Taiwan Church News

3380 Edition

December 5 - 11, 2016

Church Ministry

Dear Immigrant Friends, Thank You So Much For Your Good Jobs Done For Taiwan!

Reported by Simon Lin

Since the policy of opening Taiwan's labor market for immigrant worker was struck down around 20 years ago, it isnow estimated that there are at least over 600,000 immigrant workers from South-Eastern Asian countries scattered across Taiwan. Engaging in the most dangerous, dirty and die-hard jobs, in order to help ease Taiwan's labor shortage in traditional medium-and-small business, fishing industries, infrastructure projects and long term health care for the aged in communities, most of the immigrant workers rarely receive an adequate concern from Taiwan society to comfort their home-sick and loneliness.

To express Taiwan society's thanks-giving with material presents toward these immigrant friends, Justice ActionChurch committed by Taichung City Government held two charity musical concerts respectively on December 4 and December 10 at Tong-Sieh Plaza - an assembly square nicknamed "Small South-Eastern Market" which is very popular among immigrant workers.

During these two thanks-giving assemblies, many local politicians and city official, including DPP's councilrepresentatives Mr Ho Ming-chen, Mr Jiang Chao-kuo, Ms Chiu Su-chen, and deputy director of Civil Affairs Bureau of Taichung City Government - Mr Luh Cheng-yuan, all came to express their greetings and concerns for the immigrant workers in Taichung area.

Several local churches' praise & worship groups, including Grace Rain Worship Group of Suei-nan Presbyterian Church and K.D.M. Worship Group of Ta-ya Methodist Church, were invited to sing various traditional hymnals in classical Pai-wan chorus, Taiwanese folks song, and English lyrics for this thanks-giving musical concerts.

As this is the first time that Taichung City Government cooperated with Justice Action Church to express Taichung citizens'sincere thanks-giving to the immigrant workers, hoping our friends from South-Eastern Asia could receive the deep gratitude from Taichung citizens and more citizens could be attracted to affirm such charity event through the church's musics and hymnals, said Mr Luh Cheng-yuan.

Rev Hwang Hung-chon, pastor of Taichung's Justice Action Church, stressed the out-doors and open nature of hischurch's ministry from common congregations within church walls. "Our mission is to meet the social needs recognized by our confession and contact the people not yet knowing the good news of Jesus!", remarked Rev Hwang, adding that this is the reason why Justice Action Church would like to reach out for the immigrant friends on the Human Rights Day during the Christmas season.

Translated by Peter Wolfe