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I met Dr. Winter when I was representing my Mission org. at a Christian liberal arts college in PA. He was the guest speaker for the Perspectives class that evening, and I was invited to sit in. I remember he was asked what he thot of Holistic Missions and he said that one of the past leaders of World Vision told him years ago that the HOLE in holistic missions was the Gospel! I’m not sure how much the students appreciated this, but I thot it was a hoot (and from my experience on the field with Christian agencies who give everything away but the Gospel), RIGHT ON!
Jennifer A. Bowers
Dr. Winter opened the eyes of the world to hidden people. He forged ahead with purpose for these unseen people in the world and he helped lay the ground work so that Christians started to moblize to reach these forgotten people. He was a visonary ahead of his time and he has helped the world march toward the completion of the Great Commission.
I never met him but in one of the years ago issues of Missions Frontiers in one of his editorials he listed his home phone number and invited anyone to call him and talk about missions. I called and we talked for about an hour. I don’t recall any particular topic we discussed but in that hour we covered a wide range of thoughts and issues. I think it had something to do with GCOWE 94 that the conversation began. I have appreciated reading his writings and thoughts and insights to everything from microbe level evil attacks to defending his position on sending missionaries and not just supporting nationals. A great man.
To Linda and the Winters family:
I’m so sorry to hear about your father’s passing. He gave vision to the Church that will have enduring impact. He is quoted everywhere. May the Lord comfort you all.
Blessings, Cathy Clendenin Nelson
Dr. Winter was a gift to the global body of Christ. I will miss his marvelous mind, and his great sense of humor.
One of my favorite Ralph Winter stories that I’ve told a zillion times in messages, is that when he was dating Roberta he thought the perfect date was her watching him work on his motorcycle. Roberta changed that in a hurry. Dr. Winter used to tell that story on himself when he was illustrating the Dawson Trotman phrase, “the expulsive power of a new affection.” Prior to Roberta, Ralph’s idea of a good time was to work on his motorcycle, but then Roberta was the expulsive power that left his motorcycle forlorn in the garage.
Dr. Winter is irreplaceable, yet I find myself longing for God to give us more men and women of vision like him who pioneer new paradigms, and who have creative, out of the box thinking and strategies for the harvest.
May his tribe increase among the nations.
Dr. Winter has been a hero of mine since I first heard of him in 1978. He has to be one of the top 10 missions statesmen of the last 100 years. And when it comes to understanding the priority and the importance of missionary mobilization, he was second to *none*. He once allowed me an exclusive private interview at his hotel, while he was speaking at an event in Cincinnati. I never forgot his whimsical smile, his great sense of humor, his attention to detail, yet, paradoxically, his willingness to wing it if no data were available. He was truly gifted by God to help move us from a near dormant state to a driving concern for “Mission Frontiers.” May the “Perspective” that he shared become a constant “Center for World Mission” and may his call for missions mobilizers be met with 100% success, to the glory of God!
Wilhelmsen Family sends special Regards to Dr. R. Winters Family.
We remember the early days and how the dynamics of God’s Purposes both in heaven and earth came together and made it all possible.
God is still on the move…let’s follow him. Kazaks and the Tribes of Central Asia.
I never met Dr. Winter in person but having attended the Perspectives Programme, I felt his passion for the nations of the world!
Felipe
Dr. Winter was one of the three or four greatest influences in my adult life. After he spoke on Theological Education by Extension in Brazil in 1968, I worked with TEE for the next twenty years. Then he spoke on unreached people groups in 1974, and I am still focusing on that in my teaching and ministry. I thank God for his life, work, and legacy.
Joe Martin