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In 2023, the Korean church convened its regular Mission Strategy Consultation； which takes place every four years. Throughout 38 years of service as both a field missionary and a mission organization leader, I have had many opportunities to meet local church leaders on the mission field. In those encounters, I came to realize that Korean missionaries often do not show as much respect for the local church as we should.
At the NCOWE (National Consultation on World Evangelization), the Korean church acknowledged this shortcoming, repented； and reaffirmed its commitment to honoring local churches. Above all, we renewed our conviction that mission must proceed as a partnership rooted in the leadership of local churches.
In response, many Global South mission leaders sought closer fellowship with the Korean church. This led to the Second Global South Mission Consultation (COALA: Christ Over Asia/Africa/Arab Latin), held in Bangkok in April 2024. Subsequent gatherings followed: COALA 2.5 in Busan, COALA 3.0 in Panama (April of 2025)，and now COALA 3.5 in Seoul, during the WEA General Assembly. At present； more than fourteen international mission networks are participating.
Leslie Newbigin described Western-centered mission as Christendom Mission. While it was once the most effective strategy of its time, Andrew Walls reminds us that its “expiration date” has now passed. Today, mission scholars agree that we live in a polycentric era of mission. As Western missions have declined, non-Western churches are now simultaneously sending missionaries around the world.
Missionaries, however, have an inherent limitation: they must one day leave the field. Outsiders, whether missionaries or sending churches； can never truly be the owners of the local church. I believe that in this era, the central actors in mission must be the local people themselves. Therefore, partnership with them in mission cannot be emphasized strongly enough.
There are compelling reasons why partnership mission is essential:
• Many non-Western churches face significant economic limitations.
• Missionaries, as outsiders, cannot assume ownership of local churches. Their role is temporary serving as partners who provide support in contexts where churches may lack sufficient capacity for a season.
On August 18； 2025； the leaders of Korea’s major denominations gathered and recommended that Korean missionaries on the field pursue partnership-based mission. Their exhortations were as follows:
1. Leave the leadership of ministry in the hands of the local church.
2. Focus on disciple-making (Matt. 28:19).
3. Pastoral leadership belongs to local believers； while missionaries should focus on evangelizing those outside the church.
4. Relate to the local church by invitation, serving as part of their fellowship.
The upcoming COALA 3.5 will provide non-Western churches, both those sending and those receiving missionaries, an opportunity to put these principles into practice: welcoming missionaries as partners in mission； under the leadership of the local church. This book contains a selection of presentations from the past three COALA gatherings. It is my sincere hope that it will serve as a valuable resource for leaders who long for healthy and faithful mission. Thank you.