wfn.org | Weak No More, Rural Church in Taiwan Baptizes 14 on One Sunday

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Taiwan Church News 2744, 27 September to 3 October 2004
Reported by Li Hsin-ren.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

"Rural churches only need people to stay for the long term continually
preaching the gospel and they will grow." Pastor Lin Shou-yang, the newly
installed evangelist at Lu-man Presbyterian Church in a rural township in
Chia-yi County spoke these words on September 26th when 11 adults and 3
infants received baptism.  He attributed the high numbers coming to present
themselves to the work of his predecessor, Yeh Ching-yun, a lay pastor who
served the congregation for the past 28 years.

When Mr. Yeh retired last year the congregation requested a theologically
trained minister and received Mr. Lin, a fresh graduate of Taiwan Theological
College in Taipei.  Mr. Lin will serve for at least 2 years at Lu-man Church
as he fulfills the requirements for ordination to the office of Minister of
Word and Sacrament in Taiwan's Presbyterian Church.  Soon after his arrival
in
August the church's board of elders scheduled a day for celebration of the
sacraments and asked if any among the congregation and community desired to
present themselves for baptism.

Mr. Lin admits that he was somewhat nervous at first that nobody would
respond
to the invitation. But when eventually there were 11 adults he was pleased
and
grateful for the deep foundations set by Mr. Yeh and for the movement of the
Holy Spirit to bring so many.  "The work of the Holy Spirit brings the seed
of
the Gospel to growth and harvest," he said.

Worship on the morning of the 26th was a time of enthusiasm and excitement.
Since Mr. Lin is not yet ordained, the baptisms were performed by the Rev.
Dai
Kwang-jang, pastor of Niu Tiau Wan Presbyterian Church in a nearby town.  Of
the 11 adults, seven were young people in their 20's. A few in their 50's and
one in her 70's filled out the roster.

Mr. Lin said, "The seven young people all come from Christian homes. This is
a
good foundation for faith. Of the remaining people some came because of the
way that the church and church members showed concern for them after the
death
of a spouse. That was what drew them to decide to commit their lives to
Christ
and be baptized."

One long-term church friend approached Mr. Lin with the question, "I was
baptized as an infant 50 years ago." Lin invited her to proceed to
confirmation and full church membership.

Responding to the phenomenon of someone over 50 who had not progressed in
faith to confirmation and membership did not dismay the new pastor.  He sees
it as evidence that the gospel has been spread broadly and deeply in his
parish for a long time. He trusts that by the work of the Holy Spirit he is
now privileged to take part in the harvest.

Since Mr. Lin's arrival the church's youth and women's ministries have been
reinstated. He also seeks to reach out to the many senior citizens in the
parish, believing that the gospel seeds sown over his congregation's 97 years
of ministry must be ready to sprout among them.  He is eager to see the fruit
of all the work of his predecessors.

For More Information: Lin Shouyang  shouyang@ms88.url.com.tw
		      Dai Kuang-jang  taikuang@ms38.hinet.net
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
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