Title: Mass Baptism at Historic Taiwan Church Taiwan Church News 2824 10-16 April 2006 Reported by Yu-kao. Written by David Alexander
Bak-sa Presbyterian Church celebrated the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper on Palm Sunday. Forty -five adults received baptism and the rite of confirmation and 11 children were baptized. Among these 56 were many elderly people, including several between the ages of 60 and 80. With testimony to the great power of God, late in life they came to new life.
The church was founded 138 years ago when James Maxwell, a pioneer missionary from Scotland, did evangelistic work among the lowland aborigines living in the area. Until recently its membership has continued from generation to generation. But this time, the celebration of baptisms was significantly different from before. In the past, especially at the church¡¦s beginnings, entire families would be baptized together. This time the persons came one by one, including elderly people who had been considered ¡§church adherents¡¨ for decades. These now decided to stand up for themselves and declare their faith in Christ.
The Rev. Ng Sek-hun, pastor of Bak-sa Church, said, "More than half of these elderly people coming for baptism are third to fifth generation Christians. Their families have long histories of church membership, but they themselves have never come for baptism. That's why they were numbered among our congregation's adherents. Last August, when I was installed as pastor here, I began a cycle of visits to homes. I discovered the situation, and committed myself to help them in faith formation to the point that they have now opted for baptism and membership.
Rev. Ng discovered that the situation of so many non-baptized people in his church was based on three things. First: though these elderly people had known since their youth the steps of faith towards Christian commitment and identity they feared losing freedom should they commit themselves through baptism. Second: some of them misunderstood the nature of baptism and were biblically illiterate. Third: some of their families were afraid of baptism. Because of these three things, he conducted counseling and education programmes, and encouraged those who were fearful, weak, or felt their faith to be insufficiently ardent.
Time passed. These elderly peoples' families began to change their understandings of baptism, and Rev. Ng continued to offer pastoral care. He noticed that they began to lose their fear of ¡§facing an examination¡¨ as he spent more time with them. Additionally, he continued to visit again and again, encouraging them and their families. The process bore fruit, and faith was built upon a foundation of understanding and recognition.
Organizationally, the congregation was re-districted into five neighborhoods, and an elder assigned responsibility for the families with elderly members in each. This contact with lay leaders was also influential in the lives of those who eventually presented themselves for baptism.
Rev. Ng feels that as a church seeks to lead the elderly to faith and baptism, it is important to understand the background of the people to whom one is sent. The meaning and importance of baptism, as well as the steps taken towards the day, must be clearly set forth. A slow process of encouragement and strengthening within the pastoral relationship with believers needs to be built up. And in the end, no matter what the result, prayer must be the most important tool for people on all sides.
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