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Taiwan's National Prayer Breakfast Won't Fear SARS


From Taiwan Church News <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>
Date Fri, 30 May 2003 13:04:00 +0800

Taiwan Church News 2674, June 1, 2003
Reported by Chen Chin-wan. Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

   The preparatory committee for Taiwan's third annual National
Prayer Breakfast held its final meeting on May 23rd at the
Mission Center of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.  In the face
of the difficulties imposed on the nation by SARS, the committee
feels that the need for concerted prayer is ever more urgent.
Therefore the members decided not to cancel or delay the event,
but to reconfigure it as a "Prayer Meeting for the Nation".
   Committee chairman James Hsia said, "Notwithstanding the
epidemic situation and the government's appeal that large scale
events be cancelled, the date and location for the prayer meeting
stand as originally set.  June 14th from 7:30 to 10:30 AM at
Taipei's International Convention Center."
   Meeting convener Chou Sin-cho said, "In Korea when they faced
military threats between the South and the North, in Uganda when
they faced an explosion of AIDS and crises in political economy,
in Indonesia when there was inter-communal violence, their
churches came together in prayer for their nations'
transformation. The unity around prayer in the face of these
threats brought revival to the churches.  Taiwan's current crisis
is SARS.  We need the churches here to unite in prayer. We need
to call on God to heal this land, transform this nation, and
revive these churches."
   SARS has changed the way the event will be conducted.  All
people entering the hall will first have their temperatures
checked.  Nobody with a fever will be admitted.  The event will
be broadcast live on cable TV and on the internet for those
unable to travel to the site.
   This year's original emphasis on ethnic reconciliation will be
retained. It will be exemplified in a footwashing ceremony.
William J. K. Lo, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in
Taiwan, has participated in many such ceremonies. On June 14th
six men and women will represent Taiwan's major resident ethnic
groups, overseas contract laborers and disabled people in
receiving footwashing.	Testimonies will be spoken by four
representatives of ethnic groups.

For more information: http://www.ccra.org.tw/sars/npb.htm

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local
languages.
Visit our web site: www.pctpress.com.tw


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