wfn.org | Taiwan's Future Churches: "Without Walls"

[Taiwan Church News <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Taiwan Church News 2640, October 6, 2002
Reported by Tio Leng-kip. Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

   Taiwan's Christians and adherents of folk religions disagree
on many things, but are as one in regarding their churches and
temples as "sacred space."  What, if anything, is the difference
between the two sorts of facilities?  The Rev. Ms. Hwang Ya-en of
Ta-du (Big belly) Presbyterian Church in Central Taiwan points to
the walls that surround church yards.  "The walls have for a long
time stood between churches and the neighborhoods where they
stand. If the gospel is to penetrate the community, this barrier
cannot stand between the church and the people."
  "A few years ago this church built a new facility.  The design
committee visited many organizations, schools and churches
first.	The landscaping budget, which would include the wall, was
going to be large.  When it came time to decide on a plan, God
moved the committee to opt for a church without walls as a symbol
of our outreach intent."
   Today the green landscaped church yard is open to the
neighbors on all sides, and all appreciate it.	Early every
morning women come to stroll the pathways and converse.  In the
afternoon the lawn is full of laughing playing children.  In the
evening elderly people gather around stone tables to drink tea
and play chess.  It is a leisure garden for the neighborhood.
Overseas laborers from the area find it a pleasant place to relax
after work.
   Ta-du Presbyterian church has been in ministry for 99 years.
On September 28th the congregation hosted a "gospel dinner" for
their neighbors.  About a hundred non members (of the 200
invited) attended a meal, concert and evangelistic program.
   Rev. Hwang advances the argument for a church without walls a
further step, "The 21st Century Church will not have walls, but
it is not a formless entity.  It will penetrate its surrounding
community." Ta-du Church has been actively engaged in prayer for
the 55,000 not-yet-believers who live in the 17 villages that
surround its immediate neighborhood.  Distribution of tracts,
presentation of programs and other activities to spread the
gospel seed are part of the congregation's outreach efforts.  She
and her entire church hope to see faith begin to grow, even as
they have seen the grass of the church lawn sprout and green the
neighborhood.

For more information: Ta-du Presbyterian Church  FAX +886 4 2698
0973

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