wfn.org | Church Band in Taiwan Celebrates 3rd Anniversary with a Tour

["pctpress" <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Taiwan Church News 2738, 16-22 August 2004
Reported by Dong Hong-jiun.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

Tsao-tun Presbyterian Church in Central Taiwan recently celebrated the third
anniversary of its Wind and String band by going on tour. When the group was
established it had only 11 members, but has grown by ten each year and now
numbers 31. The band's existence is a function of the congregation's
community
outreach and witness, entered into as part of its centennial celebrations.
The Rev. Hsieh Cheng-shiang, pastor at Tsao-tun, said that the band
especially
encourages church youth to participate as a form of service.

He described the band's purpose as three-fold: to represent the church's
participation in neighborhood culture; to raise the quality of musical skill
among the neighbors; and to invite one and all to come into contact with
Christians and the gospel of Jesus Christ in a natural way.

Since its beginnings the band has performed in many venues, including at
activities marking the fourth anniversary of the 1999 earthquake that
centered
in the town of Chi-chi.  This year they have already traveled to nearby
Nantou
and all the way to Taipei where they performed at Meng-zhu Presbyterian
Church
and San-zhi Convalescent Center.

Rev. Hsieh believes that organizing a band is an attainable goal for most
congregations. "It's not a financial burden, it's more a matter of
willingness. All that is needed is a set practice time and a place to
perform.
Success is almost a given!"

The Rev. Hsieh Jie-ming, pastor of Meng-zhu church, welcomed the band as an
example of another aspect of community ministry that his own congregation,
already deeply involved, can implement.

For More Information: Chau-tun Church tsaotunc@ms49.hinet.net
		   Meng-zhu Church +886 2 23619352
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
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