I Will Do a New Thing by Roberta Winter

Finished reading: Some time during 2008

I Will Do a New Thing is a book written by Roberta Winter about the history of the U. S. Center for World Mission, an organization that has played a significant role in bringing the gospel to those peoples and societies that are beyond the edges of the kingdom of God. On a personal note, I read this book just before taking the INSIGHT course at the USCWM for my first year of college. So it was a lot of fun to have some extra background knowledge on the history of the organization right before coming there and having the opportunity to get to know some of the people who were very influential in the work of the U. S. Center.

Founding

The USCWM was founded by Ralph and Roberta winter in 1976 in Pasadena, CA. Interestingly, before the campus was purchased, it was being used by a New Age cult. The cult called themselves "The Church Universal and Triumphant" and was led by Elizabeth Clare Prophet.

Hidden Peoples

Ralph Winter pioneered the concept of hidden peoples (more commonly referred to as unreached peoples). Hidden peoples represent the idea that no matter how much evangelization we do in our own culture, there will remain pockets of people without any access to the gospel. These people require a specific and intentional effort to bridge into their lives with God's message of redemption.

Rivendale

The USCWM's role is to be a sort of headquarters for strategic thinking about mission. The book mentions a comparison that David Bryant made between the USCWM and Rivendale from the Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. They are both places for planning and vision. The U. S. Center is a place to envision the completion of God's purposes in the World.

Mobilization

Bringing this vision to the rest of the church is another big role that the U. S. Center plays. The USCWM has been the source of many important mission resources. Among these are the course Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (perspectives.org), the Global Prayer Digest booklet (globalprayerdigest.org), and the publisher William Carey Library (missionbooks.org). These resources have played a significant catalytic role in helping the church bring the gospel beyond its current borders.

Conclusion

The USCWM is a place where it is possible to bring together people who are committed to advancing the kingdom of God beyond the edges. It is a place to step back and take a big picture look at what God has been accomplishing down through history, what he is doing today, and how we can allow ourselves to be used by Him in the greatest way possible.