Missionary Strategies Research Articles

How Northern European Pagans Became Christians

The article analyzes the course and methods of the spread of Christianity in medieval and early modern Europe, particularly the politically and ethnically fragmented areas of the northern half of the continent. Based on a study of contemporary literary sources, it presents a typology of the ways in which conversion to Christianity was achieved, or the reasons why the natives were willing to accept a change of religion. My analysis shows that missionary strategies based on theological argumentation and criticism of local polytheism usually had only a minimal effect on the Pagan natives. On the contrary, successful missionary methods on most of the European continent were based on offensive political pressure, variously combined with power and economic incentives, the attractiveness of the material culture of Christian countries, or also the religious interpretation of “signs” in favor of Christianization by the natives themselves. I suggest that any positive response to Christianity by northern European Pagans was based on associations between cult and practical prosperity that were characteristic of Pagan religious thought.

Walking in “Masses and Elites”: Investigation into Donald MacGillivray’s Missionary Strategies in China (1888–1930)

From his arrival in China in 1888 to his departure in 1930, Canadian missionary, Donald MacGillivray (季理斐), was in China for more than 40 years. According to changes in the Chinese missionary situation, the key target of his mission was frequently adjusted. From his initial work in the early days in North Honan, to his work with officials and intellectuals in Shanghai in the late Qing Dynasty, then to students, women, and children in the Republic of China, Donald MacGillivray continued to preach to both the masses and the elites. His approach was flexible, ranging from oral preaching to academic publications. Relying on his interpersonal network, MacGillivray paid close attention to the social changes occurring in modern China. An evaluation of his activities in China can not only reveal the impact of individual missionaries in the process of Western learning and the transformation of Chinese knowledge in modern times, but also provide insight into the integration of Christianity into the indigenization process of China.

Syncretism and Identity: The Integration of Lutheranism among the Mari People of Bashkortostan, Russia

Purpose of the Study: This study explores the intricate process of religious syncretism and identity transformation among the Mari people of Bashkortostan through the integration of Lutheranism into their traditional and Orthodox Christian practices. Methodology: Employing a mixed-methods approach, this research combines qualitative insights from field observations, interviews, and sociological surveys with quantitative data analysis to examine the impact of Lutheranism on the Mari's ethnic identity, cultural adaptation, and social dynamics. Main Findings: The findings reveal that culturally sensitive missionary strategies, including the use of the Mari language and incorporation of ethnic cultural elements into Lutheran worship, have facilitated the acceptance and integration of Lutheranism among the Mari, leading to the formation of a novel religious identity. This identity reflects a dynamic synthesis of traditional Mari beliefs and Lutheranism, embodying the broader phenomena of adaptation and resistance in a globalizing world. Applications of this Study: This study offers insights into the complexity of religious evolution and the role of syncretism in preserving cultural heritage amidst modern challenges. Novelty/Originality of this Study: The study contributes to the discourse on religious syncretism, cultural adaptation, and the resilience of ethnic identities, offering insights into the complexities of religious evolution and the role of syncretism in preserving cultural heritage amidst modern challenges. The research underscores the significance of intercultural dialogue and the adaptability of religious practices, highlighting the potential for mutual enrichment between global religious traditions and local cultural contexts.

Dakwah Pada Masyarakat Multikultural

Abstract: This article discusses the role of Islam as a missionary religion in encouraging active participation of its followers in missionary activities in Indonesia, a country rich in linguistic, ethnic, racial, and religious diversity. The close correlation between the progress or regression of the Islamic community and missionary activities creates the reality of a multicultural society in Indonesia. With a large and dispersed population across numerous islands, differences in religion, ethnicity, race, and language can have both positive and negative impacts, including the potential for conflict. The article focuses on a multicultural-based approach in the context of missionary activities, identifying the role of multiculturalism in society and highlighting appropriate missionary strategies. The two main questions addressed in this article are, first, what is the meaning of multiculturalism in society? And second, what are the suitable missionary strategies in the context of a multicultural society? Through this discussion, the article provides a profound understanding of the complex dynamics among missionary activities, Islam, and multicultural society in Indonesia. It demonstrates that successful missionary strategies have been implemented in multicultural communities and also offers valuable insights for readers interested in religious and multicultural issues.

Mongolian Migrants in a Korean Missional Church:

Ever since Lesslie Newbigin’s missional ecclesiology was introduced to South Korean churches in 2000, Korean scholars and pastors have been reaching beyond church growth theory to explore alternative and practical models. Missional ecclesiology led them to refine their ecclesiology and to restore the essence of the Korean church. This paper examines Nasom Community for Mongolian Migrants as a model of missional church in Korea. This study first describes the situation of Mongolian migrants in Korea. Secondly, the missionary vision and missionary strategies of Nasom Community, and how they are implemented in practice, are explored. Finally, the mission of Nasom Community is reviewed. This case shows the missionary potential of the Korean church for Asian mission.

근대이행기 전통도시 읍치의 종교적 장소성 변화

It can be said that the religious placeness of Eupchi(邑治), a traditional city, was formed by Sajikdan(社稷壇), Seonghwangdan(城隍壇), and Yeodan(厲壇) centered on the Hyanggyo(鄕校, local Confucian school). Gongju and Daegu Eupchi, which were selected as case areas, are representative Eupchi in Chungcheong-do and Gyeongsang-do in the late Joseon Dynasty. For these two traditional cities, the changes in the religious placeness of Eupchi during the modern times were examined. First, I looked at the movement of the pivot in the religious landscape related to the dissolution of Eupchi. At the same time, focusing on the missionary strategies of religions newly introduced during the modern times, I also examined the preferred location for each religion and the relationship with residential areas by ethnicity. Next, I analyzed the placeness of each religion introduced during the modern times by inertia of place, appropriation of place, power of place, and cohesion of place. From this point of view, the unique religious placeness of the two traditional cities was changed by the new religious pivot formed by the foreign religions. This resulted in displaceness.

The Scandinavian Catholic Missions in the relationes ad limina to Propaganda Fide (1948-58)

The Scandinavian Peninsula was a Catholic mission territory subjected to the Roman Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith until 1977. During the 1950s, these Nordic missions were gradually raised to the level of local churches, despite the slow progress of evangelisation. The relationes ad limina that bishops and vicars sent to Propaganda Fide in this decade and the reports of the Apostolic Visit of 1956 represent two different points of view through which the article tries to define the achievement of the Congregation’s objectives, the missionary strategies, the commitment of religious orders and congregations.

Mission and Unity

AbstractThis article discusses the historical conditions of the insertion of Christianity in Latin America. It points to the links between a colonizing project and Christian missions on that continent. The Christianity that settled here from the 16th century onward was marked by conflicts and controversies. Oppression and war against native populations were often justified as a necessary condition for evangelization. The political and theological disputes over the Protestant Reformation in Europe had repercussions on the continent as one more factor to intensify the conflict. Thus, one of the main structuring axes of the first notion of Christian unity on the continent was the exclusion of the other. However, in this context a prophetic Christianity also emerged out of compassion for the victims of the colonizing process. This article highlights central aspects of this Christianity of liberation that today still challenge missionary practices, but not only in Latin America. An evangelizing methodology conceived out of the living conditions of victims of oppressive systems questions even the missionary strategies of Protestant denominations active on the continent from the 19th century onwards, especially with regard to their civilizing ideal of local cultures. A careful and judicious look at the past of Christianization in Latin America can offer motivation for practices of ecumenical coexistence between different faiths, challenged by the pain of today's world and in solidarity with the victims of our consumer society.

Da'wah in the early era of Islam: A review of the Prophet's Da'wah Strategies

The life of Holy Prophet (PBUH) is a beacon of light not only for Muslims but for all of humanity. There is no such aspect of life for which we do not have guidance from the life of Holy Prophet (PBUH). Whether it is personal life or social life. One of these aspects is the Da'wah strategy of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in Makki era. This article elaborates the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) strategies adopted for the preaching of the Islam during the Makki era. The basic elements of his missionary strategies such as the way of argumentations, parlance and dialects are made the subject of discussion. It highlights the diverse and distinct communication strategies to make the message of Islam intelligible to the common people even, which include: common values, courtesy, non-violence, intellectual stature of the audience, evolutionary process, the psychological intelligibility of addressee, sense of responsibility and proportionality, capacity to perform missionary activity, intimacy with newly converts, concealment of the faith, migration, and strong assertion of faith. The methodology deployed in construing this discourse is descriptive-cum-analytical.

Implications of Acts 1:8 for Ghanaian Neo-Pentecostal Missiology

The book of Acts is often referred to by many scholars and preachers when discussing Christian missions with emphasis on Acts 1:8 as the centrality of the book. Unfortunately, very little exegetical study is done on the text by scholars in relation to missions. It appears that Luke fails to provide a detailed blueprint strategies or approaches to the command for missions (witnessing) in the text. This article therefore considers Acts 1:8 exegetically to establish its missionary importance. In the light of this, the article assesses the mission strategies of the Early Church, Historic Missions and Neo-Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches in Ghana. The article contends that, a reflection on the current trend of Neo-Pentecostal/Charismatic approaches or strategies to missions in Ghana gives a valuable insight of a departure from the early missionary strategies in general. The article acknowledges that, the recent widespread involvement of Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in the use of radio, social media, television, open-air crusades, street evangelism, preaching in buses, prayer and prophetic meetings/conventions, medical outreach work and social welfare are ways to fulfill missions in the light of Acts 1:8. The article also highlights the need to broaden the understanding and task of Christian missions to meet the challenges of the recent changing Ghanaian Christian religious landscape. Keywords: Missions, Missiology, Neo-Pentecostal Churches, Early Church,Strategy, Book of Acts, Historic Churches.

지속 가능한 선교 관점에서 본 한국선교 전략 고찰

Korean missionary work moved forward along with the growth of Korean churches and the economy. During the 19th century, Korea shifted from labor-intensive industries to manufacturing industries. Now, in Fourth Industrial Revolution, Korea is responding strategically to industries in all nations. Undoubtedly Korean churches grew significantly in the past few decades. However, the Korean missionary strategy sought to transplant the Korean pastoral method rather than establishing a missionary theology suitable for the site. It lacked collaboration and rejected funding in real estate for mission purposes. Problems remain despite the immens growth of Korea. Therefore, Korean missionary strategies to achieve sustainable missionary work in the New Normal era are contemplated in this study.

Masculinity, Industrial Education and Fascism in Egypt

Abstract Starting from the premise that school is a ‘major site of masculinity formation’ (Connell, 1996), this article studies the construction of boyhood in the industrial schools of the Salesian mission in Egypt between 1900 and 1939. Analysis of the teaching tools and methods, and of the processes of conformity used in these schools run by Italian missionaries, reveals that they became forums for confrontation and negotiation between different models of masculinity. This article uses the case study of the Salesian schools to shed new light on the interconnections between missionary programmes, fascist imperialism and schooling strategies of the pupils and their families. Ultimately, it seeks to demonstrate how missionary schools contributed to the gendered construction of technical expertise and industrial education in Egypt.

Thirty Years of Mission in Taiwan: The Case of Presbyterian Missionary George Leslie Mackay

The aims of this paper are to analyze the missionary endeavors of the first Canadian Presbyterian missionary in Taiwan, George Leslie Mackay (1844–1901), as described in From Far Formosa: The Islands, Its People and Missions, and to explore how Christian theology was established among and adapted to the Taiwanese people: the approaches that Mackay used and the missionary strategies that he implemented, as well as the difficulties that he faced. Given that Mackay’s missionary strategy was clearly highly successful—within 30 years, he had built 60 churches and made approximately 2000 converts—the question of how he achieved these results is certainly worth considering. Furthermore, from the outset, Mackay was perceived and received very positively in Taiwan and is considered something of a folk hero in the country even today. In the present-day narrative of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, Mackay is seen as someone whose efforts to establish an independent church with native local leadership helped to introduce democracy to Taiwan. However, in some of the scholarship, missionaries such as Mackay are portrayed as profit seekers. This paper seeks to give a voice to Mackay himself and thereby to provide a more symmetrical approach to mission history.

성경 시대의 음식과 관련하여 치유 선교의 도구로서 푸드테라피의 필요성 고찰

The purpose of this paper is to examine the necessity of food therapy as a missionary tool, and to study the food of the biblical times compared to the foods that cause diseases of modern people. By forming a new paradigm for Korea, the goal is to pursue a healthy Christian life that practices more biblical food. The food law (kashrut) given to the Israelites required humans to avoid uncleanness, lead a pure life, and complete obedience accordingly. The history of food was the history of mankind, the history of the covenant between God and man, and the history of the Bible. Regarding the food of the Bible, it reveals the need for food therapy as a tool for healing missions, and seeks ways to improve missionary strategies, focusing on the merits and characteristics of food therapy as a missionary alternative to the Korean church in the 21st century. This paper aims to reveal that.

A Plan to improve Buddhist Cultural Contents in the area of 21st century digital contents -Focusing on Missionary Strategies for Youth and Implication for Buddism Education-

A Plan to improve Buddhist Cultural Contents in the area of 21st century digital contents -Focusing on Missionary Strategies for Youth and Implication for Buddism Education- - Digital content of Buddhist culture;Customized content by level;Reflection of youth’s fun and interest;Enhanced management of youth;and New paradigm for Buddhist education and missionary activities for youth

The Global Religious Configuration. Realities and Forecasts

"Based on recent research, we aim to present the current global religious configu-ration, the religious demographic evolution during the twentieth century, and the main trends for the first half of the twenty-first century. From a methodological point of view, we chose to present only those religions that register a share of 1% of the global population, among which we paid increased attention only to Christiani-ty and Islam. The only exception to this rule is Judaism, the reason for advancing this exception being the desire to compare the evolution of the three religions of the Book: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The purpose of this presentation is to provide a more nuanced picture of the geographical distribution of each religion and, on the other hand, to illustrate the global religious diversity. From a chronological point of view, the landmarks are the years 1910, 1970, 2000, 2010, 2014, 2030, and 2050. The data collected for the years 1910–2014 is the basis of the forecasts for the years 2030 and 2050. The former ones describe the religious realities, while the latter two open up perspectives on the trends in religious demography. We would like to draw attention to the potential of religious demography in deciphering the religious image of the world in which we live. On the other hand, we consider that exploring the global religious profile and the way it evolves, as well as the factors that bring forth change, is not only an opportunity generated by the organic development of religious demography research but also a necessity for rethinking the pastoral and missionary strategies of the church. Religious demographics provide valuable data about the past together with nuanced knowledge of the present, helping us anticipate and even influence the future. The church, at any time, assumes the past, manages the present, and prepares the future. From this perspective, we believe that a strategic pastoral thinking, regardless of religion or denomination, can be organically outlined, starting from the data provided through the means available to religious demography. While religious demography provides specific data, it does not explain the phenomena behind this data; it notes and invites questions, debates, and explanations about religious affiliation, religiosity, and religious behaviour. Keywords: religious, demography, agnostics, atheists, Christians, Muslims."

국내 외국인 유학생의 역선교 전략

This study is on the reverse dispatch mission strategy of foreign students studying at the graduate school of Seoul Christian University (SCUGS). First of all, this study examines the factors affecting missionary environment and focuses on the correlation between psychological factor, social factor, faith factor and personal vision factor on mission strategy. It is also meaningful that it can be a virtuous paradigm for missionary strategy to maximize the point of contact by establishing a Korean language school in Southeast Asian countries, establishing a link system with SCUGS, seeking situational awareness and long-term missionary strategies, supplementing and correcting problems of local missionary work, and sending back to the country.

The Practice of Uslub Al-Da’wah in the Religion Learning Process towards Blind Disability Persons

Proper missionary strategies will have a good effect on your target person. Thus, the preacher must strive to improve the quality of the uslub al-da’wah that is effective in the context of continuous learning to the visually impaired. Learning to be applied in a humane manner is important in order to enhance the level of psychology, knowledge and self-confidence. This study will explore the practice of the uslub al-da’wah in the process of religious learning for the visually impaired. Interviews were used as the main instrument in this study. Two informants were interviewed as experts. Nvivo version 12.0 was used in analysis the study data. The study found three phases of learning implemented by uslub al-da'wah to the visually impaired namely pre-learning, during-learning and post-learning. Pre-learning contains two main themes: module suitability and identifying target groups. The learning process consists of six themes that are always informative, stimulate the soul through religious motivation, use appropriate language adjustments, use storytelling techniques, conduct question and answer activities and practice. Whereas post-learning contains three themes, the preacher make a soft relationships, maintains relationships and provides service to them. Therefore, the results of this study are expected to serve as a guide for preachers who are directly involved in the teaching and learning process for the visually impaired.

The Transformation of Jesuits Strategy for Buddhism Based on the Jesuits Works in Early Modern China

The Jesuits began their missionary work in Asia in the 16th century. After the missions in India and Japan, they tried to enter China and spread Catholicism at the end of the 16th century (Note 1). Due to the special political and cultural environment of China at that time, the missionary experience of Jesuits in India and Japan did not fully apply to Chinese society, which caused their missionary process to be rocky (Note 2). In order to adapt to the different environment of the Ming dynasty, Jesuits had to actively adjust their missionary strategies. After a period of observation and exploration, Jesuits used a missionary method of preaching through books in Ming and Qing dynasties (Note 3). Therefore, the adjustments of their missionary strategies are also reflected in their Chinese missionary works, including the adjustments of Jesuits’ evaluation of Buddhism in their Chinese missionary works, which is a question worthy of attention and research.

L’apostolo gesuitico tra propaganda religiosa e autoconservazione. Aspetti del martirio nella Compagnia di Gesù (1540-1580)

The contribution underlines the importance of the theme of the martyrdom for the history of the Society of Jesus in the XVI century, in which nevertheless there is an unusual shortage on the historiographical plain not so much in relationship to figures of martyrs (single or in group), how much in relationship to the debate on the martyrdom and to the elaboration of a specific jesuitic conception of it. Waiting for further historiographical investigations, for the medium of the analysis of the most ancient letters indipetae (with which the candidates asked the missions in Indies), rise some meaningful aspects, thematic and chronological, of the martyrdom in Society of Jesus between 1540 and 1580 (or rather before the epoch of the general Acquaviva, 1581-1615, that it constitutes a point of turn which to devote other searches). In the attempt to return historical depth to the emerged data, three specific points are faced: indeed a sort of archaeology of the martyrdom is reconstructed in the thought of Ignazio of Loyola; subsequently it is identified in the martyrdom of Antonio Criminali in India (1549) a main point of turn. Finally, are pointed out some hubs in the years fifty-seventy of the XVI century, underlining the coexistence of a double register: from a side, the propaganda, especially in «Notices from Indies», that in concrete exalts the figure of the Jesuit martyrs, and, from the other side, the necessity of the government of the Society to regulate the excesses of the «thirst of martyrdom» among the members of the order, to conclude with the shiny observations of José de Acosta who, at the end of the seventies, invokes the opportunity of deep changes in the missionary strategies and the consequent relativisation of the martyrdom.