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A.R.E Movement

Paul Choi St. Louis UBF

A theologian Mark L Branson said in his book “Churches, Cultures & Leadership”: God’s essence is missional; mission is at the very heart of the Trinity...” The Latin term “missio Dei” means God is a missional God who acts missionally by preceding and then by shaping and sending the church into the world. Karl Barth said, “God is working in our context and churches are participating in his work.” Therefore, mission is part of a church’s essence. We cannot think church separately from mission and mission from church. Even for church formation according to Mark Branson missional function is absolutely necessary along with spiritual and congregational function. In order to form a healthy church all these three functions should be well balanced and practiced.

The recent unprecedented pandemic brought a major paradigm change and challenge in our campus ministry at large. We are confined by safety rules and social restriction. Our activity on campus is severely challenged. We don’t know what to do in this frustrated situation. But as Paul said in 2Timothy 2:9, “But God’s word is not chained.” Social restriction nor pandemic situation cannot chain the living word of God. God inspired us to start a new outreach movement called, “A.R.E” in St. Louis UBF: Advance the gospel, Raise Jesus’ disciples, Expand God’s kingdom. We are indeed saved and called to advance the gospel, raise Jesus’ disciples and expand God’s kingdom through our one-to-one Bible studies and discipleship ministry. This slogan is not new at all, but enough to renew our heart and revive our spirit for mission. I printed out the copies of the slogan and put them on the wall of every room in the Bible house so that people might see and be inspired. As I analyze this movement from the view of praxis (practical theology), I named it ARE. I suggested this movement as our prayer topic and spiritual direction for St. Louis UBF ministry. I shared it as many as I could. I shared it during my announcement and after all group meetings. I watched other coworkers’ response and encouraged their participation. I thank God for their understanding this praxis and willing participation. Some co-workers visited campus regularly to pray and invite students. Others sacrificed their family gathering after the worship service and visited campus with willing hearts.

The outcome of ARE movement begins to visible in positive way. Inwardly our missionaries have a clear identity and purpose for outreach because of this spiritual direction. They are motivated to suffer and challenged to face obstacles. They earnestly began to pray for raising Jesus’ disciples. One Sunday God sent 5 students from Wash U to our worship service. One faithful Bible student brought his friends. Our coworkers were greatly encouraged by their attendance. God also sent three Wash U students to Christmas worship service in the midst of their final exam. Our missionaries experienced the power of prayer and faith. God enabled us to experience spiritual victory when we trust in him and pray by faith. As long as we have a clear prayer topic and spiritual direction, God is on our side. He will work in us and through us to fulfill his good purpose. We’ll continue to advance the gospel, raise Jesus’ disciples, and expand God’s kingdom.

In his book ‘Christ and Culture’ Richard Niebuhr described the relationship between Christ and culture with 5 types: Christ against culture, Christ of culture, Christ above culture, Christ and culture in paradox, and Christ the transformer of culture. I think we are involved and related to all these five types. Above all our goal is to transform present culture with the gospel of Christ Jesus. We do not conform the pattern of this sinful culture, but renew our minds with gospel faith so that we may accomplish ARE movement.

Still, we face challenges from inside and outside. From the viewpoint of Heifetz and Linsky, we face both technical challenge and adaptive challenge. Our Korean missionaries are still poor in communication with students in English. Not only language barrier between students but also racial, cultural, and generational barrier remain. I confront limitation in resolving these technical problems despite my unceasing effort. But, as Paul said, God’s word is not chained by these technical challenges. God make all things possible for those who trust in him and challenge those obstacles by faith. Now it is necessary for me to encourage myself and other Korean missionaries to acknowledge our limitation and to challenge obstacles by faith. We need to change our attitude towards obstacles. Nothing is impossible with those who have faith in God! As long as we have clear prayer topics and direction, nothing is impossible. If God is with us, who can be against us?

Now the time has come for me to go beyond my authority. This does not mean the abuse of my authority as a pastor or director of a UBF chapter. This means to admit all current problems and challenges as reality and to make every effort to resolve all these and accomplish my spiritual goal following ARE movement. As Heifetz and Linsky said, people don’t resist challenge, but loss. There will be risk of loss, loss of health, loss of co-workers, loss of reputation. Still, we will work together to advance the gospel, raise Jesus’ disciples, and expand God’s kingdom. We thank God that the spiritual direction for new year is missional, especially for raising Jesus’ disciples. We continue to work together for this great commission and direction and do our best to accomplish Christ’s will. Amen!

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• final_essay-online_class_(Christ_Culture)-2.docx

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