In the thesis, Korean Missionaries in Southern Africa: A discussion and evaluation of Korean Missionary activity in Southern Africa (1980-2006), the researcher discusses the coming of missionaries from Korea to Southern Africa during the period 1980-2006. He evaluates their endeavours, activities, the specific challenges they had to face, various problems that they had to overcome, as well as opportunities and challenges beckoning from the future. Chapter Two describes the history of missions in Korea as well as the coming of Korean missionaries to Southern Africa. By almost any measurement, the growth of Christianity in Korea during the last century is one of the most amazing stories of our time. The Korean church has rapidly changed significantly from being a mission field to a sending field, over a period of 100 years. For the last three decades, over 250 Korean missionaries have committed themselves to the Great Commission of the Lord and are involved in 17 types of ministry in Southern African countries. In Chapter Three it is established that the Korean missionaries did their best to understand the complexities of the context of the country which they were serving. They overcame their mono-cultural background, and tried to adapt to and relate to the Southern African culture. They are still in the process of doing so. The most important matters the Korean missionaries encountered, as reported on in Chapter Four, were understanding the local context, language and cultural acquisition, meeting the expectations of the local people and local churches, as well as those of the sending churches in Korea. On a personal level missionaries have to cope with family concerns, maintaining their spiritual life, health problems, financial concerns, frustration as well as unfulfilled ideals. In Chapter Five, the Korean missionaries reported on their missionary work. Using a comprehensive definition of mission (containing the perspectives of kerygma. diakonia, koinonia and leitourgia) as yard stick, the missionaries contributed in many and creative ways in presenting the gospel of Christ in the country they came to serve. The chapter further discusses the five major challenges missionaries have to face and the seven personal challenges with regards to their attitude towards the people to whom they minister. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Science of Religion and Missiology / PhD / unrestricted

Text in German; abstract in German and English / In dieser Studie werden die Auswirkungen von Mentoring zur Förderung von Glaube und Kompetenzen innerhalb des einjährigen Jüngerschaftsprogrammes „Missions Discipleship Training“ von OM Deutschland untersucht. Zum einen wird erforscht, mit welchen Erwartungen die Teilnehmenden zum MDT kommen, zum anderen ihre Wahrnehmung der Mentoringtreffen, deren Inhalte und die Auswirkungen auf die Entwicklung von Glaube und Kompetenzen. Anhand des empirisch-theologischen Praxiszyklus wird sowohl die Planung und Durchführung sowie die Ergebnisse der qualitativen Interviews dargestellt, die mit sieben ehemaligen Teilnehmenden des MDTs geführt wurden. Als Ergebnis des mehrmaligen Kodierens unter Anwendung der „Grounded Theory“ lassen sich fünf Typologien von Teilnehmenden herausarbeiten. Auf der Grundlage der Forschungsergebnisse wurden Praxiskonsequenzen für Mentoring erarbeitet. Die Studie will einen Beitrag zur besseren Umsetzung von Mentoring zur Förderung von Glaube und Kompetenzen in einjährigen Jüngerschaftsprogrammen leisten. / This research project examines the impact of mentoring in a one year discipleship programme, Missions Discipleship Training (MDT) from OM Germany. First, it looks at the expectations of participants at the outset of the programme. Secondly, it explores how participants evaluate mentoring sessions, specifically the content of the sessions and the impact on the development of the faith and competence of participants. Consistent with the empirical-theological praxis cycle the planning, implementation and results of the qualitative interviews of seven former MDT participants are included. A „Grounded Theory“ methodology is employed, resulting in the creation of multiple codes and the classification of the interviewees into five categories. A best practice approach to mentoring is developed based on these research results. This project aims to improve the implementation of mentoring in one year discipleship programs, so that through mentoring participants are encouraged to grow in both faith and competence. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)