3122 Edition
December 26, 2011-January 1, 2012
Editorial

Translated by Lydia Ma

Though film producer Roland Emmerich’s apocalyptic film 2012 describing the destruction of the world in the year 2012 was merely a fictional story, many apocalyptic predictions in the months following the movie’s release had many people on edge. Though a lot of these predictions are sheer nonsense, they nevertheless reveal that human beings find hope wanting these days, especially when it pertains to hope for a better future.

Humans tend to become hesitant, dispirited, and pessimistic when encountering a barrage of difficult circumstances and people. Reflecting on 2011, there are certainly ample examples giving us cause to be pessimistic, including the Ma administration’s decision to continue building nuclear power plants despite a nuclear meltdown in Fukushima, Japan, mishaps at both nuclear power plants No.3 and No.4, the ‘Dreamers’ musical fiasco, the ever-increasing levels of income disparity, judicial bias and injustice, and, more recently, revelations that KMT Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying’s had remarked that cleaners who spray water on homeless people in parks should receive a cash reward because the homeless are “too horrible”.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we can certainly feel sad at this litany of injustices, but we should not lose hope because God has called us to proclaim the coming of his kingdom on earth through the good news of Jesus Christ. God has called us to lead Taiwan into a future filled with hope.

When Rev. George Leslie Mackay went home to Canada for furlough and debriefing, he had the opportunity to speak at the hometown of Dr. William Gauld. After Gauld heard Mackay speak about his ministry in Taiwan, he vowed to become a missionary one day though at the time he was merely a boy in high school.

Years later, Gauld not only became a prominent pastor among churches in northern Taiwan, he also became a renowned architect and designed more than 100 buildings. His foresight led him to purchase a strip of land for Taiwanese churches on Chungshan North Road in Taipei though that strip of land was considered of little value at the time.

Though many people questioned Gauld’s motive and even suspected him of pocketing money from such a purchase, he plowed on with his work despite disappointments and misunderstandings. In reality, Gauld never accepted anything other than his income and his architectural design work was completely voluntary. Years later, his efforts proved to be vital in the growth and development of the PCT in northern Taiwan.

As Japanese citizens draw strength from one another heading into 2012 after a difficult year, it is our hope that we can do the same despite our own difficult year. It is our hope that, in 2012, a new Taiwanese government will be born, people will love one another, and God will be glorified.