wfn.org | Taiwan's Mackay Memorial Hospital to Tithe Income for

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

Gospel Work
Taiwan Church News 2666, April 6, 2003
Reported by Li Shan. Translated and rewritten by David Alexander

   "It is our hope that this hospital can give a tithe!" Iu*
Su-kheng (Yang Shih-ching), chairman of Mackay Memorial
Hospital's board of directors, declared the plan and signed the
pledge at a celebration on March 29th.	Mackay is an agency of
the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT).
   A phased plan for both internal and external gospel work
begins with the hospital's publication and distribution of a
newsletter, "Good Neighbor". It moves on to work toward
increasing the number of volunteer evangelists serving in the
main and branch medical facilities (the eventual goal is 1,000)
and move towards closer contact with churches.	The final phase
will move outward, by offering subsidies for various ministries
of gospel action and proclamation.
   The hospital called on outside consultants to develop its
plan.  Chairman Iu* said, "Not only hospital staff and board
members were involved.	We drafted in 7 clergy and experts in
social work to draft the details."
   Rev. Lim Cheng-khun, head of Mackay's Office of Chaplains,
said, "The board of directors took this decision after long and
deep consideration." He added, We hope to update the missional
spirit of Mackay. Today all we have is for sharing, so we will
enter into cooperative agreements with various agencies for
gospel work.  To all on the front lines, this hospital will
become the strategic reserve."
   A fund of 6.88 million Taiwan Yuan (1.86 million Euros) will
be available this year.  Agencies desiring subsidies must
complete an extensive application with clear plans, goals and
administrative structures.
   Nine agencies have already applied.	The Taiwan Church Press,
which publishes a nationwide gospel newspaper, proposes a new
publication aimed at the 97% of Taiwan's population who do not
yet claim Jesus Christ as their Lord.  Wan-Long Technical College
has asked for help to support tutoring of children on remote
islands.  The Disabled Peoples' Concern Center of the PCT has
asked a subsidy to enable it to provide child counseling
services. Two Aboriginal tribes, the Bunun and Sejek, have
requested help in funding a program providing sex education for
their young people in Nantou County.
   Mr. Iu* said that when a Christian takes up God's mission,and
when people contribute for out of love for God, then there is
glory. "We must accept the standards that God has given us.
God's standards are our calling."

For more information www.mmh.org.tw
				 Lim Cheng-khun
mmhcler@ms2.mmh.org.tw

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