Ralph D. Winter (December 8, 1924 – May 20, 2009) was an American missiologist and 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.
Steve Hawthorne co-edited, with Ralph Winter, the Perspectives Reader and authored the Perspectives Study Guide. He works with WayMakers, a mission and prayer mobilization ministry. He travels widely helping the Perspectives course get underway in strategic settings.