이슬람권 선교사 멤버케어

Abstract

This study is a qualitative approach to identify the practical difficulties faced by Korean missionaries in the Islamic areas and suggest effective ways to care them on the part of mission agencies and sending churches. The total number of research participants (interviewees) is 14 people who are either field missionaries who have served in the Islamic areas over 10 years or member care staffers in mission agencies and churches. The results of analyzing the interview data are as follows. First, missionaries who worked in an Islamic area on a long-term basis tend to have spiritual, psychological, physical burnout symptoms increasingly over time due to the chronic stress mainly caused by spiritual oppression, worries about expulsion, and tensions related to security issues, which indicate the need for a holistic approach to member care. Second, many problems in the field can only be resolved with the help of nationals and fellow missionaries, thus preparing missionaries with proper knowledge about the Islamic culture and skills for intercultural relationship building is necessary in the pre-field training programs. Third, many missionaries requested mission agencies to establish systems for periodical caring service on a preventive measure. Fourth, many missionaries want time for rest and restoration that also facilitates talking relaxedly with people who understand them well. Fifth, mission agencies need to play a mediating role between missionaries and the sending churches so that the churches understand the hard realities of the mission field and not to expect fruits of ministry too soon. The research findings above mentioned highlighted the locus of real needs for member care that need to be reflected in the policies of member care in mission agencies and sending churches specially focusing on those missionaries working in the Islamic world.