wfn.org | Taipei's Alternative Graduation for a Plague Stricken

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

Class
Taiwan Church News 2675, June 8, 2003
Reported by Li Hsin-ren. Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

   To the strains of a traditional farewell song the Taipei
Campus Ministries Center of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
(PCT) conducted a graduation ceremony for college seniors.  This
was the only ceremony for some, because the SARS contagion had
resulted in the cancellation of large-scale gatherings at several
schools.
   As has become common in Presbyterian sponsored graduations in
recent years, there was foot washing.  Campus ministers washed
the feet of graduates to encourage them to lives of service.
   Some graduates had a novel way of recalling the course of
their years in college. In September 1999, when they began,
Taiwan was struck by a massive earthquake that killed over 1,200
people.  Their third year was opened with a typhoon and floods,
followed quickly by the September 11th terrorist attacks in the
USA that brought fear even to Taiwan.  Now they have received
their degrees in the middle of the SARS scare.	Even in the face
of all that has gone on during his years of higher education, one
student said, "Trust in God alone, and you need fear nothing."

For more information: Taipei Campus Ministries Center
ptl@mail.pct.org.tw

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