Editorial: Building upon Bible-reading and prayer

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

3072 Edition

January 10-16, 2011

Editorial



Editorial: Building upon Bible-reading and prayer



Translated by Lydia Ma



When we review the history of Taiwanese churches, we notice that 
missionaries came and shared the gospel with people living in various 
regions of this country from late 1800s onward, starting with Canadian 
George Mackay ministering to northern Taiwan and James Maxwell ministering 
to southern Taiwan.

Because of these missionaries’ labor of love in the fields of medicine, 
education, and evangelism, a new generation of native doctors, teachers, 
and preachers were born and nurtured to serve their country and transform 
it by ministering to the poor and the forgotten in society.

The gospel was never meant to be a secret or offered only to the rich and 
the powerful. It was meant to be shared with everyone and used as a means 
to free people and society from sin, evil, and injustice wherever it was 
proclaimed. 

As we prepare to celebrate PCT’s 150th anniversary, we hope to become 
vessels God can use to show his love and justice in this country. Hence, 
PCT’s “One-leads-One, New Doubling Movement” is much more than just a 
personal, church-based, or ecumenical goal to see our pews filled to 
maximum capacity.

However, this movement or strategy requires faith as a solid foundation and 
motivator. That is the reason why Bible study and prayer are essential 
components of evangelism. Jesus built his own ministry upon prayer and 
Scripture. The Gospel of Luke summarizes Jesus’ teenage years with the 
following statement: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor 
with God and men.” (Luke 2:52).

This passage is a good reminder to our churches that the source of Jesus’ 
strength during his years in ministry was a close relationship with God 
whereupon he gained wisdom and power. If prayer and studying Scripture was 
so important for Jesus, how can it be any less for churches today?



So, as we fix our eyes on this movement and respond to Jesus’ Great 
Commission, let’s make good use of resources provided to us by PCT, such as 
“Reading the Bible with New Eyes” devotional book, “One-leads-one Adoption 
Cards”, prayer booklets, and weekly church prayer meeting guides, so that 
our ministries, like Jesus’, can be built upon prayer and Scripture. These 
resources can strengthen our ministries and help us stay attuned to God’s 
heartbeat and people’s needs.



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