Missiologist and author Ralph Winter died May 20 at his Pasadena, Calif., home from complications of cancer. He was 84.

Winter founded the U.S. Center for World Mission in 1976 and the William Carey International University a year later. His 1974 address to the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization created a seismic shift in mission strategy, with his call to evangelize people groups outside the focus of established mission efforts, according to Assist News Service (ANS).

Winter wrote several books, including The Word Study New Testament (Tyndale House Publishers, 1979), Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (William Carey Library Publishers, 1999) and The Legacy of William Carey: A Model for the Transformation of a Culture (Crossway Books, 1999).

Billy Graham once wrote that Winter had "not only helped promote evangelism among many mission boards around the world, but by his research, training and publishing, he has accelerated world evangelization."

Other ministries launched under Winter's leadership include the Global Prayer Digest and Mission Frontiers magazine, as well as World Christian Foundations, a curriculum for field missionaries, ANS reported.

Winter is survived by his wife, Barb, and four daughters. A memorial service will be held June 27 at Lake Avenue Congregational Church in Pasadena.

• Prev
• Next