wfn.org | Channeling Proceeds from Recycling Program toward Christian Media

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>Taiwan Church News

>2959 Edition

>November 10~16, 2008

Channeling Proceeds from Recycling Program toward Christian Media

>Reported by: Chen Wei-jian

>Written by: Lydia Ma

Near Nantou Taiwan, one church is finding ways to turn trash into cash.  Tsao-Tun Presbyterian Church is encouraging its members to bring  recyclable items to church every Sunday. The church opened a recycling  booth where members can drop off recyclable items. This program will  transform recycling into an activity that is beyond supporting the  environment because proceeds from it will go toward supporting  multi-media evangelistic organizations or programs.

Organized by a church elder from Tsao-Tun church, the recycling program  made its debut on November 2nd where over one hundred church members  contributed. For now, the church estimates that proceeds from the  recycling program will average $3,000 NTD a month. Elder Lee got this  idea when he saw Buddhist organizations collecting and redeeming  recyclable goods at the time when New Eyes Television (a Presbyterian  Church in Taiwan network) launched a fundraising advertisement. He felt  that churches could begin a recycling program and channel the proceeds  toward supporting Christian media involved in evangelism, such as  Presbyterian Church of Taiwan’s TV channel New Eyes Television  (NETV) and Taiwan Church News.

Elder Lee believes that since most people are already recycling in their  own homes, it is easier to enlist their help in a recycling program than  calling them to sponsor a program through monthly contributions.  Furthermore, people can ask their friends to join by organizing  recycling programs in their communities. The main purpose of this  program is not fundraising, but rather using it as an opportunity to  raise awareness of Christian media in Taiwan. Elder Lee can almost see  Christians sharing about Christian media and its ministries with their  co-workers or neighbors while recycling and telling them that the  purpose of the program is to support these organizations. Non-believers  may end up browsing these organizations themselves and the program would  become an instrument for sharing the gospel.

“If only 50% of Presbyterian churches in Taiwan participate in this  program, we could generate millions of dollars each year to support  Christian media who are actively sharing the gospel,” Elder Lee  commented. Though not every church is able to organize recycling  programs, most urban churches can do so. They can also collaborate with  local businesses by picking up recyclable goods on Sundays from offices.  Though the revenue generated may not be high, it would still be a good  opportunity to interact with the community, garner community support,  and bring church members closer together.

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