LTKC: Our Inheritance (Part 3)
LTKC: Our Inheritance (Part 3)
As a result of both the hallmarked prayer and reverence for the Word of God, I believe that what came forth as a natural byproduct of this was the missions movement of Korea.
The mission of God can be most clearly seen in Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The history of the Korean church is clearly marked out with the missions movement. For the early Korean church there was no separation from Christian life and the call to win souls. They were inextricably intertwined. Although there are a number of factors to attribute to this phenomena in the Korean church, I want to point your attention to something that clearly marked even the ecclesiological (church) understanding of the early church. I am personally convinced that what I am about to share with you was not only necessary but even catalyzed the missions movement within Korea and abroad.
John Nevius was an American Presbyterian missionary in China. Although not as widely talked about, John Nevius had an indelible role in the mission formation in the Korean Peninsula. John Nevius questioned the missionary tactics that were being implemented in the Presbyterian mission in China. It was for this reason that John concluded and created what would be known as the Nevius Method.
In short, the Nevius method was really a Biblically sound and revolutionary way of looking at indigenous mission. John made the point that the indigenous people were far more adept at reaching their own people than any outside foreign missionary would be able to. John was absolutely right and the pages of history would tell of the fruit of his method that was implemented in Korea.
The Nevius method is as simply follows:
Self Governing
Self Supporting
Self Propagating
It was the transmission of the Nevius Method that took root in Korea that allowed for the indigenous leadership to take place.
As a product of missionary efforts, Korea is a recipient of the world of missions. As the Korean church proliferated, it did so through the propagating of missional churches. It is no wonder that South Korea would eventually become one of the largest missionary sending forces in the World.
In 1974, the first 24 Korean Missionaries were sent out of Korea for the work of foreign missions. By 2004, this number would exponential multiply to 27,436 missionaries sent out of South Korea into 170 nations, according to the Korean Baptist Convention. This would mark Korea as the 2nd largest exporter of missionaries in the world at the time.
My point here is simple. Isn’t it a sign and wonder that God would raise up one of the smallest and poorest nations in the world at one point named the “hermit kingdom”, secluded from the outside world, to raise up and use in these days as one of the greatest forces for the work of the Kingdom in the global landscape.
Missions is our inheritance.