Taiwan Church News 3235 Edition February 24 - March 2, 2014 Church Mnistry News Reported by Chen Yi-Shuan Four years ago, when the oldest college student in Taiwan, Shen Jen-yi in his84 years old, graduated from Chang Jung Christian University(CJCU), Shen's wife - Mrs. Zeng Jiao-chu - was also granted an award from the CJCU's Principal dubbed "P. H. D." which meant "Put Husband to get Degrees", because she drove as a chauffeur and accompanied her husband going through 4 year's time of study. Just like Zeng Jiao-chu, who strenuously accompanied her husband to get the college degrees with 4 years time, in the past 150 years of PCT missionary history there were also many respectable women accompanied their missionary husbands, co-workers, and the institutes to move Taiwan church forward. Some famous examples, like Lillian Dickson who founded the Mustard Seed Mission, Marjorie Learner in the reknown story of the Love of Skin Donation, Chiwang Iwal - the Mother of Faith for the Taiwan Aboriginals, Mrs. Dr. Elisabeth Christie Ferguson and etc. Many more women missionaries, like Miss Jane Kinney and Miss Hannah Connel, had also done a great service to Taiwan society yet their names are gradually forgotten by people now. These women missionaries, facing the under-development and poverty of the pre-modern Taiwan, stood firm in faith and oath to serve Taiwan society with love and hope. Submitting their best support in various missionary and ministry, the destiny of Taiwan women were changed henceforth. In an essay of The Destiny-Changed Taiwan Women by Women Missionaries, written bySu Wen-quei, a grass-root amateur historian, the biographies of Miss Jane Kinney and Miss Hannah Connel had been briefly introduced: Miss Kinney was born in New Brunswick, who majored in Arts; Miss Connel was born in Ontario, who was a musics teacher. Both of them were very excellent educators even from the the contemporary Canadian standard. Joined by Miss Mabel G. Claize, they started their ministry for women education from 1907 in Tamsui Girls' School and Tamsui Women School. Since then, the destiny of Taiwan women were greatly improved and Taiwan society was moved forward! Translated by Peter Wolfe |