Taiwan Church News

3293 Edition

April 6 -12, 2015

Church Ministry

15,000 People Celebrate The 150th Anniversary Of PCT's Mission In Taiwan

Reported by Lin Yi-ying from Tao-yuan

On the Easter, April 5, also the traditional Chinese Tomb-Sweeping Day, about 15,000 people from this island country domestic and overseas attending the thanksgivingservice for The 150th Anniversary of PCT's Mission In Taiwan at the gynasium of National Taiwan Athlete University. Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of World Council of Church(WCC), delivers his sermon entitlled as "Do Not Be Afraid" encouraging PCT members be strong and brave enough to face the missionary challenges lying ahead. During the service, one of the most inspiring moments comes, with big applauds and surprising exclamation from the audience, when the aboriginal Pai-wan chorus marching into the gymnasium in their traditional costumes dancing and singing the hymnal: "Live Out The Sign Of Hope!"

In the praise hymnal of "I am not ashamed to own my lord", the thanksgiving service starts officially, with some PCT pastors and special guest: including Rev. Lo Ren-quei, PCT General Assembly Moderator, Rev. Lyim Hong-tiong, PCT General Secretary and Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC General Secretary and others stepping up the center platform of the gymnasium. Except New Eyes Television is broadcasting alive, this service could be watched direct from Youtube and PCT General Assembly website. Famous local TV station, Formosa TV, and popular local newspaper Liberty Times and United Daily News all send their reporters to cover this event.

After Rev. Lo Ren-quei strikes the big gong, one historical musical instrument belonging to Tainan Thelogical Seminary and College(TTCS), the audience begin to sing the hymnal: "The Gospel Bells Are Ringing". And then, Rev. Sudu Dadah, the master of ceremony calls to worship, and Rev. Zeng Wen-ren leads the assembly to pray; a trio-section of responsive prayer proclaiming the past history, present challenges and future hope of the evangelical mission in Taiwan, written by Rev. Wang Jen-wen and adapted by Rev. Yen-hsin-shin, is poetically recited in the Taiwanese by Rev. Don Chon-ling.

Based on the scripture Matthew 28:1~10, Rev. Tveit gives his sermon pointing out that the first message from the risen Christ is Do Not Be Afraid! Instead of the panicand chaos, Rev. Tveit believes the resurrected Christ brings to people the hope, justice and peace which would overcome the threat of death. He encourages PCT members to carry on preaching the good news, making the risen Christ becoming the sign of hope in this world!

In the Phillipine hymnal "Hindi ko maisip", the Eucharist is served by the aboriginal food and wine which are passed around one by one among 15,000 attendants dividedinto 270 units. In the meantime, the offerings collected for this thanksgiving service is totaled over 1,660 thousands NT Dollars.

Conducted by famous Taiwan composer Dr. Gordon S. W. Chin, a multi-church chorus of 500 people supported by a symphony orchestra vividly puts life into this Easter andthanksgiving service designed by Prof. Chen Hsiu-wen of Taiwan Theological Seminary and College. Especially, when a team of Pai-wan aboriginal people dressed in their traditional clothes dancing and singing the hymnal - Live Out Of The Sign Of Hope! - into the gymnasium, the applauds explode suddenly into the air and the service felt the sense of resurrection immediately.

Rev. Lyim Hong-tiong, during his introduction of many guests from island domestic and overseas, gives his special thanks to Toyuan City Mayor Zeng Wen-tsan forspending his precious time attending this service from start to end and supporting police task forces to help maintain the order of transportation. Otherwise, it is hard to imagine how to arrange 360 tourist buses to move in and out so smooth and orderly in a limited time.

When the assembly pray earnestly for PCT's future ministries in youth and college students, the oppressed people and the issue of sexual justice, the presentsituations and future development of Taiwan is also a great concern and plea to God.

Finally, in the hymnal of "Walking as those who've gone before", the thanksgiving service of PCT's 150th Anniversary Mission In Taiwan comes to an end with the leadersof WCC and PCT marching forward toget her into a brand new journey!

Translated by Peter Wolfe