May 6, 2025

Youth with cerebral palsy asks to be baptized

From "Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>
Date Mon, 4 Jul 2011 17:19:00 +0800

3096 Edition
June 27~July 3, 2011

Church Ministry News

Youth with cerebral palsy asks to be baptized


Reported by Chen Wei-chien

Written by Lydia Ma

Erlin Happy Christian Homes (HCH), a Christian organization that cares for 
children with disabilities, recently celebrated the baptism of one of its 
children whom they’d received and welcomed about 10 years ago.

Liang Ming-hsien, a severely disabled youth with cerebral palsy, recently took 
the initiative to ask his parents if he could be baptized. After explaining to 
them what baptism meant and obtaining their consent, he spoke with the pastoral 
staff at HCH. He was finally baptized on May 28, 2011 by HCH’s dean and PCT 
pastor, Rev. Chuang Hsiao-sheng.

According to HCH staff, the 22-year-old young man came to HCH at the age of 12 
suffering from severe cerebral palsy and unable to read. Once at HCH, he 
learned how to read and also learned about Jesus through Sunday schools and 
Sunday services.

Though some people may have reservations about the lucidity of such children 
when they accept Christ and are baptized, HCH’s chaplain Rev. Tsai Shu-nien, 
clarified that Liang’s disabilities are physical rather than mental 
disabilities. Because he comes from a poor home, Liang wasn’t able to get 
proper education before coming to HCH.

However, “Liang Ming-hsien is usually very active and responsive during Sunday 
schools and always answers with enthusiasm questions teachers pose to 
students,” said Tsai.    

HCH doesn’t require that its children accept Christ or be baptized, emphasized 
another staff, because it doesn’t want parents to feel coerced much less harbor 
negative feelings about Christianity. After all, the parents are also part of 
its ministry outreach.
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