wfn.org | Ecumenical Cooperation Against Poverty in one Taiwan City

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

Taiwan Church News 2669, April 27, 2003
Reported by Tio Leng-kip. Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

  Two thousand Christians from 18 different Protestant
denominations gathered in a middle school assembly hall during
Holy Week to share in celebration of the Eucharist and commit
themselves to work for alleviation of physical and spiritual
poverty in their city.
   The "One City One Body" movement, was launched by the Taichung
City Church Development Strategy Alliance. Its immediate focus is
to promote church ministries to the "new poor" families in their
immediate neighborhoods.  Congregations are encouraged to
demonstrate that they love the people of Taichung, and care for
the metropolitan area.
   Rev. Du Ming-da, head of the Alliance's board, said that
recent reports put more than 5% of Taiwan's population into the
category of "new poor".  He says many of them fall through the
government's programs for low-income people.  They include low
paid laborers, the unemployed and single mothers.  Their earning
ability does not meet their basic needs.  They are Taiwan's
poorest and most miserable group of residents.
   The alliance encourages churches to cooperate with municipal
government agencies, identifying themselves as social resources
in the struggle to alleviate poverty and need.	Churches also
should put into practice the Biblical injunction to love their
communities as neighbors.

For more information: Du Ming-da helpdesk@mail.grace.org.tw
		      FAX +886 4 2298 4821
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