An Itinerant Missionary

Dear COAH,

The concept of the “itinerant missionary” began with the Apostle Paul. Paul traveled widely during his three evangelistic journeys, preaching the gospel and caring for the churches. While there are many examples in church history, this concept was first introduced to the Korean church in 1890 at the invitation of Horace Underwood, by John Nevius, who was a veteran missionary serving in Shandong Province, China.

Nevius believed that rather than having a limited number of missionaries take on a region and serve there for a long period of time, the missionaries should instead travel over a large area to get an overall picture of the mission field and raise up appropriate local workers who would look after their pastorates. This belief led to the principle that local evangelization should be done by the locals themselves. This is how Nevius’ famous mission principle of self-evangelization, self-governance, and self-support was introduced to the Korean church.

Today, the primary meaning of an itinerant missionary refers to a non-resident missionary who travels and ministers wherever there is a need, rather than staying in one place. There is also a strong concept of supporting and working with existing missionaries. Below is a definition of the “itinerant missionary” life that one pastor chose after retiring from his church.

“An itinerant missionary helps other missionaries serving on the field so that they could become more effective. The itinerant missionary provides pastoral counselling and practical help when the missionary needs comfort and companionship due to local ministry challenges. They may provide spiritual comfort, financial support, discipleship, seminars, and other ways to support the work of local missionaries.” (Itinerant Missionaries: A Beautiful Commitment to Missions, The Christian Gazette, April 29, 2008)

This definition centers on the point that an itinerant missionary is a worker who supports and collaborates with regular missionaries.

For me, however, being an itinerant missionary is about 1) not staying in one place, 2) having a clear purpose, and 3) serving the nations. In my role as senior pastor of the Young Nak Church of Toronto, I have been involved in caring for the several mission fields that our church has focused on.

My future ministry will focus on helping struggling seminaries and seminarians in mission fields around the world, and to equip more churches to be missional. My itinerant mission work will look like this:

1. not staying and ministering in one place but travelling and ministering wherever there is a need. This includes all overseas mission fields, as well as Canada and the United States.
2. developing the next generation of leadership through seminary teaching and mentoring.
3. being committed to teaching and practicing the missional church and redemptive living through church conferences and seminars.
4. signing an MOU with OMF, an international mission organization, and serving as a volunteer missionary. As requested by OMF. I will engage in missiological research, leadership development and teaching at seminaries.

I am deeply grateful to God that you voted to honor me as pastor emeritus, and also as an itinerant missionary at the last Congregational Meeting. I intend to work faithfully for the Kingdom of God. I solicit your prayers.


Blessings,
Pastor Minho Song