Title: Taiwan's Quakers Serve Street People at the Friendship Center
Taiwan Church News 2835, 26 June - 2 July 2006
Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong. Written by David Alexander
"We are a church, established in both form and function. We care for street people and the poor." Pastor Chen San-pu director of the Taiwan Quaker Church's "Friendship Center" describes his work and world. "Before the center was opened a Christian woman who wanted to follow in the footsteps of Jesus once brought a street friend into a big Christian church, but they were not accepted. So she then brought her friends to Haishan Quaker Church in Panchiao in Taipei County. From those beginnings, the numbers of street friends responding to the ministry has steadily increased." But conflict arose between the street friends weakness and the church members. The minister admonished his flock, "Street people are lost sheep, they need care." The conflict was partly overcome when the congregation rented another facility for the street friends to use for worship and meals. That was the beginning of Friendship Church.
Pastor Chen says that work among the poor is not easy. More resources are needed, but many who have money to contribute see the ministry as a black hole. That fact alone deters many churches from choosing this particular mission. But he asks, "Doesn't the Bible teach that the church must do this work? Isn't it written that we should serve the suffering and thus receive God's blessing?"
Last year Taiwan's Quaker Association chose to walk this road, setting up Friendship Church as "Friendship Center" and designating it a national ministry of the association. Resources are drawn from all of Taiwan's Quaker congregations in support of what has become the "poor people's church."
According to Pastor Chen, Taiwan's churches are middle class organizations. But they should not forget that a generation ago most of them were poor. Missionaries who brought the gospel laid the foundation for today's financially abundant life enjoyed by many Christians. This was part of the gospel seed they sowed. Friendship Center also needs a hundred years, after which it, too, will become an agency of sharing the blessing.
One street friend, Brother Chang described how he was at a bridge rail, preparing to jump and end his life because he was unemployed and hungry. But on the rail was a sticker advising him that if he was hungry he could find food at the church. He went to Friendship Center where God saved his life with a mouthful of rice. That is why Friendship Center is open every day, offering two meals to street people, so that the marginalized might not decide to kill themselves because of the lack of a meal.
The ministry has been expanded from Panchiao to Taipei, Nantou, Chungli and Taichung. Before each meal there is a 30 minute assembly for bible reading. Evenings also include bible classes and preaching. And every Sunday there is worship because this is, after all, a church. Pastor Chen says that in the Friendship Center, the Gospel comes first, and feeding supports that work.
To date the combined congregations in all the centers total over 200 baptized members.
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
Visit our web site: www.pctpress.com.tw