Taiwan Church News

3357 Edition

June 27 - July 3, 2016

Church Ministry

Appreciating His Translation Of The Bible Into Indigenous Paiwan Language, PCT's Officials Visit Rev. John Whitehorn In Cambridge UK

Reported by Umav

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of evangelical mission in the indigenous Paiwan area, three PCT officialsincluding Rev. Kao Tien-tsai(Moderator of Paiwan Presbytery), Rev. Tjakanaw(General Secretary of Paiwan Presbytery) and Rev. 'Eleng Tjaljimaraw(PCT Associate General Secretary) paid a thanksgiving visit on June 18 & 19 at Cambridge UK to Rev. John Whitehorn, a missionary sent by Presbyterian Church of England serving in Taiwan from 1951 to 1970 and widely recognized as the pioneering translator of the Bible in the Paiwan language.

Mrs Elizabeth Whitehorn, wife of Rev. Whitehorn, said to the Taiwan visitors that up to date Rev. Whitehorn stillkept a habit of reading the Paiwan Bible on every Sunday. Laughter and joy were burst out in the house of Rev. Whitehorn when he exchanged in a fluent Paiwan language with three PCT officials.

During the conversation, Rev. Kao Tien-tsai was deeply touched when he heard his mother tongue was so fluently spoken byhis most revered missionary. He also praised Rev. Whitehorn's Paiwan language was so classical and elegant comparing with his tribal people.

Rev. Tjakanaw said he was very excited to pay a visit to Rev. Whitehorn and learned he was very healthy andconcerned about the ministry for the Paiwan people. Rev. Tjakanaw recalled, when he was a child, how he was hugged by Rev. Whitehorn and carried by his motorcycle among the Paiwan villages in mountains.

In the morning on June 19, together with Rev Whitehorn and his families, PCT officials attended the Sunday serviceat St. Columba's Church. After the service, a site visiting was arranged to see the name list of missionary wall within the church. It is amazing to learn that there had been St. Columba's Church's missionaries sent to Taiwan since 1907.

Rev. Kao Tien-tsai expressed, after he came back to Taiwan, he would share with his colleagues about Rev.Whitehorn's missionary devotion and spirit, which he learned in this UK visit, expecting to keep the Paiwan languages alive, more evangelical workers trained and the goal of new doubling movement achieved.

Translated by Peter Wolfe