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

Taiwan Church News 2619, May 12, 2002
Reported by Chang Rei-ting, Written by David Alexander

    Jwo Lan Township in Miao-li County (North Central Taiwan) is a
remote place on the margins of Taiwan's economic miracle.  For
over ten years there had not been a church planting project
there.  In October of 2000 the Hsin-chu Presbytery of the
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) pierced through resistance
and, in a temporary structure, began outreach. There were no
members, and one evangelist.  Two months later the economic
downturn hit Taiwan.  In these conditions, church planting is not
known to thrive.
    Now, 18 months after that inauspicious start, the church has
six staff members, including two social workers.  Its programs
serve over 100 children and 90 isolated elderly people.  The
rolls include 106 baptized members and inquirers.  This
phenomenal explosion is a point of great happiness for the church
members and staff.
    The Rev. Ms. Li Ya-jen is the pastor there.  She leads the
church in its ecclesiastical role, but has a real heart for
community ministry and social work.  The church serves as the
community concern center.  From the beginning she carried the
tools of her trade with her wherever she went.  After Typhoon
Toraji in late 2000 she joined the volunteers digging people's
homes free of mud and rocks.  Making use of resources from
outside, she has turned the church hall into a community
classroom for language, arts and psychological training.  The
church also serves nearly a hundred disabled or abandoned elderly
residents of the area.
    "This church is founded 100% on faith.  The miracle here is
the result of our intention to simply go where the Holy Spirit
leads.  We follow our Lord, walking in the light of Christ.
This year, in addition to our continuing spiritual and social
work, we hope to move out of our temporary building to something
more solidly constructed.  If we add purchase of a vehicle to
that plan, then we will need about 8 million Taiwan Yuan
(US$232,000) to complete it. We ask everyone to pray for us, and
those the Holy Spirit is leading to contribute to us."

For More Information:  Hsin Chu Presbytery hcpres@mail.ht.net.tw
                     Jwo Lan Church talan@ms53.hinet.net

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