wfn.org | Taiwan is the Mother of Faith for Detained Women from China

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Taiwan Church News 2723, 3 through 9 May 2004
Reported by Yang Shu-hao and Gu Hao-jan. Translated and Rewritten by David
Alexander

Jinglu (Peaceful Hut) Detention Center near Lo-tung on Taiwan's Northeast
coast was opened three years ago to hold the overflow of illegal immigrants
from China who await repatriation. Churches in the area began to take an
interest in their new neighbors. On May 7th that interest is scheduled to
bear
fruit as 55 women who have confessed faith in Christ will receive baptism
behind bars. Local clergy hope this is not the last time that such an event
can happen in the center.

When a detention center in Hsin-chu on Taiwan's West coast became inadequate
to hold all of the illegal immigrants being rounded up for deportation, the
facility in Lo-tung, with a capacity of 800 inmates, was set up.  The center
has only accepted female inmates since the end of last year. Among the women
are some who are as young as 17 or 18 years of age. For whatever reasons,
many
were cheated into coming to Taiwan and have no idea as to when they will be
sent back to China.  The emotional misery is unthinkable.

In order that these women could experience the care and concern of the people
of Taiwan, local Christians began to present programs on Mother's day,
Christmas day, New Year's day and other holidays.  The hope and intention was
to be a comfort to these confined women.

Under the direction of local clergy, concerts and sermons were offered, and
gradually the relationships developed and deepened.

On biweekly visits church workers share songs and testimonies and pass out
gospel literature. They make sure to pray with the women for their families
in
China.

The long-term care has produced unintended fruit. The Rev. Mr. Wang Ing-shi ,
a retired Presbyterian minister with long experience in prison ministry and
Twu Huei Hsiung, chaplain of Three Stars Prison, will conduct a mass baptism.
Fifty five women have signed "decision cards" and plan to present themselves
for the rite of initiation into the church.

Rev. Wang attributes the result to the grace of God. "Prison work is
difficult," he says. But he is thankful to the prison authorities' support of
the churches' ministry of concern. Seeing so many women come to faith and
find
renewed strength for life inspires him. "Every time I go into a jail I am
cheerfully received." He regrets, though, that because the occasions are
limited and contact is controlled, neither he nor the others who visit with
him develop much of a personal relationship with the inmates.

The ministry in Lo-tung is ecumenical, supported by the local ministerial
association and clergy of several different churches.  They consider
themselves to be colleagues in the work and to mutually enjoy the fruit of
their labor. Their greatest hope is that when the women who have come to
faith
while incarcerated eventually return to China they will become evangelists
themselves.

Prison chaplain Twu Huei-hsiung said, "the women detained at Jinglu are
emotionally fragile. They are very open to the gospel. The numbers of those
incarcerated here and of those them coming for baptism both exceed our
expectations."

The rites will be conducted at 2PM on May 7th. Rev. Wang and Rev. Twu will be
joined by Rev. Wu En-ching from Lan-yang Presbyterian Church in I-lan City.
Rev. Twu plans a sermon based on the 6th chapter of the Epistle to the
Romans.
Women's fellowship groups from local churches will offer anthems and a flute
concert.

For More Information: Wang Ing-shi FAX +886 3 945 3723
		  Twu Huei-hsiung TEL +886 3 932 7561
		  Wu En-ching ly323882@ms57.hinet.net
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
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