wfn.org | Central Taiwan Church Establishes Trishaw Service to Boost

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

Local Employment
Taiwan Church News 2675, June 8, 2003
Reported by Central Taiwan Bureau Staff. Translated and rewritten
by David Alexander

   The town of Lu-kang (Deer Harbor) in Central Taiwan is noted
for its efforts at historical preservation.  People from all over
Taiwan and around the world come to see and experience the way
the ancestors of modern Taiwanese people lived over a hundred
years ago.  The town is full of traditional temples dedicated to
the goddess of the Taiwan Straits and other local deities.  But
it is also home to three congregations of the Presbyterian Church
in Taiwan.
   Lu-kang is surrounded by industrial districts where many of
its residents are gainfully employed.  But an economic downturn
in East Asia over the past two years has put many middle aged
male industrial workers onto the street.
   On May 31st, just in time for the annual Folk Arts Festival,
Lu-kang Presbyterian Church formally established a Tourist
Trishaw Transportation Team to bear witness to the congregation's
concern for the community and to provide employment opportunities
for local people.  The opening ceremony was attended by Chang-hua
County Magistrate Ueng Chin-chu, who is a member of a
Presbyterian Church elsewhere in the area, Township Chief Hwang
Cheng-lung, members of the national parliament and of the county
council.
   The ceremony was led by the Rev. Mr. Li Jen-hao, pastor of
Lu-Kang Presbyterian Church.  In his remarks he urged Trishaw
Team members to work together in the peace of God.  He said that
the team was organized as an expression of God's love and the
congregation's response to the local economic situation.
   Guei Hsien-rong is an elder of Lu-kang church.  He has been
active in folk culture activities in the town for more than 20
years. In his personal opinion, a trishaw is the ideal mode of
transport for a tourist wanting to see the special features of
the town.  He and Rev. Li worked put a detailed plan onto paper
and promoted it to the other elders and the church's board of
deacons.  The "team" emerged from this cooperation.
   Besides giving tourists a good way to see the town, trishaw
operation gives work to the unemployed.  The church requires team
members to participate in classroom training sessions, not only
in describing the town's sites, but also in basic courtesy to
customers.  Every Saturday evening's training session also
includes a short service of Christian worship to expose team
members to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
   Two "religious" features of the team plan go beyond its church
sponsorship. Each of the trishaws bears the burning bush seal of
the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan as well as an identification
with Lu-kang Church.  More personally, drivers are trained to
greet each passenger with the word "Peace" and to send them off a
the end of a ride with the words, "Go in Peace."  Rev. Li asks,
"Who is not in need of peace?" He notes that "This Christian
greeting is a much needed and deeply meaningful blessing."
   Trishaws and drivers can be found waiting beside the Lu-kang
township Children's park every day.

For more information: Lu-kang Presbyterian Church  TEL +886 4
7762567
		      Li Jen-hao  jnl5613@ms5.hinet.net

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