wfn.org | Taiwan's National Prayer Breakfast Scheduled for August 28

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Taiwan Church News 2729, 14-20 June 2004
Reported by Li Hsin-ren. Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

Taiwan's National Prayer Breakfast, which has been held in April or May in
past years has been put off until August 28th this year. It will take place
at
Taipei's International Conference Center. The theme will be Justice and
Mercy,
and Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian has once again been invited to address
the group and join the prayers.

This year's event will feature a sermon by the Rev. James Hsia, executive
secretary of the Chinese Christian Evangelistic Association. Representatives
of Taiwan's four main ethnic groups will lead prayers for President Chen and
for ethnic reconciliation. Gold Medal winner Judy Linton will sing and share
her faith testimony and history.

The organizing committee has representatives from Taiwan's major religious
denominations and para-church groups. In the wake of last March's
presidential
elections many ministers see a grave need for ethnic harmony in Taiwan. That
is why the theme for this year's event centers on calling for justice and
mercy.

Apart from changing the date of the event the organizing committee also
modified other plans.  Originally Taiwan's former president Lee Teng-hui was
to have been invited to speak, but some on the committee were of the opinion
that Mr. Lee has become too controversial a figure in Taiwan's political
landscape. After much discussion and prayer, a decision was taken not to
extend him an invitation.

Committee member William J. K. Lo, the General Secretary of the Presbyterian
Church in Taiwan (PCT), said that his church emphasizes "Mission with
People".
This necessarily includes matters of national identity. The decision
regarding
former president Lee, therefore, was not unanimous, but all members of the
committee respect the majority opinion.

Regarding Taiwan's current condition of "ethnic disharmony" he opined that it
is not based on ethnicity but on understandings of national identification.
When all recognize the national identity of Taiwan then there is no "ethnic"
problem.

For More Information: Tel!G886-2-2772-1070  Fax!G886-2-2772-1090
www.ccea.org.tw
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
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