Ralph Winter and his second wife Barbara were sent an e-mail message on July 10, 2005 with “Guatemala Trip” in the subject line.  The writers are a couple named Bill and Joyce Peck.  [When the Winters lived in Guatemala 45 years earlier, they served alongside a couple by the names of Dudley and Dorothy Peck].  Bill and Joyce Peck say that they have just returned from a wonderful trip to Guatemala.  Along the way they saw Candelario, who was deeply moved to hear that Ralph and Barbara Winter may come to visit.  Candelario lives with his son Miguel and Odelia Perez.  The Pecks spoke with Ramon Diaz, who is doing a fine job of organizing and teaching at the Mam Center [where the Pecks and the Winters served together from 1957 to 1966].  Ramon Diaz gave them the telephone number of his father Ruben David Diaz Mendez.  They mention, “The directions to his home are Kilometer 215 (from Guatemala City, with Quetzaltenango being at Km. 200, on the road to San Marcos from San Juan Ostuncalco.  That is about 3 Km. away from San Juan, just up the hill from the straight piece of road which goes out past the Mam [Center].”  Several people in Guatemala commented that they would love to have Ralph and Barbara Winter come and visit them.  The Pecks sign with all good wishes.  [Ralph and Barbara Winter did go to Guatemala with his daughters and grandchildren in January of 2006, the last time he was ever there].

On October 11, 1957, James Henry Hutchins representing Lake Avenue Congregational Church in Pasadena, California typed a letter to Ralph and Roberta Winter, who were then in San Jose, Costa Rica.  After addressing them as friends, he conveys the information that the church has received the large picture the Winters spoke of sending to them.  He assumes it is of a Guatemalan family and their house.  It will be posted at the church with the hope that “it will create real interest in the work in Guatemala.”  It is also the hope that in due time the “slide-tape” program can be arranged entitled “over night to Guatemala” and this writer will plan to secure it from Mrs. Clewett.

In response to Ralph Winter’s question about who should be receiving the Winters’ “Shoptalk” letters at the church, and of course, the writer acknowledges that many people would be interested in it but he also recognizes the Winters’ mailing list cannot be too large, he thinks of two individuals who would benefit from receiving them.  One copy could be addressed to the president of the missionary society at Lake Avenue Church, 393 North Lake Avenue, and another copy go to Mrs. B.E. Chamberlain.  “This would make the letters available for the Missionary Society meetings and for the Missionary Committee and be in the hand of Mrs. Chamberlain.”  Hutchins closes by writing that the church looks forward to seeing the picture of the Winter family, which will have greater interest than the one of the Guatemalan family although people will be glad to see that one too.  Before he signs he says that he is very cordially theirs.

Dr. Ralph Winter’s colleague Phil Elkins at Fuller Theological Seminary forwarded a memo to him that he believes he should have a copy of due to Winter’s responsibilities to examine the financial structure of the School of World Mission program.  Glen Barker’s secretary phoned to say Barker agrees to the memo’s correctness.  It is dated March 10, 1976 and is originally to Dr. Art Glasser and Phil Elkins.

It begins by stating the note is an attempt to make sure Barker (the writer) accurately understands the decision that was made in a meeting five days before.  “In the light [of] the particular needs for funds to hire Bob Douglas as both [an] academic advisor for the missionary candidate program and as an adjunct faculty member, it [has been] agreed that full cross-over tuition would be given for all courses taught in the School of Theology by both full and adjunct School of World Mission faculty members.”  The understanding is that is arrangement is temporary only.  Also, hiring Bob Douglas as Academic Advisor is conditional upon the approval of the Provost and President.  Dr. Glasser assumes the responsibility of arranging the needed meeting.  Furthermore, there is an understanding that Glen Schwartz, when he returns, will reexamine the School of World Mission budget to determine what finances are available in light of the aforementioned decision regarding a full-time equivalent transfer of funds.

 

Dr. Ralph Winter served as the Vice-President of the Southwest Region of the Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS), and he wrote a letter in the summer of 1996 addressed, “Dear Member or Friend of the Evangelical Missiological Society.”  He starts off excitedly by saying “Let’s do it again!”  The EMS regional meeting in April of 1996 had the highest attendance to date—175 people!  Of greater importance, the presentations were insightful, the discussions stimulating, and there was much personal interaction.  It is time to pull it together again—a rousing gathering of people who are all interested in missiology!

The theme is “Reaching the Resistant: Theology, Models and Cases.”  Winter believes this theme, which is both significant and timely, embraces the most essential “front” in missions.  He writes, “Probably 80% of all remaining unreached peoples fall into the category of those major socio-religious systems (such as Hinduism and Islam) which have seemed ‘resistant.’  But are they really ‘resistant?’”  Years ago Biola professor David Liao raised the question.  Winter asks whether the time has come to finally look at this more carefully taking into account all sides.  EMS gives people a superb opportunity to together bring theological reflections, conceptual models and actual case studies so as to confront the challenge of the resistant.

Next Winter goes over the logistics of the meeting.  He requests regarding papers that as soon as possible presenters send in a brief description of a paper they would like to present.  The EMS welcomes theological and Biblical points of view, suggested and existing models, and case studies of breakthroughs.  He asks that potential attendees check their calendars and decide their availability for proposed 1997 meeting dates.  Fridays in March and April are listed with the options of F for first choice, P for possible and I for impossible.  “Now, call my office, fax this page or send an email note.  This will be a 9 am to 5 pm meeting.”  EMS will mail a letter in December announcing the date.  The hope is that this will be timely for faculty members to plan for their students in spring classes to take advantage of this fine opportunity to be in the company of others interested in missiology like they are.  The U.S. Center for World Mission in Pasadena, CA will host and $10 will cover registration, copies of papers that are presented and lunch.  Winter concludes by mentioning that EMS looks forward to hearing from people soon and to seeing them the following spring.