본 연구에서는 한국성결교회의 기원에 대하여 선교적 관점에서 현지 참여관찰과 원자료 분석 방법론을 통하여 한국성결교회가 동양선 교회에 그 기원을 둘 뿐만 아니라, 동양선교회의 창립자들을 동양에 선교사로 파송하고 선교 목적, 선교 교육, 선교 내용과 신학 그리고 선교 방법 등을 지원한 만국성결교회가 한국성결교회의 모체임을 증명 하고자 한다. 한국성결교회 창립의 과정에서 직접적인 역할을 한 단체는 카우만과 길보른 그리고 나까다가 세운 동양선교회(The Oriental Missionary Society)임을 부정할 수는 없다. 그러나, 동양선교회는 한국성결교회를 창립하고 그 이후 후원하는 과정에서 선교 목적, 선교 교육, 선교 내용과 신학 그리고 선교 방법 등에서 만국성결교회의 지원과 후원을 받았음이 원자료들을 통하여 밝혀졌다. 그러므로 한국성 결교회가 동양선교회의 협력으로 창립되고 유지 발전하였으나, 그 기원을 찾아 올라가 보면 미국의 만국성결교회로부터 비롯되었음이 증명되는 것이다.

This thesis is about John Thomas; the first missionary sent to the KEHC, the first superintendent and the first dean of Kyungsung Bible Institute. The coverage of this thesis begins from his birth in the U.K. and his ministries, how he came to Korea and his ministry in Korea from 1910-1911. In total, John Thomas spent 10 years serving in Korea, therefore assessing his ministry is somewhat out of proportion, however this thesis will focus on the background of his calling to Korea and the beginning of God’s divine works. 1. John Thomas had evident experience in the Fourfold Gospel. 2. His devotion and faith made him a clear model as Christ’s servant. 3. He was a man of prayer. 4. Through the successful ministry in the U.K. he demonstrated the blessings of God’s presence. 5. He made a network of supporters for prayer and financial aid. 6. He was a prominent Evangelical leader of his time and was selected as the main speaker at the annual OMS conference in 1911. 7. He had a call to preach the holiness element. This calling began to spread in the other denominations and missionaries also. 8. He not only loved the lost souls of Korea but also cared for the people of the world. 9. His ministry had a harmony of teaching and ministering. Through his character which was greatly influenced by the holiness element gave him authority to impress many people. 10. Although he had difficulty in learning Korean, his input and effort was vital in setting the foundations of the KEHC and the Bible Institute. 11. The early records of his ministry which influenced many denominations and other missionaries in Korea and Japan shows how influential he must have been in the later years. 12. He contributed to the printing of 10,000 copies of the New Testament, helped set up administrative procedures for KEHC and the Bible Institute and his teaching, church founding and faithful mission works show the bright future ahead. This research focuses on the early days of John Thomas’s mission. There are still more research to be done about his character and the latter part of his ministry. However, the fact that a man of God, such as John Thomas was called to serve as the first missionary sent to the KEHC, the first superintendent and the first dean of Kyungsung Bible Institute proves God’s purpose toward the KEHC and STU. Furthermore, through this research we need to find the elements that need to be continued and carried out in this day and age. Therefore it is inevitable the existence of holiness is revealed not only in Korea but also worldwide. This is the core value of KEHC and STU’s existence.