Smangus Aborigine Church to mark 60th anniversary by emphasizing shared identity and future

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

3082 Edition

March 21~27, 2011

Church Ministry News



Smangus Aborigine Church to mark 60th anniversary by emphasizing shared 
identity and future



Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong

Written by Lydia Ma



Smangus Presbyterian Church, an Aborigine Church belonging to Atayal 
Presbytery, will be marking its 60 anniversary this coming October. 

To celebrate the tribe’s cultural revival and how it is based on Christianity, 
Smangus Tribe Committee will organize an inter-tribe forum and invite scholars 
to speak about the challenges and dangers Aborigines will face in various 
aspects of life, including passing on their Christian faith, protecting their 
ecology, keeping their traditions alive, etc.

According to Smangus Church’s pastor Rev. Along Yupas, the role of Aborigine 
churches is to let Aborigines know that God created the universe and to help 
them grow in knowledge and maturity through teaching them the Bible. Once these 
solid foundations are established, Aborigines will begin to understand their 
right to life, property, and their intricate role and coexistence with their 
environment.

Rev. Along underscored that unless Aborigine rights and properties are fiercely 
protected, sooner or later they will be smuggled by treacherous corporations 
and government officials. Should the disappearance of rights and properties 
ever happen, the extinction of a tribe would surely follow.

Asked about the transformation of Smangus in recent years as it becomes open to 
the public for retreats, Rev. Along said the area’s ecosystem is still fragile 
and in need of protection, but he was glad more and more people were getting 
acquainted with the wonders of God’s creation by visiting Aborigine 
reservations.

Despite these encouraging signs, Rev. Along admitted candidly that as his 
people continued their efforts to revitalize their lands and their economy, the 
love of money would also become a great temptation leading to strife and 
tearing tribes apart. He urged church elders to pray for wisdom and ask God to 
deliver them from dangers that loom ahead.

********************

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages. 

You may translate and re-use our articles online only if you acknowledge the 
source as "Taiwan Church News" and list the names of the reporter and writer. 
Contact us before reprinting any of our articles for print publications. 

Direct comments and questions about this article to: enews@pctpress.org

Visit our website for more news at: http://enews.pctpress.org/ (English) or 
http://www.pctpress.org (Chinese) 

********************