Urban sprawl challenges PCT to keep up and make presence felt

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

3059 Edition

October11~17, 2010

Church Ministry News



Urban sprawl challenges PCT to keep up and make presence felt

Reported by Chen Wei-chien

Written by Lydia Ma



As part of its 80th anniversary celebrations, PCT Taichung Presbytery 
held a mission forum to 

discuss future endeavors and brainstorm ideas. This forum held on 
October 10, 2010, at Da-li 

Church drew about 60 people and featured former Taiwan Theological 
College and Seminary 

President Lin Hong-hsin as the main speaker. Lin used this occasion 
to remind his audience of 

the importance of keeping in step with the needs of the times.



Using Taipei and Taichung as examples, Lin said PCT buildings and 
ministries are very visible 

in the older, established areas of these cities. But in recent years, 
many new communities, 

such as Nangang District (Taipei) and east Taipei, have sprung up due 
to urban sprawl and 

these newer, more recent communities may not even have one PCT local 
church.



Lin underscored that if churches miss out in the early stages of a 
community as it is being built 

and defined, it will be much more expensive and challenging for 
Christians to start churches 

and ministries there after it has become fully grown and established. 
That’s why he urged his 

listeners to make use of every opportunity to share the gospel. 



Taichung Presbytery Moderator Lai Hsin-song replied by pointing out 
residents settling down in 

the newer developments across Taichung were predominantly blue-collar 
workers. “That’s why 

we’re thinking of focusing on afterschool programs and more 
out-of-the-box ministry models,“ 

Lai said. 



He added it was imperative to discern some church or ministry 
traditions that 

were turning into barriers for churches – such as insistence on what 
language to use during 

services. Lai pressed on the need to be more diverse in church 
ministries.



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