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Taiwan Church News 2732, 5-11 July 2004
Reported by Li Hsin-ren. Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

The Northern Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) has budgeted 2
million Taiwan Yuan (approx. US$60,000) to purchase a piece of land for
mission work in northern Thailand. The Synod's moderator, Jan Fu-te and
delegation of interested clergy returned from a survey of the area with the
plans for construction of missionary housing and a training center on the
site.
   Rev. Kho Eng-hong, who was part of the visiting team, said that the
synod's
current arrangement of renting facilities for its mission work among the Aka
people of the area is not viable in the long-term. The need to establish
something that can eventually be turned over to the Aka for their own
training
of ministry workers drove the decision to purchase land now.
   The land in question is located near the juncture of four countries,
Thailand, Burma, Laos and China. A free-port venture is under development
there. Once that plan comes to fruition the proposed missions training center
will be well situated for ministry.
   Thailand's government allows only Thai citizens to purchase land within
the
nation's borders. The northern synod has cooperated with Chen Keh-ren, the
president of Thailand Theological College, in this matter, and all has gone
smoothly.  Mr. Chen is a graduate of Taiwan Theological College and maintains
warm contacts in this country. The two colleges cooperate in design of
mission
projects. They expect that the newly established mission center will be
offering theological courses and other training to nourish the evangelists of
the region within three years.

For More Information: Northern Synod TEL +886 2 2391 8310
		  Jan Fu-te  FAX +886 3 5321524
		  Kho Eng-hong clchurch@ms55.hinet.net
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
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