wfn.org | Members of City Council Organize a Christian Fellowship in Taiwan

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Taiwan Church News 2745, 4 to 10 October 2004
Reported by Li Hsin-ren.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

The newly installed municipal council in the city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan
includes six Christians. This group hosted a meal on October 3rd for clergy,
elders, other council members and political office holders at which they
expressed the hope for regularly scheduled meetings for prayer and scripture
reading. The convener of the meeting was council member Jaw Tien-lin. He said
the first order of business is to choose a set time and place for gathering,
leaving format and content to be developed over time.

Reflection on the role of faith and its influence on their attitudes towards
political participation and government service compelled the council members
to move towards regularly scheduled prayer, sharing and scripture reading.
They see a need for companions in faith as they work in the midst of
government. But they do not want to meet alone.  Their dinner was also
attended by another pair of council members who have expressed deep and
abiding interest in Christian faith.

Prominent ministers from Presbyterian and Baptist churches as well as the
pastors of Kaohsiung's Bread of Life Church and the independent Train Station
Church were among the representatives of local churches and Christian
organizations who took part in the meeting.

Tentative plans call for inviting council members, interested Christians and
people of other faiths to monthly gatherings. Mr. Jaw called for something
less than a formal organization to leave options open as things develop. He
aims for an eventual "Council Members' Christian Fellowship Group."  But
whatever develops, he does not envision a "Christian caucus" within the
council.

Dr. Wu Ing-ming, director of the municipal Human Resources Department and an
elder at Chien-chin Presbyterian Church, charged the council members with the
responsibility, in the midst of their political work, to testify to the Lord
Jesus Christ in all they do.

For More Information: www.kcg.gov.tw
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