wfn.org | Taiwan's Hakka are not "Hardpan", but Neglected.

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

Taiwan Church News 2662, March 9, 2003
Reported by Ku Hao-jan. Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

   The Hakka District of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT)
held a mission festival and seminar on February 28 and March 1 at
Tsing Hwa University in Hsin-chu City. Participants from
Hakkanese churches nationwide came for a service of worship in
memory of Hakka pioneer evangelist Chung A-jie and social
activist Chung Chien-shuen. Seminars and workshops filled out the
remainder of the two day event.
   The Rev. Chiou Shan-hsiung, head of the Hakka Mission
Committee of the PCT, gave the keynote address. He said that the
Hakka people should not be seen as "hardpan", where the roots of
Christianity are not able to penetrate, but as a "contrary",
though fertile, field.	He believes the sad thing is that in the
past this field was not given much attention, with few people
going to work it, so it became hard.  He called on God to send
forth many workers.
   Three scholars addressed the seminar.  Dr. Cheng Yangen from
Taiwan Theological College spoke on the history of Hakka
evangelistic work in the PCT.  He pointed out an attitude of
"hard to start and few returns" that persisted until the end of
the Second World War. This was because mission strategy did not
take into account ethnic differences and sought to homogenize
minorities into the majority Taiwanese cultural mode.  Among
minority groups, especially the Hakka, this was taken as
arrogance and prejudice.
   Li Chiao, from the College of Taiwan Culture, pointed out
aspects of Hakka identity that must be taken into account by
church planters and evangelists.  Ancestor veneration and respect
for locations are prime here.  Hakka culture also emphasizes
practicality, preservation and empiricism.  Fundamental
understanding of Hakka social and religious culture are essential
if churches are to be developed.  He says, "The message of the
gospel is unchangeable, but the style in which we bring the
gospel must be attractive if it is to bear fruit."
   Ms Yeh Ju-lan, from the Central Government's Hakka Affairs
Committee, began by commending the PCT for its firm stance on
social reform. She went on to thank the church for the help
concern and comfort given to her family when her husband Cheng
Nan-rong died. She sees the primary mission of the church as
seeking the lost sheep, and the mission of the government's Hakka
Affairs Committee as gathering those sheep together. She hopes
that both church and government can become agencies for the
preservation and transmission of Hakka culture.
   The Rev. William J. K. Lo, the PCT's General Secretary,
encouraged all to remember the unflagging zeal of evangelist
Chung A-jie (who dedicated herself to leading people to faith in
Christ) and deacon Chung Chian-suen (who was a leader in the
movement for democracy, human rights and the independence of
Taiwan).  Together they showed the concerns of the PCT for the
salvation of Taiwan's people and the involvement of Christians in
the life of this society and nation.

For more information:  PCT Hakka Mission Committee:
hakka@mail.pct.org.tw
		       Chiou Shan-hsiung  88423@cch.org.tw
		       Cheng Yangen  giongun.tin@msa.hinet.net
		       William J. K. Lo  wmlo@mail.pct.org.tw

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