One of the world's top Christian missiologist has recently died. Dr. Ralph D. Winter (1924–2009) past away while at his house on May 20, 2009 after a long battle with myeloma and lymphoma.
While I never personally met Dr. Winter his work in missiology greatly influenced me on my journey towards Christ.
Wow… I don't know what else to say…
I remember reading his articles about the heart of God to reach the entire world – not just the Jews, but everyone. It was Dr. Winter's work that made me search the Scriptures to see that grafted in Gentiles were not "Plan B", but "Plan A" in God's eyes.
Dr. Winter was the main proponent of "people groups" along with Donald McGavran. This view changed the face of world missions as the Church started to look beyond geo-political boundaries and focus on the culture and language of a particular people group. [@more@]
At different times over the years I have thought about bagging my current life and trying to get a job at the US Center for World Missions. It is at this Center, started by Dr. Winter and his wife, Roberta, were most of the world's missiology statistics and cultural research is completed. Yet, God has chosen another path for me – at least at this time!
Just a few months ago, I had the privilege to complete the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement – sponsored by the US Center for World Missions. This class is one of the, if not the top, mission focused classes in the world. I had heard about the quality of this class for ten to twelve years (different people and different states) before I had the opportunity to take it.
It was a wonderful class – and one more way that Dr. Ralph Winter influenced me and thousands of other people.
Dr. Winter is with the Lord now. All glory be to the Lord Most High!