Resources
Mission to North (MNA) recommends that you carefully consider the following books and articles. Although they do not all necessarily represent Presbyterian and reformed standards, their content falls within the theological boundaries of the broader evangelical community. This recommendation does not imply agreement with or endorsement of the practices or beliefs of the authors.
Audio
From the 2009 Korean American Pastors' Conference
(Click the player to listen. To download the .mp3, right click on the title and select Save Link As. )
Dr. Philip Ryken - Investing in Ministry with the Gospel
Dr. Philip Ryken - Leadership for Mission
Dr. Philip Ryken - Preaching
Dr. Philip Ryken - Theology of Ministry
Church Planting: Ted Powers and Stephen Ro
Tuesday Evening Worship - Stephen Ro
From the 2008 EM Pastors' conference
Opening Worship (.mp3) Min Chung
1907 Great Revival and Its Impact on Korean Church History (.mp3) Young Hee Park
Biblical Counseling and the Use of Sripture (.mp3) Paul Tripp
Church Leadership Development (.mp3) Paul Tripp
Praise and Worship (.mp3) Iron Kim
Sanctification in the Middle of Messiness of Relationships (.mp3) Paul Tripp
Your Walk with God is a Community Project (.mp3) Paul Tripp
Progressive Sanctification and the Antisocial Nature of Sin (.mp3) Paul Tripp
Articles and Papers
Koh, Henry. "21st Century World Misson through Mission to America," presented at the 2009 Korea World Mission Conference. Available in English and Korean.
Park, Dr. Young Hee. "The Great Revival Movement of 1907 And its Historical Impact on the Korean Church," presented at the 2008 EM Pastors' Conference.
Books
Ecklund, Elane Howard. (2008). Korean American Evangelicals: New Models for Civic Life. Oxford University Press.
Gladwell, Malcome. (2000). The Tipping Point How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. Little Brown & Company. ISBN: hardcover-0316316962/paperback-0316346624
From the editor: "The best way to understand the dramatic transformation of unknown books into bestsellers, or the rise of teenage smoking, or the phenomena of word of mouth, or any number of the other mysterious changes that mark everyday life," writes Malcolm Gladwell, "Is to think of them as epidemics. Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do."
At 279 pages, this book could lose 250 and still be effective. His observations about the effect of "small things" on the success or failure of any "movement" are invaluable.
One of the most important concepts I gleaned was the idea of "permission givers." In other words, most people are followers waiting for others to give permission to do certain things. To that end, if we win the "permission givers" [influencers, bringers, gatherers, etc.], the rest will follow.
Kim, Rebecca Y. (2006). God's New Whiz Kids? Korean American Evangelicals on Campus. NYU Press.
Newbigin, Lesslie. (1989/1996). The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co. ISBN: 2825409715
This book is helpful on a number of apologetic fronts. However, his discussion on "plausibility structures" [a structure of assumptions and practices that determines which beliefs are possible and which are not, p.53] has been the most helpful in my own thought.
Those with whom we interact on a daily basis, because of their "plausibility structures," aren't even able to conceive of certain positions and ideas we hold dear. To that end, we must learn to think in their language and understand their "starting points." Ch. 5, "Reason, Revelation, and Experience," is particularly good.
Plantinga, Cornelius, Jr. (1995). Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co. ISBN: 0802842186
This book is a must-read. His explanation of sin being a violation of shalom (the way things ought to be) is not only useful in personal evangelism, but also helpful in preaching "hard" topics like sex, women in ministry, etc.
Sibbes, Richard. (1630/1998). The Bruised Reed. Banner of Truth. ISBN: 0851517404
His fellow puritans knew Sibbes as "the sweet dropper." I thought that odd until I read this book. In fact, each page is so full of the mercy and grace of Jesus that I had to keep a box of Kleenex handy as I wept for joy. Besides being a balm to the soul, it is a handbook on empathy toward sinners.
Spurgeon, C. H. (1963). The Soul Winner. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co. ISBN: 0802811868
This is, perhaps, the most important book in my library. If you are weary, unconvinced of the power of the gospel, or of the effectiveness of simply preaching Christ crucified, pick up The Soul Winner. I did over a decade ago and haven't put it down yet.
Yoo, David K and Ruth H. Chung, eds. (2008). Religion and Spirituality in Korean America. University of Illinois Press.
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Korean Pastors Conference Featured in Christianity Daily
Washington-based Korean Internet news agency Christianity Daily covered the 11th Korean Pastors conference. Click here to read (in Korean only).
Read Korean Ministries Coordinator Henry Koh's report on the conference - click here.
