섬김과 하나됨의 생명선교

Life-giving Mission through Service, Sharing and Unity : Focus on the Korean Society for Service in Asia

This study is dealing with a seeking of the alternative mission theology and practice in Asia. For this purpose mission will be redefined, this means that mission is not just reduced to programs and projects, but mission must be realized in the balance or creative tension of prayer and action, spirituality and work. That's why the author handles the title, "Life-giving Mission through Service, Sharing and Unity: Focus on the Korean Society for Service in Asia(KSSA)". KSSA is taken as a case study, not because it is international well known and has long history, but because KSSA as a Korean native mission society is pursuing to implement "orientalizing Asian Mission" that understands and respects the excellence of Asia's native values and cultures. KSSA is a good case of the mission society that does mission by Asians themselves. The Changing context of the 21st century will demand service, sharing, unity(partnership) that are innovative, strategic and fruitful. Focusing on Asia's religion and poverty that are recognized as the center of Asian cultural context, the Asian mission is oriented to service, sharing and unity. These are mission definition of KSSA. The purpose of KSSA is to contribute for the development of Asia, promotion of peace, and making of friendly relations. For this purpose KSSA facilitates research, education, poverty reducing action, health and medical work, promotion of welfare and peace, and partnership with all God's people. This study reveals five missiological significance of KSSA's work: 1. ecumenical diakonia mission, 2. mission of mutual learning and transformation through respecting the natives, native churches, and native cultures, 3. mission with creative tension between spirituality and action, 4. rediscovery of Asia as our neighbor and doing mission of service and unity, and 5. life-giving and life-vitalizing mission focus on the community. So the author recommends this kind of doing mission that take care of the needs of the local people and culture and religion in Asia. Even though the author is confident that KSSA's mission work is a challenge for the future mission, but not uncritically. KSSA is not the perfect mission alternative. It has challenges like the extension of mission field(North Korea, China, etc.), more wide partnership with ecumenical body and all God's people, recruitment of new member church, efficient co-work with field coordinator, etc.