미래 인도선교를 위한 현지인 선교사 양성 전략

Abstract

This study was written to propose mission strategic ap proaches aimed at motivating and developing indigenous mis sionaries who will take responsibility for current and future missions in the rapidly changing India, based on an under standing of Indian society and its missional needs. The re searcher seeks to comprehensively understand India’s unique cultural and religious characteristics and current situation, and to explore missionary training suitable for developing indig enous missionaries. For this purpose, the study combines an etic perspective (outsider view) through literature review and an emic perspective (insider view) through qualitative research, involving in-depth interviews with senior indigenous Indian missionaries. Indian society is fundamentally structured on Hinduism and the caste system. Historically, Christianity has had a significant impact in India on education, healthcare, and social reform. However, due to the imperialistic approach of Western missionaries, a lack of understanding of indigenous culture and communities, and insufficient outreach to the mid dle and upper castes, Christianity has not significantly impact ed mainstream Indian society and has often been perceived as a religion of the lower classes. The rapidly changing situation in India today calls for a timely focus on collaborative mission partnerships with Indian churches, middle-class missions, and strategic training for indigenous missionaries. This highlights the urgent need for developing indigenous leadership and out lines the direction for future mission strategies in India. Based on an understanding of the changes in India, this study pro poses the following strategies for training indigenous mission aries suitable for the changing mission field in India: First, establish long-term education and training programs for in digenous missionaries to accomplish the vision of Indian mis sions. Second, conduct training for sending missionaries spe cifically focused on reaching North India and the middle class, both of whom are unreached. Third, discover and nurture indigenous missionaries through Bible-centered discipleship training that transforms the Hindu worldview. Fourth, develop and train missionaries in contextualized approaches. Fifth, form small pioneering mission teams for outreach. Sixth, establish mission-oriented churches from the outset according to the 4S(4-Self) Mission Strategy.