Maeul Ministry

Contents

Editor’s Introduction 1

Pilgrimage Towards Life-Flourishing Culture and Community
Seong-won Park 7

Introduction: State of the 21st Century Global Village
and Maeul Ministry’s Focus on Communal Joy
Young-sang Ro 27

Gongmyung Church
Resonance of Gongmyung Church (Ministry Practice)
Hung-young Baek 45
Missional Church Actualizing the Trinity as Communion
(Theological Reflection)
Byung-ohk Lee 59

Seongam Church
Ecclesiological Turn and Ministry Development of
Seongam Church
(Ministry Practice)
Joo-hee Cho 75
From Traditional to Missional Church: Case of Seongam Church
(Theological Reflection)
In-sung Hwang 91

Ansan Myungung Church
Together with Neighbors beyond Church Walls (Ministry Practice)
Hong-sun Kim 107
“A Good Church”: Maeul Ministry of Ansan Myungsung Church
(Theological Reflection)
Eun-ha Cho 121

Saerom Church
Unexpected Harvest of the Holy Spirit in a Small Church
during the Pandemic (Ministry Practice)
Won-don Lee 135
Understanding Maeul Ministry of Saerom Church
(Theological Reflection)
Hong-eyoyl Hwang 151

Hannam Jeil Church
Hannam Jeil Church: Missional Ministry and Leadership
(Ministry Practice)
Chang-woo Oh 173
Maeul Ministry Serving the Local Community (Theological Reflection)
Won-bum Chung 195

Suwonsung Church
Realizing the Kingdom of God in the World: the Story of
Suwonsung Church, Focusing on the Social Missionary System
(Ministry Practice)
Gwang-su An, Gi-eop Nam 211
Suwonsung Church: Church Seeking Peace, Balance, and Training
(Theological Reflection)
Bright Myeong-seok Lee 225

Jeju Love Mission Society
Missiological Reflection on Local Evangelization Programs
of Jeju Love Mission Society (Theological Reflection)
Kook-il Han, Sung-hwan Suh 249

Contributors 267

About the Editors:
Eun-ha Cho studied Theology and Christian Education at Yonsei University. Currently she is a Professor of Christian Education at Mokwon University Department of Theology. She served as the President of Korean Society of Christian Religious Education, the Chair of Education Committee of Life Hope Christian Suicide Prevention Center, and the General Secretary of the Korea Association of Accredited Theological Schools.

Kook-Il Han studied Christian Education, Theology, and Church History at Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, and then got his doctorate at Heidelberg University on missiology. He served as President of the Korean Society of Mission Studies, taught at Youngnam Theological University and Seminary and at PUTS as a Professor of Missiology until retirement in 2020. Today he is the Director of Workplace Mission Research Center for the Presbyterian Church of Korea, and the Co-Director of Family, Church, and Maeul Research Center.


WHY WAS THIS BOOK WRITTEN?

Motivation for writing this book
The Korean Church has experienced significant growth and revival throughout its 140-year mission history. But now is the time for the Korean Church to shift its focus from quantitative growth to pursue maturity and well-being. In this perspective, the theological concepts of missional church and maeul ministry provide new insights into the fundamental nature and future of the church. This book was therefore written to systematically collect and introduce different types of maeul ministry practiced by churches embodying the values of the kingdom of God and its good news. The cases introduced in this book will offer hope and insights for ministry practice, serving as a new signpost for the Korean Church and churches around the world.

What's special about this book?
This book introduces the practice of maeul ministry by small and medium-sized Korean urban churches and adds theological reflections on each case to share with the world the Korean church's missional capacity. The churches introduced in this book are not large and famous, but they are churches that love and are loved by their town community. The cases show that a church's missional capacity does not depend on its size or location but on its ministry vision. Each case was introduced by a minister and studied by a theologian, allowing for a balanced examination of ministry practice and theory. This book presents to churches around the world diverse examples and possibilities in their practice of missional church.

Why is this topic important?
In the face of rapid civilizational change, the church must retain its essence and exist as a hope-giving community. The church must regain the trust of the public, break free from rigid religious categorization, and work towards actualizing the kingdom of God within its local community. This is possible when the minister sees the town as their parish, and the laity fulfills their ocation in their day-to-day lives. To rekindle hope for mission in local churches together with the world church, the concept of missional church and practice cases of maeul ministry are more significant than ever.

What difference does this topic make on ministry?
The cases presented in this book share stories of churches that support and stand with their communities, churches that earn the trust and respect of their communities, churches that collaborate and contribute their resources to community development, and churches that inspire hope by living out the gospel. These churches stay true to the essence of the gospel while practicing their social responsibility in various spheres of education, communal child-rearing, social welfare, and environmental protection. In these stories, readers will find examples of missional church in practice, existing not just for itself but for and with the community.
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Message we want to convey
This book will provide strength, courage, and hope to ministers, church communities, and all who seek to respond to their calling for the kingdom of God in today's rapidly changing times. We hope to join in the larger stream of God's mission with all who walk this road in different countries around the world.

About the Book:
This book is about the hope of the Church in the secular age uninterested in Christianity. In this setting, the theology and practice of missional church is a critical topic. We introduce urban churches in South Korea conducting maeul ministry, Korea’s context-specific practice of the missional church in local communities. The cases are followed by theological reflections to connect the practice with the theology of missional church.
These stories of maeul ministry present various examples of church involvement and leadership in social issues of the environment, healthcare, education, and community-building, offering new hope and challenge for the world church.
We hope this book will provide new insight and wisdom to church communities and pastors who pursue and practice the missional essence of the church in these changing times.

Endorsements:
These are stories of pastors and theologians who committed most of their church ministry and study on maeul ministry. The intriguing stories are sure to challenge and inspire you to apply some of the examples. It will surely make a difference in your ministry. I guarantee it.
Douil Kim, Professor of Christian Education,
Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary

The book introduces various cases of Korean missional churches initiated out of the Korean context, and each case is juxtaposed by scholars’ reflections. Each case is unique and inquiring. The book shows how churches focusing on maeul (village) ministry in South Korea can be agents of God’s mission in their context.
Bokyoung Park, President of International Association for Mission Studies

I believe maeul ministry is a movement initiated by our Lord God. This book is a beautiful record of God’s commission being carried out in the name of maeul ministry. I pray it greatly encourages all readers.
Yoon Tahk Sohn, Director of Presbyterian Church of Korea Research Center