Toward a new direction for the Two-Thirds World Missions in Asia: A Korean Church case study

A critical analysis of the Two-Thirds World missions is urgently needed to evaluate the growing missionary forces. The study updates and evaluates the Korean part of the Two-Thirds World missions' activities and gives some valuable insights for the missionary movement. This research contributes to a better understanding of the past and present missionary movement of the Protestant Church in Korea from historical, theological, contextual, and strategical perspectives. Based on the appraisals and the biblical reflection, the writer proposes a new direction for the Korean Church's missions.; Most of the research depends on primary sources in various forms of documents in both Korean and English languages. A wide range of conversations and interviews with Korean missionaries and the Church leaders have been quite helpful. Direct observation and personal involvement in the mission fields also provided first-hand experiences.; Chapter 1 describes and evaluates how the Korean Church has accomplished missions through the years. Korean missions are divided into four periods: the pioneering years (1900-1945), the struggling years (1945-1965), the developing years (1965-1984), and the advancing years (1985-present).; Chapter 2 examines the theology of mission that has been a foundation for the Korean Church's missionary movement. Three different Western models are used in defining the Christian missions by the Korean Church. This chapter also deals with the missionary motivations and the theology of world religions.; Chapter 3 and 4 examine the Asian context as the mission field. Chapter 3 deals with the socio-political-economic issues and the religious contexts, while chapter 4 examines the Asian Churches and their contextual theologies.; Chapter 5 evaluates the strategic arm of the Korean Church's missions. A special focus is given to three major dimensions of the mission strategy: missionary targets, missionary forces, and missionary methods.; As conclusion, the last chapter proposes five major recommendations toward new direction for the Korean missions in Asia. The five proposals are (1) pray for church renewal, (2) develop effective urban mission strategies, (3) utilize Korean diaspora, (4) remember the Nevius methods, and (5) partner in missions.