wfn.org | Taiwan - Bloodstained Ground becomes Temple of Reconciliation

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Taiwan Church News, 2614, April 7th 2002
Reported by Hwang Thai-ku,  Written by David Alexander

    In 1980 a political assassination transformed a pleasant family
home in Taipei City into a scene of carnage. Local and overseas
Christians responded by purchasing the apartment and
converting it into a church two years later. On March 31st the
Yi-kwang Presbyterian Church celebrated its 20th anniversary.
    From the time of its founding the congregation and its
ministers
have sought to engage in community development from their
own special angle as an agency of Christian mission.  Rev. Hsu
Cheng-tao is the third minister to serve the church.  He
listed the four main thrusts of the church's outreach: Worship
Renewal; Community Organizing; Mass Media Outreach; and
Concern for the Special Needs of weak and minority citizens.
    During the celebration an earthquake struck Taiwan. Rev.
Hsu immediately led the assembled congregation in prayer for
God's protection of the people of Taiwan.
   Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, joined the meeting.  Rev.
Hsu, insisting that the event was a worship service focused on
hearing the Word of God, asked Mr. Chen to delay any
comments he would make until worship concluded. When that
had happened, President Chen took the pulpit and praised
the church for being a place where the gospel of love is
spread in word and in deed.  He said that the church serves
as an example of the righteous example of reconciliation
as opposed to a call for revenge.
   The meeting reconvened outdoors in the park opposite the
church where a gospel team from Ta An Presbyterian Church
and the Yi-kwang church choir entertained neighborhood
residents with beautiful anthems.  Rev. Hsu said that this sort
of outdoor event is typical of the community organizing work
that the congregation does. He compared the church to a
neighborhood temple, because its doors are never locked.
That alone has brought it a respect in the neighborhood that
few Christian churches enjoy.

For more information: gikong@netown.org.tw

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