wfn.org | Taiwan's Protestants Mark 140 Years of Continuous Ministry

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Taiwan Church News 2780 6 to 12 June 2005

Reported by Lin Yi-ying. Written by David Alexander

"When the early evangelists arrived on Taiwan to proclaim the gospel of 
Christ, local people greeted them with thrown stones, spittle, knives, and 
rejection. Church buildings were torched, clergy and lay members killed, 
and every kind of threat was made. But the gospel was fearlessly 
proclaimed, and the spirit of these brave forerunners remains a pattern 
worthy of emulation by contemporary Christians." The Rev. Dr. C. M. Kao, 
former General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, used these 
words as he addressed this year's National Prayer Breakfast in Taipei on 
the topic of Thanksgiving, Unity and Mission.

The Rev. James Hsia, chairman of the Board of Control of the Chinese 
Christian Evangelistic Association, asked the gathered Christians, "Is it 
possible that we might once again experience a 'double the church movement' 
in Taiwan, but this time not just in the Presbyterian Church? Can we cross 
denominational lines join to 'redouble the church?' If this vision can 
penetrate deeply into the hearts of Taiwan's clergy and lay church leaders, 
we could proclaim, 'God is glorified in all Taiwan.'"

To join in marking the 140th anniversary of the arrival of Protestant 
missionaries in Taiwan, the prayer breakfast was scheduled for the day 
before nationwide celebrations and the theme of "Thanksgiving, Unity and 
Mission" was chosen.

Dr. Kao pointed out the difficulties faced by early missionaries to Taiwan, 
but credited them for leaving a model of bravery and for helping Taiwan to 
experience blessing from God Almighty. He harkened back to the 100th 
anniversary of that arrival, celebrated in 1965, which also marked the 
culmination of the "Double the Church Movement" conducted over the previous 
decade by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. The movement reached its 
goals, thanks, in part, to the "20th Century Mission Miracle" of the intake 
of 70% of Taiwan's Aboriginal peoples into churches following the second 
world war.

He said that the model of pioneer evangelists 140 years ago still serves 
for us today. If God is with us, and if we depend on God the Father, Son 
and Holy Spirit for leading, then we can face the 96% of Taiwan's 
population who as yet do not adhere to the gospel and spread the good news. 
We can do this because of our dependence on the one true God. We will 
"mount up with wings as of eagles," and through proclamation and social 
service spread our pinions. Lifting high the gospel of Jesus and biblical 
truth, we will be more affirmed in our faith and Taiwan will be the place 
where fruit is borne and harvested.

Rev. Hsia reflected on a time some years ago when he sat by a dock in 
Tam-sui pondering how much it must have changed since pioneer Canadian 
missionary George Mackay arrived there in 1872. He wondered if the type of 
spirit exemplified by Mackay at that time was still living in Taiwan 
today.	He said he could only weep in repentance, after which he joined 
with other local clergy to found Taiwan's "Year 2000 Gospel Movement."

He went on to relate a story of leading a seminar on the difficulties of 
doing mission in Taiwan some years back.  At the event he engaged in a 
conversation with a church elder on whether or not the pioneer missionaries 
Maxwell (from Scotland) and Mackay (from Canada) had ever met.	The aspect 
of that conversation that left the deepest impression on Rev. Hsia was his 
conclusion that the time to sit around talking had ceased, and the time to 
get up and actually spread the gospel had come.

"Of every 100 people in Taiwan," he said, "96 are not believers in Jesus." 
Citing the biblical parable of 99 sheep dwelling safely in the fold while 
the shepherd went to seek the one that was lost, Hsia considered Taiwan's 
gospel environment, where only 4 sheep are in the fold, and 96 wander lost 
outside. "Shouldn't Christians be out shouting the good news?" he asked.

He concluded with a call for the Christians of Taiwan to offer their 
hearts, resources and labour to repeat the "double the church movement" 
without respect to particular denominational identification.

For more information: www.ccea.org.tw

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