Taiwan Church News

3208 Edition

August 19 - August 25, 2013

Church Ministry

Taize Worship Held First Ever In PCT Youth Retreat Camp

Reported by Hwang Yi-lek

The 9th Youth Disciple Retreat Camp, sponsored by PCT Campus Ministry Committee, was held at Sen-ai Resort from August 12 to17. It is the first time ever for PCT youth to practice Taize worship in retreat activities. More than 20 college students, convened and led by the pastors who had been went to Taize community in France, immersing themselves all day through reading scripture, chanting, prayer and work in order to hear the words from the Lord and get closer to Him.

This retreat camp shortened a complete Taize course, which required 7 days, into 5 days: focusing their bible study on thegospel of John. Prayers were held in the morning, noon time and evening. And they were the major assemblies. Bible study and discussion were held in the morning; work and service were held in the afternoon.

Rev. Yu Chi-yun, Chairman of this Youth Disciple Retreat Camp and also the Director of Jah-yi College Student Center, hopes such Taize worship could help the students to revive their spiritual faith. Yu expressed that Taize worship is not only suitable to the youth, but also congenial to the women or the aged brother and sister. "If combined with various church ministries in the future, Taize worship could be promoted into more retreat activities", he anticipated.

Jan-min, a youth from Lu-jou Presbyterian Church, who just received her college entrance admittance, said she was attractedto this retreat camp by the beauty of the event poster. "Traditional retreat camp usually arranged a very tight schedule. But this retreat camp makes me feel easy. And I have plenty of time to reflect repeatedly."

Lin Li-ren, a youth from the Ark Fellowship of the United University, said he was appreciated to the encouragement andgenerosity from his fellow companions as he had to solve the inconveniences due to eyes disabilities to attend this retreat camp. Also, because he was shy and awkward to communicate, he felt sorry that not many ideas to share with fellows. But he enjoyed the camp life, as there was lots of time for prayer and meditation.

Translated by Peter Wolfe