초기 대구⋅경북지역 장로교의 전도부인 양성과 활동

Abstract

In the early Korean church ministry, the role and activity of Bible Women became a cornerstone of church growth in the Daegu, Kyoung-Book area and broadly supported Korean church growth. Their various roles and sacrificial services lead to church growth in the Daegu and they also influenced in social life in the area. However, their contribution to local churches and society had been excluded from historical recording that was mainly focused on male leaders’ work. Therefore, this paper will reveal how Presbyterian churches in the early church in the area trained Bible Women as well as what important roles they had played in contributing to the local church revitalization and growth in the area. They played a role in spreading the gospel that they received from foreign missionaries who were not familiar with Korean traditions. Bible Women were selected from various groups including the Non-regular Women’s Bible Class, Women’s General Class, Institute, and Regular Bible School. The selection was made according to the Nabius Mission Policy. The selected women were trained and nurtured, and then they were appointed as Bible Women. They operated the Women’s General Class and educated women, which improved their lives and also contributed to exterminating their illiteracy and the woman enlightenment movement. They were also actively involved in evangelism by participating in selling the Bible, local evangelism, and overseeing evangelism. They visited local areas and met with Christians in comforting and encouraging them. They also helped local churches by establishing the Women’s Evangelism Committee. In addition, they evangelized local areas where there were no churches and established churches. Although they faced many economic hardships due to insufficient wages, their sacrificial and devoted services became a driving force for church growth and revitalization in the Daegu, Kyoung-Buk area.