wfn.org | TCN: Pine Life University for seniors celebrates 20th anniversary

["Lydia Ma" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>Taiwan Church News

>2988 Edition

>June 1~7, 2009

Pine Life University for seniors celebrates 20th anniversary

>Reported by Chen Wei-jian

>Written by Lydia Ma

Pine Life University, a university for seniors founded by the  Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT), celebrated its 20th anniversary on  May 26 in

Hsinchu City Stadium. The university also inaugurated a new president  during a thanksgiving service. More than 600 students from the

university’s 31 branches across the island came and joined in the  festivities. PCT Moderator Leonard Lin and General Secretary Andrew

>Chang were also in attendance.

Students from the university gave lively performances using dance,  songs, and creative aboriginal programs despite their age. During the

service, seniors from Paiwan and Shuang-Lian branches presented a song  offering and Presbyterian Bible College President Liu Jin-chang

gave an overview of the university’s history. Rev. Leonard Lin  preached a sermon entitled “Give me this mountain”.

Following the sermon, the university’s current President Rev. C.M.  Kao handed over his responsibilities to incoming President Huang De-

cheng in a gift exchange ceremony. After the ceremony, the audience  joined leaders on stage in singing happy birthday to Rev. Kao.

During his speech, Rev. Kao confessed that he was worried at first about  whether he would be able to attend these festivities due to four

surgeries in the past three months. He thanked God for healing and also  thanked fellow Christians for their prayers. His attendance on that day

was a testimony of the power of prayer, he said.

Rev. Kao reminded the audience that Pine Life University began 20 years  ago with only 82 students and has now evolved into more than 50

branches enrolling over 3,000 students. More than 70% of the  university’s students are non-Christians and many of them have come  to Christ

as a result of taking classes at the university. Reflecting on these  results, Rev. Kao gave all the glory and credit to God and also  congratulated

>students for their efforts.

Rev. Kao hopes incoming President Huang De-cheng will use previous  experience leading Tainan city’s YMCA to take the university to new

heights. He wished the new leader success in leading the university into  becoming the world’s biggest university for seniors.

President Huang admitted that succeeding Rev. Kao at the university  would be a big feat in itself and thanked his predecessor for giving him  so

much encouragement time and time again. He also laid out his vision for  the university, particularly in the areas of enrollment, quality  education,

community service, increasing interaction between church and community,  and training for missions.

Huang said he would embrace the university’s future and vision with  a humble heart and invited everyone to partner with Pine Life University  so

that it could become a positive and influential force in Taiwanese  society.

As Taiwan becomes an aging society, the PCT must press on with its  senior citizens ministry even more diligently, said PCT Pine Life  Ministry

Committee Secretary Peh Tiat-Hong, who also praised Huang’s vision.  Besides Pine Life University, the PCT is also organizing senior day

care centers. Its goal is to help communities in Taiwan provide for the  physical and emotional needs of seniors and help seniors achieve a

>balanced life.

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