Grand Prize at the 41st Korea Christian Publishing Culture Awards
『From Paul』 Missionary Choi Jong-sang's long-standing masterpiece!

Four letters from Paul to modern Christians
The third, seven missionary exhortations to missionaries.

This book can be said to be an old masterpiece by missionary Choi Jong-sang, an expert on Paul.
The author, who received a doctorate in Paul, planned to write a series of letters titled “From Paul to Us” that he had been pondering while publishing the book “From Paul” in 2024.
Although it was a long-time plan, it was after the publication of “From Paul” that he began writing it, and while working on various projects, he received many questions asking, “What would the Apostle Paul say if he met us now?”
Even at the 41st Korea Christian Publishing Culture Awards ceremony, the author delved deeply into Paul, saying, “The Apostle Paul was a one-man publisher.”
In the sermon for the event, the author explained that after Paul received the mission of evangelism, he clearly learned through Paul's letters how crucial it was to spread the gospel through word and writing even in the midst of persecution and crisis.

In this context, rather than highlighting Paul as a single person, the author seeks to highlight the mission of evangelism and Christians in this day and age through the letters and messages Paul left behind.
This book is the third in a series of letters from Paul, and is a missionary-oriented account of Paul's letters written by the author, who is an active missionary and Pauline expert currently working in the UK.
It contains the challenges and advice needed by missionaries who are carrying out the Great Commission, the great task given by God.
Through a total of seven exhortations, it is conveyed that missionary work is God's work carried out in obedience to God's calling, and that the missionary's important responsibility is 'evangelism, the spreading of the gospel.'
Furthermore, it systematically informs us of what the gospel should be preached, and is filled with Paul's know-how in missionary work, including the missionary's mindset, financial principles, and working together with fellow missionaries. It will provide a proper guidepost for missionaries and churches spreading the gospel in mission fields and in everyday life today.


This book, like its predecessor, provides 'Meditation and Sharing' and 'Paul's Ten Commandments for Missionary Work' to facilitate its use in small groups.
Through the story of Paul, who was a pastor, writer, and theologian, but who never gave up on spreading the gospel despite any hardship and dedicated his entire life to being a missionary, missionaries and churches who have faced hardships for the sake of the gospel will gain strength, find a better direction for missionary work, and be able to faithfully fulfill their assigned duties.

In the series "Letters from Paul," we will describe in letter form what the Apostle Paul would say if he were to deliver a message of encouragement and challenge to Christians living in this age.
In general, the Pauline letters were addressed to believers, including church leaders, and were written based on the situation faced by the first-century churches.
Therefore, finding messages for "me" living in the 21st century in his letters, especially for "me" in each of the positions of "pastor," "believer," "missionary," and "theologian," may not be as easy as one might think. Therefore, I have organized the letters into four volumes, each addressing a specific role.
『Paul the Pastor to Pastors』, 『Paul the Apostle to Saints』, 『Paul the Missionary to Missionaries』, 『Paul the Theologian to Theology Students』.
In this series, we have collected the messages that the Apostle Paul shared with each ministry.
However, it was nearly impossible to clearly distinguish them by position.
Because the Apostle Paul alone assumed various roles, and because Paul's letters were pastoral, missionary, and theological at the same time, and because these elements were complexly intertwined, some overlap in content and subject matter was inevitable.
However, I wanted to focus on who I am talking to.
Reading all of the Epistles from Paul, as they are interconnected, will provide a comprehensive understanding of Paul's apostolic, pastoral, missionary, and theological teachings.
--- From the "Series Preface"

Evangelism and missionary work, which involves spreading the glorious gospel of Jesus to the whole world, is the greatest mission given by God.
That's why it's called the Great Commission.
God has chosen and called missionaries to be His instruments for this great task, and missionaries are obediently carrying out the work. The Lord will be pleased, and I, too, am grateful and supportive.
(…) I too was called to be a vessel for the advancement of the gospel and became a servant of Jesus (2 Cor. 3:6; Col. 1:23; Acts 9:15).
I served with the full awareness that I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this gospel (1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11).
He traveled throughout the Roman Empire, preaching the gospel in Syria, Cilicia, Cyprus, Pamphylia, Galatia, Phrygia, Macedonia, Achaia, Asia, and Illyricum.
He gathered people who heard the gospel and believed in Jesus and established a church community.
It was all accomplished by God's grace, guidance, and work.
We suffered much hardship and persecution along the way, but such persecution did not stop our missionary work.
Rather, the gospel spread vigorously and the church expanded and became strong.
(…) Missionary, the one who began the good work in your life will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Because we are participating in the work of the gospel for the nations.
Just keep doing what you've been doing so far.
I would be grateful if this letter could be of some help in making your missionary work even more exciting and truthful.
Don't compare your work with others' work, forget your past, and keep running steadily, looking only to the Lord and His goal.
I support and bless you.
--- From the "Prologue"

A person who is convinced of the importance of what he or she does and is dedicated to his or her mission will silently continue that difficult work despite all difficulties.
Missionaries do not just do the work they are assigned to, but they carry out God's missionary work by receiving God's calling.
When you clearly recognize how important the missionary work God has called you to be, your calling to it will be renewed and you will feel proud of your ministry.
No matter how difficult it may be, I will work even more faithfully, thanking the Lord for calling me to this work.

--- From “Chapter 1: Be Sure of the Importance of Missions”

Living abroad or being busy is not missionary work.
Meetings, conferences, lectures, sermons, administration, and counseling are necessary, but if you are too busy with these things to make time for evangelism, you are missing out on the essential ministry that you are supposed to fulfill as a missionary.
Missions take many forms.
In modern missions, it is even more detailed.
It is diverse, including education, healthcare, agriculture, church planting, discipleship, Bible translation, seminary, administration, culture, arts, music, documentation, broadcasting, video production, design, sports, technical support, and business.
I think that everything is necessary and that you can handle it according to your calling and talent.
So, this doesn't mean that all missionaries have to spend most of their time doing mission work.
However, no matter how indirect the missionary work may be, if you are a missionary, you must spread the gospel.
--- From “Chapter 2: Do Evangelism-Centered Missions”

Missions begin because there is a message to be delivered, a message that must be conveyed.
Jesus left his throne in heaven and came to the world to complete the message of the gospel through the cross and resurrection.
The essence of Christian mission is to spread the gospel of Jesus.
Anyone delivering this message must be thoroughly familiar with its contents.

--- From “Chapter 3: Clearly Communicate the Key Message”

Missionary, give birth to children through the gospel.
Love them with all your heart and give them your whole heart.
Even though they are poor and lacking, they are brothers and sisters in Jesus, so please treat them as equals and raise and establish them as beautiful disciples of the Lord.
Even if your primary ministry is not pastoral, please take a deep interest in the faith growth of those who hear the gospel through you and equip them to become faithful disciples of Jesus.

--- From “Chapter 4: Raising Children with a Pastoral Heart”

The principle is this.
Missionaries do not expect or demand financial support, but maintain a frugal and generous attitude. It is beautiful for sponsoring churches and local believers to voluntarily and wholeheartedly support missionaries.
We urge you to maintain an attitude of not using your right to receive material assistance, even though you have the right to do so, so as not to cause trouble to the saints and to hinder the progress of the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:9).
Even in modern missions, if missionaries demand financial support first or complain about lack of support, this will hinder the progress of the gospel.
--- From “Chapter 5: Have a firm principle about finances”

Mission work cannot be done alone.
We must gladly offer our gifts and talents to advance the gospel and work together in unity.
Working alone is not only unrealistically difficult, but it is also not a missionary strategy ordained by the Lord.
Even if missionaries are not affiliated with the same organization, it would be good if they each had their own unique ministry, recognized and valued each other, and pooled their manpower and finances when necessary to carry out cooperative work.

--- From “Chapter 6: Achieving Beautiful Cooperation”

We must pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on us.
We need to think strategically not only in choosing a location, but also throughout the mission.
We must pray and think in advance about how to minister and how to ensure that our ministry bears sustainable fruit rather than being a failure.
I also worked with that mindset so that I wouldn't run aimlessly and fight as if I were beating the air.

--- From “Chapter 7 Keeping Up with God’s Mission”

Missionary, please take another look at yourself and your missionary work.
Be thankful and moved by the grace of the Lord who has guided you thus far, and if there is anything you have lacked, make a resolution once again and seek the Lord's grace.
Wherever you have come, forget what is behind and press on toward the goal, following the calling to which you have been called.
Fulfill your chosen mission as an instrument of the gospel.
For there awaits you the prize of your heavenly calling in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-16).
The difficult and overwhelming work of missionary work may be so challenging that you may wonder if the work you are doing will truly leave a mark. However, pray with tears and prayer to God that the seeds of the gospel you have sown will bear fruit thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.
As I have often experienced and confessed, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong, so that my power might be made perfect in weakness; when I am weak, then he makes me strong (1 Corinthians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
(…) Imagine the amazing scene where countless people will be present, having heard the gospel through the prayers and hard work of missionaries.
How thrilling it must be! While you still have more time to minister on this earth, preach even more diligently, sowing, watering, and harvesting the seeds of the gospel so that more people can reach this wonderful place.
Love and serve the souls in the mission field more.
Love Jesus more.
We bless and support the missionaries.
I'll be happy to see you in heaven.

--- From "Epilogue"