 years and has influenced missions globally more than anyone I can think of.”[4] This is most likely the first page that you will see when you respond to any of my invitations or messages to you about new episodes of our podcast. For many of you this may be the first time you have heard of a podcast. A podcast is an audio or video file that is accessible through an RSS feed. Like a newspaper that is delivered to your front door, a podcast can be delivered to your computer once you subscribe to it. Each time a new episode is uploaded your computer will be notified that it is available for you to download. Simple, hey? If you enjoyed this podcast it would be good for you to start by visiting our website where all of our podcast episodes are host along with many valuable resources all for free. Go to: http://www.godnetworknews.com If you are an avid podcast listener you can simply subscribe in iTunes to the God Network News Podcast at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/god-network-news/id885322187 . If you want to stay up to date on the latest technologies being used to share the gospel message around the world you need to subscribe in iTunes to the Gospel Gadget Podcast at: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=157335386 that’s all there is to it! Also, we want to remind you to visit an incredible website where you can view and download gospel films in over 600 different languages http://www.indigitube.tv This website also has a section where you can search for audio Bibles in over 1300 different languages! It is amazing, and it is all free! If you’re tired of listening to what the big news agencies are feeding you? Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GodNetworkNews