Internet video-calling aids global ministry collaboration

Arun Kumar Paul, current student

The Indian worship service begins every Saturday night at 9 p.m. in a room in the Leadership Center at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Ky., U.S. The Indian congregation attends the same worship service simultaneously every Sunday morning at 11 a.m. in Kwanglim Methodist Church, Seoul, South Korea. Do not be alarmed, this is not a textual error nor am I out of my mind! I am talking about an entire, live, Indian worship service that I lead from the U.S. to South Korea through Skype, software that enables users to make video and voice calls. I have been leading this worship service since April 4, 2009. Advanced technology and social networking have been integral to the successful continuation of this ministry opportunity. The advanced technology has eliminated thousands of miles of distance and a significant amount of time difference between Kentucky and South Korea. The cross-cultural social network, facilitated by new technology, has emerged as an effective missiological strategy to advance the Kingdom of God in today’s global mission field.

This Indian congregation is the fruit of a ministry among Indians working in South Korea. This ministry began at Kwanglim Methodist Church in 2005, where I served for about four years before coming to Asbury Theological Seminary. Before leaving Korea, I connected an Indian seminarian studying in Seoul with the leaders of the church in order to continue the ministry to the Indian congregation. Unfortunately, within six months, this Indian minister had to leave Korea. In the absence of a native Indian pastor, linguistic and cultural issues began to impede communication in worship, in presenting the gospel and in discipling the congregation. Leaders approached me to intervene in the situation and suggest another Indian pastor. Being in the U.S. restricted me in responding to their request efficiently. Nevertheless, I kept praying. A discussion with Dr. Dale Hale, Asbury Seminary’s Director of Distributed Learning, on how to bring a worship service to Korea, eventually led to the suggestion to consider Skype software for video calls. It worked extremely well, and I began to lead the Indian worship service for the congregation in South Korea over the Internet from the U.S. In addition to the worship service, I occasionally use Internet video calls for Bible study and to counsel members of the congregation.

Though new Skype technology has been a great tool for bringing an entire worship service to Korea, this would not have been possible without social networking. Senior Pastor Rev. Chung Suk Kim and the leadership team for the Foreign Workers’ Ministry of Kwanglim Methodist Church greatly assisted in the success of this unique ministry opportunity. In their passion for reaching out to the Indian workers in Korea, they have also acknowledged their linguistic and cultural limitations in presenting the gospel to Indians. Mission leaders and volunteer staff work behind the scenes to make the service alive and effective. The church provides all the tools and equipment needed to screen the worship service. They also arrange the transportation, assisting the Indians scattered in the vicinity of Seoul in getting to church.

The advanced technology used for the essential social network is an effective ministry collaboration strategy for countries like South Korea where the Indian evangelists and pastors are hard to find. The new technology can also become a great tool in penetrating countries with the gospel where preaching the Christian message is officially restricted.