wfn.org | Taiwan's Aborigines in Public Praise

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Taiwan Church News 2715, 8 through 14 March 2004

Reported by Yang Shu-haw.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

The Municipal Government of Taipei conducted an Aboriginal Song Contest on
March 6th.  Twenty groups performed, including the choir of Balung
Presbyterian Church in Taoyuan County.	The group offered an anthem of their
own composition the Tayal language "Respect the Lord's Way" and another
imported from Brooklyn in the USA. They took first prize.

  Though his church's choir came in first, the Rev. Maray Batu humbly said
that their main purpose in participating was to praise God in public.  "The
only reason we sing at all is to praise God. Our rank on finishing the
contest
is not important."

  Elder Yan Ming-der from Chi-mei Presbyterian Church (of the Amis tribe)
praised the contest for its emphasis on mother tongues.  Use of Aboriginal
languages in Christian hymns is one of the ways to preserve mother tongues.
He also saw the contest as a good way to spread the gospel.

For More Information: Balung Presbyterian Church FAX +886 3 3912927

		      Chi-mei Presbyterian Church +886 0921599346

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.

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