Taiwan Church News

3311 Edition

August 10 - 16, 2015

Editorial

Stand By The Suffered To Show God's Love

Every time when the catastrophic disaster occurred, it is also the most busy time that each PCT Church and SocietyCommittee in both local presbytery and general assembly rushed to rescue the inflicted. Based on PCT's confessional faith, these out-reaching committees become the bridge to communicate between the church and the society. They also become the loyal servants in the dimensions of offering physical health, social accommodation and spiritual comfort.

PCT's capability to help, care and re-construct have been evidently witnessed in many devastating accidents happened in recent years: domestically, in the cases of Peng-hu airplane crash, Keelung River airplane plunge, Kaohsiung Big Blast, Water Park Inferno and Soudelor Typhoon Disaster, PCT always tried her best to concern about the devastated situations, care for the victims and offer a suitable re-construction plan; overseas, in the cases of 2011 Japan Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, 2013 Philippine Hai-yen Typhoon disaster and 2015 Nepal earthquake, PCT promptly located local churches to offer the first aid and reconstruction support.

Usually, when the disaster news gradually vanished from the media's spot light, people's attention weakened, resources contracted and switched to the next site with urgent demands, yet the sounds of those suffered people in previous trauma still calling for help incessantly. So, a complete social service ministry to witness the mighty power of our Lord should not be content on the money or materials donated just after the disaster, a long-term project to accompany these traumatized victims is much more required.

The image of standing by the suffered and jointly experiencing the compassion and justice of our Lord becomes avery special mark of PCT. The out-reaching experience, that PCT learned from 2009 Morakot typhoon rehabilitation: from first aid, re-construction and systematic social work, help forge PCT's ministry of social service into a paradigm of the ecumenical churches. PCT even exported her first-hand experiences of social relief and rehabilitation to help Japanese churches after 311 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

Making evident God's will and witnessing His mighty power is a major purpose of the church's out-reaching to the society. So, not only limited by emergent social aid and relief, there are still many important issues between church and society: peace and justice in the country , sustainable environmental development and concern for the marginalized. In September, there will be an island-wide social movement of Taiwan Beach Clean-Up and PCT is one of supporting parties.Through a caring love of our environment, this is a opportunity to practice our faith and proclaim our confession that people have "share in God's creation, and have responsibility with Him for taking care of the world"!