A brief history and critique of Korean Protestant mission overseas

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the current foreign missions of the Korean Protestant Churches. It traces the beginnings of these foreign missions, and then discusses their extent today. It also looks into the mission policies and approaches being used by Korean Churches for their mission overseas. This thesis asks the question: are these mission policies and approaches Biblically and theological sound, and are they relevant? If so, are these policies and approaches exercised correctly? Is it not necessary for the Korean Protestant Churches to review, and perhaps rethink, their mission policies and approaches at this time in the twentieth century? While the writer is thinking of the total missionary enterprise of Korean Protestantism, the actual study of mission policies and approaches is limited to two or three representative? Churches, which are? Typical of Korean Protestantism. The method of investigation is mainly library research ：, but the writer also has used interviews. He also knows a number of Korean Protestant missionaries, and he himself is a missionary of his Church. The Korean Protestant. Churches are very mission — minded and sent out their first missionaries soon after they were organized. During the Japanese regime, the Korean Churches were not able to send too many missions abroad, because of their troubles at home. But after World War II and the Korean Civil War, new Korean missions overseas were again sent, specially beginning 1956. At first n Korean missions were sent only to a few countries of Asia, 3 Like Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan. But beginning 1968, new mission fields were opened in South America, and in Africa- During the? 1970’s, Korean Churches began thinking of the whole world as their mission fields and new fields were opened in the Middle East ： , North America, and Europe. More countries were also opened in Asia, Africa and South America. The 100th anniversary celebration in 1984 of the coming of F: rotes tan t miss ions to Korea encouraged practically all Korean Protestant Churches to send missions abroad. They now believed that it is now the task of Korean Churches to evangelize not only their country, but the whole world. By 1991, according to one source, there were at least 741 Korean missionaries abroad. Other sources give a higher figure, and say that the number of Korean missionaries abroad today number about 3,000. About half of these missionaries are found in various countries of Asia, with a good number also in Africa and South America, where most missionaries work with the local people. There are a 150 many Korean missionaries in North America and Europe? Where they work mostly with permanent Korean immigrants or temporary residents Although Korean Protestant Churches are very zealous for missions, they unfortunately do not have a common understanding of the nature and the approach to mission so that the idea of mission has itself become a divisive issue among the Korean Churches. The model and example that Korean Churches have of mission is what they have experienced of the missions to Korea of the American, Canadian or Presbyterian missionaries. Like the theology that they have received from their missionaries, the Korean Churches generally have a conservative view of mission. To m d s t of them ：, mission is simply evangelism, to bring to salvation lost souls. Only about two or three Korean Protestant Churches out of the more than 50 who send missionaries abroad have a more liberal approach to mission. Although those Churches in the West whose missions have formed the present Korean Churches now have a progressive understanding of missions, the great majority of Korean Churches still have a conservative, and sometimes "excessively conservative" understanding and approach. Therefore? The correct understanding of mission? As the task of the entire Christian Church, is something that most Korean Churches still need to understand. There? is also the question as to how prepared for mission are the Korean missionaries being sent abroad„ From the writer's own experience ： , most Korean Churches sending missionaries abroad do not give-? Their missionary’s adequate training for their task. They think that the same training for the pas to rate? In Korea is the same for doing mission abroad. Although Korea is sending hundreds of missionaries abroad, there is no rea.1 missionary training center in the? Country for study inside the? Philosophy biblical basis, theological understanding? And history of missions; and of the practical aspects of doing mission work. There is also the question as to how effective is the management of missions from Korea. The personnel who do the managing often have not visited and do not know the actual conditions in the field. Many of them have not visited the mission fields. In many cases a1so, Korean missions abroad work independently, without, cooperating with Christian Church— is already established in those countries. Perhaps the only chief exceptions to this are the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (Ki-Jang) and the Korean Methodist Church, which work with the national Churches in the country to which they send missionaries. There is also the problem of the lack of adequate and unified mission policies. There is, for an imbalance in appropriating mission funds to the missionaries in the field, and some missionaries receive more, and some receive less, financial support. Sometimes mission funds from home are suddenly cut off, and the missionary, with a great sense of defeat, miserably has to return to Korea. Some Korean missionaries are sent and supported by the mission department of their Church's General Assembly, so me by their respective synods and some by their own local churches. It is also common knowledge that, there are many cases of Korean missionaries sent and supported by a single church leader or member positions? Like the pastorate of a Church for Korean immigrants, or immigrated to the United States or Canada. Others returned to Korea to look for other, perhaps easier, jobs. This is something that needs further study by other researchers. The Korean Churches have plenty of evangelistic zeal and are very mission minded. This is a great strength- But there is a question whether this zeal and great concern for missions are very properly used to advance? The work of the Kingdom of God» On the basis of this study H the writer of this thesis makes the following recommendations first. The Korean Churches which send missionaries abroad should have a broad 3 sound and B Biblically – to understanding Christ’s mission. Second 4 there should be a fixed and regular system of sending out missionaries to the various mission fields, and there should be affair and reason a b .1 e system of giving them financial support. Third .4 the sending agencies in Korea should have among the members of their, committees or boards specialists in mission, who know about the actual conditions in the mission fields, Fourth： » the sending agencies must give periodic and due recognition of the services of the missionaries and give them encouragement by sending out In one study made, it was found out that 75% of the Korean missionaries who were sent abroad by their home churches deserted their mission posts, and went to other deputation teams to go and visit them .in their mission posts. Fifth missionaries should be given assignments according to their specialties in terms of academic preparation and experience, and their personal faith and commitment t. In this connection t is important that mission training colleges or schools be established in Korea P to give training to missionaries before they are sent out. Sixth, it might better? If both are qualified, •that both husband and wife should be sent out as missionaries, not like? The present practice where only the husband is a missionary and his wife is only a "missionary’s wife-" This would make? It possible for both husband and wife to work together in the same task. Also, it would make? Use of the talents of some missionary wives whose talents are? Generally ignored or neglected. Seventh, there should be a more wise use of the ordained missionary in cooperation with all missionaries such as medical men, technicians, professors, pharmacists, teachers and nurses. The Korean Protestant missionary movement is still in its infancy„ 11 is meeting many problems? But as long as the-? Korean Churches do not lose their problems somehow, sooner or later these, can be solved. Perhaps time, the Korean Churches can take a major role along with other Churches in the world in advancing the missionary task of the 011 tire Christian Church for the advancement of Christ's great commission to all his disciples.