Taiwan Church News

3335 Edition

Jan 25 - 31, 2016

Headline News

Giving Glory To God, The First PCT Blind Pastor Witnesses An Amazing Grace

Reported by Chi Kuo-rong

Rev. Chiu Ray-yuan, a PCT pastor of Teh-Kong Church in Tainan presbytery, was invited to deliver his personalwitness by the Coconut Fellowship of Suan-lien Church in Chi-hsin Prsbytery after the Sunday service on January 24.

Chiu urged the blind not afraid of stepping out of home, as friendly support is always available around if the demand for help is spoken out. He also called the able Christians to see the demands of the blind more positively, enabling the blind to open their hearts and expand their contacts.

Entitled with "Give Glory To God", Chiu shared with the audience his journey of faith in the performance of three pieces of violin melody. Chiu said he was born blind in a family whose occupation was serving local temples as spiritual medium, and his families made him adopted as a nominal son of god for a life-long protection from further bad lucks. But he was fortunately enough to be guided and baptized by the chaplain, after he entered the blind school in his youth, said Chiu.

When the date of his baptism came near, reflected Chiu, a feeling of unease became more and more strong. There was even a severe threat, haunting in his head, "You must not believe in Jesus, as you are the adopted son of god. Otherwise, you will have no offspring!", said Chiu. But, after his fear and dread was reported to his chaplain, Chiu then felt a very serene peace and heard a voice saying: "I am Jesus you believed, give me the burden of your forefathers and I will take them all for you!"

Chiu married in 1982 and had two daughters afterwards. The worry of Rev. Chiu's parents and grandparentsthat a blind boy like him would not have any children finally did not come true. During his personal witness, Chiu played violin to praise God together with his two daughters playing piano and drums respectively.

Chiu encouraged the blind members in Suan-lien Church to step out of their homes and not to be afraid of the outside world. Once the blind got into trouble on the roads or in the vehicles, there were always help available if they would speak out or call any social welfare institute, said Chiu.

Chiu also urged Taiwan society to start the professionalization of the faculty asap on the education to the blind, though heknew such goal could not be reached overnight. Mrs. Hwang Chin-hsiang, wife of Rev. Chiu, reminded that the quantity of the faculty should increase either. In the meantime, central government should set up the related laws helping those faculties to strengthen their professional capability and the blind to gain a better education, said Mrs. Hwang.

Translated by Peter Wolfe