South Korea's churches said the kidnapping had led evangelical groups to rethink their missionary zeal.The National Council of Churches in Korea, one of the largest groups representing the country's Protestants, said in a statement it would abide by the government's pledge to end missionary work in Afghanistan."Through this incident, we will look back on the Korean churches' overseas volunteer and missionary work, and make this an opportunity to bring about more effective and safer volunteer and missionary work," it said in a statement.An official at The Frontiers, a Seoul-based Christian aid group said all its short-term volunteers in Afghanistan have pulled out and two long-term volunteers are about to return.There are an estimated 17,000 South Korean Christian missionaries abroad, the largest contingent after those from the US, many of them in volatile regions.For many increasingly wealthy evangelical churches in the country, dispatching Christian volunteers abroad has turned into a competition among churches, with larger numbers considered a gauge of the strength of their faith.
PS:I'm really glad for the hostages to come back home BUT on the other hand,are we gonna comply with terrorists and quit preaching the Gospel in the Middle East that needs it so much?I think this is one step forward and two backwards.Muslims wouldn't withdraw in such a situation.They would stay no matter what....I just pray that the TRUE CHURCH in Korea can make a decision to the Light of the Scriptures and by hearing from the Lord,not from their fears.
Don't misunderstand me....I've been myself in peril of death several times in the past and one for preaching the Gospel.I know what it is to give it all up...ALL...Even in the face of death HE can bring peace and comfort beyond understanding.
As in the days of Noah...