Taiwan Church News 3216 Edition October 14 - October 20, 2013 Church Ministry News Reported by Simon Lin On October 9th, the last day of an assembly of 5 PCT presbyteries, including Chayi, Tainan, Kaoshiung, Soshan and Pingtung,former President Lee Teng-huei was invited to deliver a speech sharing his faith and witness in God. This assembly of 5 united presbyteries is part of a preparation activity to celebrate 150th annivesary of PCT evangelical mission. About 150 deacons, elders and pastors had attended this assembly. President Lee expressed, "A leader must have faith", as a leader has to face kinds of challenges. And he needs faith tosupport him get through these tough tasks. "Faith is A Covenant with God", Lee said. Reflecting his 12 years service as President, every time when there was grave event happened, together with his wife - Mrs Tseng Wen-hwei- he always read the Bible and prayed, seeking the revelation and peace from God to step out the next step forward. As a example, Lee explained with his succession as President after the death announcement of Chaing Jing-kuo in 1988. Lee saidhe became the President from a vice President within hours, this historical event made him feared and hard to sleep in that very night. "How can I lead a country? Because I am a Taiwanese, I have no staff, no money, no power, even no military force within the KMT party", Lee asked himself. Thanks to the accompanied by his wife to read the Bible and pray from that difficult time, Lee felt God is with him and he is not alone. Lee's faith in God became the pivotal strength, supporting him pass through all political upheavals. And his faith become the driving force to transform Taiwan into a liberal and democratic country. When asked by the audience, why current President Palace was always surrounded by the protesting crowd? Lee said such instabilityproblem within the political-economic regime are attributed to the feudal culture inherited from the mindset of the Chinese emperors, even though Taiwan are equipped with a democratic system now. Lee suggested that the leader should practice "self-transcend": saying farewell to those old stuffs within Taiwan political system, and realize the ideal to let the state ruledby the people. "Once there are things happened, let the public decide how to handle. The government should not be immersed in her own paranoid", emphasized Lee. Talking about the nation identity, Lee expressed all people living on Taiwan are "New Taiwanese in A New Age". Taiwaneseshould make effort to build up the Consciousness of Taiwan Subject, dropping away the bondage of party education and the slavery mindset, in order to locate a people of freedom. Translated by Peter Wolfe |