wfn.org | Taiwan: See the Future of the Church in Children's Faces

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

Taiwan Church News 2624, June 16, 2002
Reported by Li Shin-ren, Translated
      and Rewritten by David Alexander

    Hsing-chun Presbyterian Church, located where
the city of Chia-yi tapers into countryside, has
both urban and rural characteristics.  The
congregation has long been involved in community
service ministries.  In 1996 the members established
a community development association to deepen
their involvement with the neighborhood in which
they are located.  Current community projects
include education and recreation.  The "Little
Lilies" chorus is one of the association's most
visible operations.
    Following the dedication of the church's
current facilities in 1992 the congregation moved
its energies to outreach activities. Children's
ministries formed a big part of this.  The church
already had its own children's choir, "The Little
Angels".  Vacation Bible School that year brought
in more children from the community. A Saturday
afternoon recreation program now conducted at the
church sees 80 children attending on average.
    Ms. Lin Yu-chu, who has directed the Little
Angels choir for ten years, also participates in
the community outreach.  She says, "The more deeply
we enter into service, the more we come to depend
on the strength of God and the more we experience
the grace of God's leadership."  She says that
the majority of children coming to the weekend
recreation program are not from church members'
families, but they have learned how to pray.
Some have asked prayers for alcohol problems
among the adults in their homes.
   The Rev. Ngo Beng-hiong, points out that
Presbyterian style in Taiwan is centered on worship.
He wants to see the children participating in
the church's worship so their faith might grow.
To do that, he has focused on teaching children
about worship, and every week a portion of the
worship service is aimed at and dedicated to the
children in attendance.
    The "Little Lilies" chorus held its tenth
anniversary concert on June 16th.  They sang in
Mandarin Chinese and in Taiwanese. The concert
was seen not only as a musical event, but also a
demonstration of the fruit of these children's
education in ceremonial occasions.  The group
has plans to go on overseas tour to Japan,
Singapore and North America. It has given
concerts in a county jail, a reformatory and a
hospital.  Church and community meet at Hsing-chun
Presbyterian Church. This meeting yields music
for the neighborhood, for those in jail, and for
those laid low by illness.

For more information:
Hsing-chun Presbyterian Church: revbenwu@yahoo.com.tw