NK Investigative Report 2001

A Church Planting Movement for North Korea

from Chapter 3 of "Re-examining North Korea Missions" by David Lee, download entire thesis (185k, pdf)

B. A Church Planting Movement as a North Korea Mission Strategy

In examining a church planting movement as a mission strategy for North Korea, several issues must be considered. How feasible is a church planting movement in North Korea? What are the advantages of a church planting movement? What would be the key defining characteristics in a church planting movement strategy for North Korea?

1. Feasibility of a North Korea Church Planting Movement

There are several reasons why some people do not believe a church planting movement can exist in North Korea. First, some people believe that the government holds too tight a grip on society to allow a church planting movement to form. However, the Church of Jesus is not a building, but rather a body of believers. According to some estimates there are up to 30,000 underground believers in North Korea. Though the activities of these underground believers are largely unknown, it is possible that the beginnings of a church planting movement can already be in process. Further, even if a full-blown church planting movement is not possible in the status quo, a church planting movement on a smaller scale could be possible. Finally, there is no guarantee that North Korea will remain as closed as it is now. Therefore, by pursuing a church planting strategy, we can reap more fruit when North Korea does open.

Other people claim that a church planting movement is impossible in North Korea because missionaries are not allowed to enter the country. However, this stance discredits the various forms of mission work currently being extended into North Korea. First, though missionaries cannot enter as official "missionaries," they can enter as tentmakers, carrying another occupation into the country. It is possible that through a tentmaking ministry a church planting movement could form. Also, though foreign missionaries may be denied entrance into North Korea, alternative avenues of access do exist. For example, Christian Chinese business people who often travel in and out of North Korea could spread the gospel and build up the Church. Also, Christian radio is being broadcast into North Korea, with people, though few in number, being able to listen to its message. No matter how hard a government tries, it cannot completely keep out the gospel of Jesus Christ, nor can it destroy the living Church.
Furthermore, some people claim that we should wait until North Korea opens to pursue a church planting movement strategy. However, this stance is presuming that North Korea will open up in the future. If North Korea were to never open up, then we would be waiting endlessly. Therefore, in approaching North Korea, we must not assume that North Korea will open up, but rather pursue to build up the Church now. And if North Korea does open up, we will be better prepared to plant churches and train leaders.

2. The Advantages of a Church Planting Movement

The advantages of a church planting movement as a mission strategy for North Korea are manifold. First, the goal of church planting in North Korea allows mission groups and agencies involved in North Korea missions to unite under one banner. Mobilization efforts to raise people and resources will be aided because people can be directed under a united banner that pursues the establishment and expansion of the North Korean church. This could also give credibility to smaller groups involved. Under one banner mission resources can be more effectively allocated, avoiding costly overlap.

Second, the goal of church planting gives a long term perspective to North Korea mission strategy without losing sight of the short term. Christian mission efforts based on long-term goals, such as indirect missions, can focus their efforts on establishing a self-standing, reproducing church in North Korea. Even groups involved with relatively short-term projects can gain from this long-term perspective. Christians groups involved in humanitarian aid can provide aid in hopes of eventually establishing a North Korean church.

Third, mission groups can see the multiplication of their efforts as churches they helped plant, in turn, plant other churches. Through the spontaneous expansion of the North Korea church, the number of believers in North Korea can multiply exponentially beyond our imaginations. Through the obedience of one person or team, God can begin a spontaneous expansion of the church that evangelizes the whole country.

Fourth, in a church planting movement, new North Korea converts will experience church life. A major obstacle in many mission efforts is that new converts are not plugged into the church, and as a result do not continue in their faith. However, since the expansion of the church is esteemed highly in a church planting movement, converts are easily placed into the body of the church to experience accountability and growth. This can assure a high standard of quality in North Korea mission work.

Fifth, a church planting movement in North Korea is the best way to ensure that North Korea can continue mission work. Without the continual expansion of churches there is no guarantee that mission activity around the world will be sustained. However, expanding churches produce new church leaders and church planters that are able to continue and expand mission work. Thus, North Korea can one day send out missionaries in large numbers to countries all over the world.

3. Characteristics of a North Korea Church Planting Movement Strategy

A church planting strategy in North Korea must carry three distinct characteristics in order to succeed. First, the church planting strategy must be an effort of cooperation joined by a large number of mission groups and churches. One of the keys to overcoming the obstacles in North Korea missions is being efficient in people and resources. The current overlap and waste of time, people and money must be avoided by the networking and cooperation of mission groups.

Second, the church planting strategy for North Korea must be one based on contingency planning. In other words, the strategy must be prepared for all likely regime scenarios-no change, reform, militaristic reunification, and voluntary collapse. The scenario that the Church is least prepared for now is that of the sudden collapse of the North Korea regime. In that case, the Church needs to be prepared to send trained teams into North Korea to plant churches and to raise up an indigenous and contextualized church. A church planting strategy in North Korea must also not leave out the possibility of slow change or no change in the North Korean regime.

Third, the church planting strategy in North Korea must be an urgent strategy calling for action now. Mission efforts in North Korea must fight against the enemy of time, as thousands are dying by the hour without having had the chance to hear the gospel of Jesus. The Church needs to be taught and mobilized to get involved in the mission effort in North Korea. A church planting strategy is a strategy that needs to be urgent.

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