wfn.org | Taiwan's Alliance of the Weak becomes a Gospel Portal

[Taiwan Church News <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Taiwan Church News 2637, September 15, 2002
Reported by Lin Yi-ying, Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

   Three years after the massive September 21st (921) earthquake
that devastated much of Central Taiwan, the Community
Reconstruction Care Centers set up by the Presbyterian Church in
Taiwan (PCT) will hold a memorial and thanksgiving service in
Taichung on September 14th.
   In the months following the quake many religious and volunteer
groups entered into relief and reconstruction work.  The PCT
established as many as 18 individual centers focused on
rebuilding communities.  A multi-phased 5-year plan was set out.
Each center operated as a branch of a central office during its
first phase. Since then, each has become more linked to a local
PCT congregation. With the project now at its mid point, these
centers and congregations in the mountains are being individually
paired with larger urban and rural churches that did not suffer
quake damage.  The Rev. Wang Wu-ming, pastor of Chung-hsiao Road
Presbyterian Church in Taichung, says, "this kind of church to
church mission is a gospel portal for the PCT."
   Mr. Wang added, "Since the quake my own church has been
focusing on rebuilding in the town of Chung-liao.  Currently on
each weekend we send a gospel team to serve at Chung-liao Church.
Our congregation in Taichung does not view this as a burden to
bear, but as a blessing.  The cries of death and sadness in
Chung-liao were loud, the visible need for the love of God was
great. We believe that God gave us an opening to live out the
gospel as sisters and brothers to the people there."
   "Church members who previously believed themselves unable to
lead in prayers or share their faith have, because of their
experience in Chung-liao, undergone training and have become
confident in prayer and brave in sharing.  Persons coming to the
center for material aid have even come to faith and received
Christian baptism. They have expressed thanks to God for the help
given to them in their need.
   The Rev. Mr. Hong Ruei-lang, convener of the Community
Rebuilding Care Centers' transformation committee, said, "Three
years ago the churches in the quake zone were considered to be
small and weak.  They were in need of urban church care and
assistance.  The PCT's Church & Society Committee had long hoped
for greater cooperation between congregations on the plains and
those in the mountains, but nothing ignited a passion for it.  If
in each of the PCT's 20 presbyteries the urban churches could
pledge themselves to subsidize the salary of one small rural
pastor or commit to an active partnership with an isolated rural
church, in the long run, there would be no weak churches.
   Mr. Hong emphasized, "They aren't in need of money! They need
churches with abundant resources to come alongside them, take
their hands, and grow together.  This is the way that the gospel
will penetrate the countryside and the neighborhoods."
   He hopes for true alliances between urban and rural churches,
seeing the isolated parishes as mission fields.  Through
partnership with particular people for set periods and in fixed
locations, relationships can be built up and the gospel will bear
fruit.	The blessing will not only accrue to those in the
mountains or in the city churches that come alongside them, but
to the entire PCT.

For more information:  Hong Ruei-long 921crc@ms2.pct.org.tw
		       Wang Wu-ming  ch195204@ms16.hinet.net