WAGF Missions Connection Volume 2 Issue 1 - Assemblies of God ...

that were established by our missionaries, to develop a new mission field, and to send out missionaries.
How many missionaries are being sent by your church and by Korean churches overall?
Currently 694 missionaries from Yoido Full Gospel Church are working in the mission field in 62 countries. Overall,
Korean churches sent 23,331 missionaries to 169 countries as of the end of 2011. This number includes the number
of missionaries sent by various denominaons as well as by missionary organizaons. My denominaon sent 1359
missionaries by the end of 2011, which is the second largest number of all denominaons in Korea.
Please tell about your vision for the future of your church as a pastor and leader in Korea.
Yoido Full Gospel Church could become the world’s largest church because it connues to emphasize the Word of
God and the fullness of the Holy Spirit, which is the Pentecostal movement. My church enjoys a tradional heritage
of the Holy Spirit movement based on the Word of God and will develop it in the future. We will serve Korea and the
world to be in the forefront of missions work and relief as the church was in the Book of Acts, to be interested not
only in personal salvaon but also social salvaon, to nurture “lile Jesuses” who have the power of the Holy Spirit
and bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
What is your vision for the church in the area of world missions?
Twenty-first century missions should be done with humility. Western missionaries have been cricized as the
“overpowering mission” or having so-called “mission-imperialism,” despite other wonderful achievements. From now
on we need to pracce humility and servant missions in order to follow the servant leadership Jesus pracced. Yoido
Full Gospel Church will devote all its strength to aboriginal missions and overseas Korean missions, which is
underway. My church has already been running an aboriginal-focused missions policy since 1993 in an aempt to
enhance future ministry. We aim to build a seminary to nurture many local disciples and allow the gospel to be
spread.
How do you think Koreans can impact unreached people groups?
As of today, Korea has become the second-leading country for sending missionaries to the world. Up unl the end of
the nineteenth century, Korea had been a missionary-receiving country. Korean churches have had tremendous
growth despite their short history, and now it is a missionary-sending country. This good example could revive hope
for missions in other naons. In addion, Korean economic development could be aracve in the mission field. We
acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of missions works led by the Western countries over the centuries. We
also understand how people think in missionary receiving countries. Asia has many unevangelized countries.
Characteriscs common among Korean missionaries and other Asians could be a useful factor in successful missions.
What strengths can the Korean missionary bring to the world?
The strengths of Korean missionaries are passion for the gospel and strong commitment. Korean missionaries usually
go to the mission field with passion for the gospel only and with the mind-set of “I can do it,” even though they are
not well prepared. On the mission field they do their work aggressively with their faith in Jesus. They don’t focus on
circumstances or situaons. I think these strengths of Korean missionaries could contribute greatly to bringing groups
of unreached people to Christ under the poorest circumstances.
Are there any other comments or things you think would be of interest to leadership around the world?
I just want to say that one person’s commitment is very important in the work of the Lord. An equipped person with
the gospel and with the power of the Holy Spirit can produce much fruit and bring about great works of God. Even in
early Korean church history, several missionaries came in and fulfilled
significant works for the kingdom of God. It is important for many people
to devote themselves to Christ. However, it is more important for one
person to commit to Christ thoroughly. We are living at a me when the
Lord will soon return. As “lile Jesuses,” every one of us should carry out
our given mission in our daily lives.
Brad Walz with Joshua Ahn in the Missions Department