Lessons from The Grass-root Missions in Acts and Implementations in 21th century Context

Abstract

The last three centuries of world missions has been primarily led by Western churches. The missionaries spent considerable amount of orientation prior to the exposure of foreign cultures and languages. Through their works, world evangelization was achieved in various parts of the world. However, remains unreached areas still remain. Difficulties arise, however, when missionaries attempt to gain entry to where the Gospel is unreached. Among the countries that gained independence after the World War II, some nations championed their national religions and no longer welcomed Western missionaries. However, many areas where the Gospel has not been witnessed still exist. Completing the missions is not attainable through the member of current missionaries. The missions model appeared in the book of Acts is not limited to apostle Paul's model but also include the Grass-root Model that was carried out by the scattered people. Without having sending churches, these bi-vocational evangelists traveled and preached the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire, contributing to the evangelization of Rome. In this thesis, I categorized 5 mission models that are essential for the 21st century: While Type 1 through Type 3 missions models hold their importance, much emphasis is placed on Type 4 and Type 5, the grassroots model. It is time for the Korean churche to undergo a paradigm shift in the mission. Facing 7.6 million Korean Diasporas and the residing foreigners in Korea already reaching 2 million, waking up to the missionary call to the current situation is in critical order.