Taiwan Church News 3256 Edition July 28 - August 3, 2014 Church Ministry Taiwan Churches Concern Victims And Their Families Of Plane Crash On Penghu Island Reported By Simon Lin Forty-eight people are killed and 10 injured, during a failed go-around landing at 7:06 pm on July 23,by one TransAsia Airway's two-engine turboprop plane leaving from Kaohsiung airport and bound for Penghu Magong airport which is just swept across by typhoon Matmo hours before. The Vatican of Roman Catholic Church promptly issues the condolence letter, promising to pray and care for the victims and the families. Rev. Ker Jeng-fon, a local pastor of Baisha Presbyterian Church in Penghu Island, is also committed by PCT Church and Society Committee at the first time to express concerns to the families and attend to the latest messages and demands. Rev. Ker expressed, during his July 27 media interview, that many church charity organizations come together to get involved in this emergency accident: World Vision Taiwan helps to rescue on site, Chinese Christian Relief Association sets up an emergency station and many pastors from different denominations offer kinds of care and support to the victims and their families. For PCT to facilitate care and intercession, Rev. Ker himself is in charge of confirming the passengers list, causality toll statistics and reporting the latest information to Rev. Lin Wei-lien, Secretary of PCT Church and Society Committee. In this plane crash accident, 14 civil households are seriously damaged, including 5 buildings are totally destroyed and 5 units are partially affected. Most of the inflicted residents are arranged to the household of their families or relatives. PCT pastors from Xiyu and Baisha villages will reach out to care for the victims and their families, and the other PCT pastors and believers in Taiwan island are urged to give their intercession for the inflicted. In August, there is going to be a musical concert - "Peace In Good News", attended by local churches across Penghu Island, expecting to give care and comfort to the victims, families and the traumatized local residents. Rev. Lin Wei-lien, Secretary of PCT Church and Society Committee, pleads Taiwan church to carry on their care and prayer for the victims, and concern about the following compensation and legal responsibility related to the authority government and aviation company. PCT General Assembly also establishes a Facebook webpage, www.facebook.com/pctsociety, for further care and concern about this devastating accident. Translated by Peter Wolfe |