Ralph D. Winters E-0, E-1, E-2, E-3 Scale: An Explanation

It refers to the cultural distance a missionary is from a person he is witnessing to: It has nothing to do with geographical distance. A German missionary my be no culturally distant while ministering to an Indian in Northern India, than an Indian from the south in Madras.

“Winter identifies three different kinds of evangelism, distinguished by the cultural distance that the evangelist spans in communicating effectively with intended hearers. The E Scale has been a widely used reference tool for describing and comparing evangelistic difficulties and needs.

E-0 Evangelism of people who are part of Christian families and peoples. It is basically catechism and renewal. (This Author will add -Working with backsliding Christians) No real cultural barriers are crossed.

E -1 Evangelism of people outside the church but within one’s culture. Only one barrier is crossed: the “stained-glass” membership boundaries of the church. This kind of evangelism is the “most powerful” because people are far more likely to understand what is being communicated in ways that they can pass on to others like themselves. (This Author will add -Working with nominal Christians, or secular humanist, or post modern people. An Agni African winning another Agni in the same village who is non-christian. Near Neighbor. Sharing the Gospel with your friend who grew up next door to you to church. Same culture evangelism with someone form the same Language and idioms as you.)

E-2 Evangelism of people of different but similar cultures. Two barriers are crossed: The “stained-glass” barrier and an additional cultural distance sufficient to require separate church fellowships. (This Author will add: - Winning people of different world view from your own but, a more distant Culture and language. Increasing differences. Agni Indennie evangelizing Agni Jobalin. Can be done, but work on language variances is needed. Communication is possible but different enough you need to be carefull. Canada this would be similar to an English person working with an Acadian French person. Requires completely different skills and techniques than E1 or E0)

E-3 Evangelism of people of radically different cultures. To emphasize the greater cultural distance of an evangelist attempting to communicate to a radically different and potentially hostile environment, it is supposed that evangelists attempt to cross at least three barriers in E-3 efforts. For example, working with Saharan nomads would require crossing the “stained-glass” barrier, a language barrier and a major lifestyle barrier. E-3 is the most difficult kind of evangelism.” (This author Adds: - E-3 is Cross cultural, cross Linguistical evangelism while learning a new culture that is radically foreign to you.)

(“Perspectives on the World Christian Movement”; Study Guide , Steve C. Hawthorne, 1999 Edition,Pg 64)