Taiwan Church News
3179 Edition
January 28-February 3, 2013
Headline News

Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan

Written by Lydia Ma

On January 27, 2013, Rev. Chiou Jui-yuan became the first visually impaired ordained pastor of the PCT. His installation ceremony took place on that day at East Gate Barclay Memorial Church in Tainan. Chiou will henceforth assume the position of missionary pastor at Te-Kuang Presbyterian Church and his ordination was attended by Te-Kuang Church’s parishioners.

Chiou was born with a visual impairment and his family members were shamans. He was taken to a school for blind people in Taichung at the age of 12 to study and it was there that he heard about the Gospel and became a Christian. He later enrolled at Tainan Theological College and Seminary and vowed to devote the rest of his life to full-time ministry.

Upon his graduation from Tainan Seminary, Chiou was commissioned to Beimenyu Presbyterian Church in Beimen District, Tainan. Though he was eligible to become a “Reverend” at the time, his physical disability kept him from finding a suitable church to pastor. For this reason, Chiou later specialized in tuning pianos and used it to make a living. However, his life-long aspiration has always been to return to full-time ministry.

Chiou’s family has long since made Te-Kuang Church their home church and he also teaches violin at the church. After much encouragement from Tainan Presbytery and Te-Kuang Church senior pastor, Rev. Luo Chi-tsung, Chiou finally fulfilled his dream of becoming a full-time minister.

During the installation service, Tainan Presbytery Moderator Rev. Huang Chu-en preached on the theme “Becoming God’s Gifted and Faithful Steward”. He urged the audience to use their God-given gifts to serve one another. Huang also presided over the installation vows and the conferring of pastoral gowns.

Chiou recounted God’s grace during his installation address. He also thanked many of his professors and classmates who cared for him during his time studying at Tainan Seminary. He especially thanked his wife and his two daughters for being his companions and his eyes.