An appraisal of Korean Baptist missions in Kazakhstan, Central Asia

Abstract

This dissertation surveys Korean Baptist missionaries' work in Kazakhstan and recommends some effective strategies for twenty-first-century missions for Korean missionaries. The writer presents major emerging issues in world evangelization and explains the need for the study in the Introduction. Chapter 1 also contains the study's purpose, methodology, delimitations, and background.

Chapter 2 briefly presents the history of Kazakhstan, Central Asia. This writer then describes the cultural and religious contexts of that country. The chapter investigates Kazakhstan's urbanization, the increase of the urban poor, and Islamic growth in Kazakhstan as well.

Chapter 3 traces the historical background of Korean churches and missions. For a clear understanding, this chapter examines the beginning of Baptist churches on the Korean peninsula; the first Baptist missionary, Malcolm C. Fenwick; Christianity's growth; the history of Korean Baptist missions; and the formation of the Foreign Mission Board of the Korea Baptist Convention. Furthermore, the writer covers the Korean Baptist Foreign Mission Board's missions work in Kazakhstan.

Chapter 4 analyzes and evaluates Korean Baptist missions in Kazakhstan through biblical, cultural, and strategic perspectives. In addition, the writer attempts to examine the strengths and weaknesses of Korean Baptist missionaries in the context of Kazakhstan. Its main focus is an assessment of Korean Baptist missionaries' activities and methods in Kazakhstan.

Chapter 5 illuminates the lessons to be learned from the analysis. The writer then proposes some missiological and practical applications for Korean Baptist missionaries, and their sending churches, missionary-training center, and mission board.

In conclusion, the researcher briefly reviews Korean Baptist missions in Kazakhstan, as they are discussed throughout this dissertation, and then provides some prospects for twenty-first-century world missions.