wfn.org | Taiwan Presbyterians Open Mission Center in Malawi

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

Taiwan Church News 2653, January 5,2003
Reported by Gu Hao-ran. Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

   The Presbytery of Seven Stars, which is located in and around
the city of Taipei in northern Taiwan, has jointly established a
mission center with the Nkhoma Synod of the Church of Central
Africa Presbyteiran (CCAP).  In the past, mission projects of the
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) have been managed through the
church's General Assembly which, through the Council for World
Mission, is in partnership with the Churches of Christ in
Malawi.  This is the first time that a local presbytery has taken
the initiative to have a direct foreign mission relationship with
an overseas partner.
   The Rev. Mr. Tony Lo, pastor of Ta-an Presbyterian Church, has
visited Malawi several times on projects instituted by his
congregation.  He says that the Nkhoma Synod is the largest in
the CCAP.  It, like the Seven Stars Presbytery, is located in and
around its national capital. It is comprised of 1116 churches
with nearly 800,000 members.
   According to Mr. Lo, the greatest current need of Malawi is
for medical services and resources.  The Taipei municipal
government has sent two used ambulance vehicles, and hopes that
the hospitals owned by the PCT and pharmacies owned by believers
can supplement this gift with medical supplies. The Nkhoma synod
has asked Seven Stars to aid in spiritual growth ministries among
its members.
   To respond to the request the Presbytery has set up a mission
service center in Lilongwe.  The center will facilitate Spiritual
and medical ministries from Taiwan.  Assistance with agriculture,
construction, utilities, computer and other services is
envisioned in the near future.
   A piece of land of about 200 ping (660 square meters) has been
purchased for construction of a house, assembly hall and
workshop.  The presbytery hopes to staff the center with three to
five persons, serving rotating terms of service of no less than
three months.  On this basis the center can be operational with
an income of 1.5 million Taiwan Yuan (42,860 Euros) per year.
   Seven Stars Presbytery's Campus Ministry Committee Chairman,
the Rev. Kho Seng-to, said, "The first step is to set up the
center.  Administratively we have appointed Rev. Lo to oversee
the work from this side for three years.  We will seek volunteers
from the members of the Presbytery's churches."
   Rev. Kho says that the project began in the Presbytery's
executive committee, but is seen as a channel through which all
churches and members of the presbytery can be involved, for the
first time, in overseas ministry.  It does not just exist for the
sake of training, but is a sign of hope for the churches of
Taiwan in outreach and service.

For more information: Seven Stars Presbytery star@ms2.pct.org.tw

www.sevenstar.disciple.com.tw
		     Tony Lo
taan4477@ms37.hinet.net
		     Kho Seng-to	     gikong@netown.org.tw

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