wfn.org | Taipei Church Celebrates 25 Years Among the Temples

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

Taiwan Church News 2675, June 8, 2003
Reported by Ku Hao-jan. Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

   For 25 years Ta-chr Presbyterian Church in Taipei has lived
and grown surrounded by Taoist, Buddhist and folk religion
shrines and temples. "But," reports the Rev. Tsai Shing-seng,
"the sisters and brothers have not feared 'Spiritual Warfare'. In
fact, over the past 3 years we have completed the purchase and
equipping of an entirely new church facility."	On November 11th
the congregation will celebrate its 25th anniversary.
   Established in 1978 as an outreach of Shuang-lien Presbyterian
Church in central Taipei, the church began in a rented
apartment.  In 1981 it purchased a storefront, but it was
insufficient for the group's needs.  A ten year plan led was set
forth, but a rapid increase in property values frustrated
progress.  The church eventually rented a small lot on which to
set up an education center.
   Six years ago the congregation moved forward again, to
purchase facilities for both worship and educational use.  They
viewed several different basement locations, but many of those
had flooding problems.	According to Rev. Tsai, "This was God's
way of deterring us from a bad decision."
   The church amassed a building fund of 60 million Taiwan Yuan
(1.5 million Euros), mostly from member contributions but a
portion from a mortgage.  The facility, on an upper floor of a
large housing complex, is now in use.
   Rev. Tsai reports that religion thrives in the neighborhood,
but it is mainly in the form of folk religion temples and
shrines.  He notes that the new church location has folk religion
sites left, right, behind, and beneath.  This, he says, makes it
all the more necessary to be an active community participant.
   The congregation is intimately involved with the
neighborhood.  In the housing complex, Rev. Tsai serves as head
of the resident's committee.  As a demonstration of the upright
behavior of Christian witness the church is implementing a
program of visitation and service to neighbors who live alone.

For more information: Ta-chr Presbyterian Church
m2dj.tsai@msa.hinet.net

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