Taiwan Church News 3745 Edition Dec 4 ~ 10, 2023 Weekly Topical Proclaiming God’s Love, Taroko Presbytery Celebrates Its Centennial Mission Reported by Chu Chia-wei from Hualien A thanksgiving service for a centennial mission of the PCT Truku Presbytery was held on December 3 at Ji-An Elementary School in Hualien County. More than a thousand PCT members participated in this jubilant assembly. The service started with worship and praise from the Youth Ministry of Truku Presbytery, and the honorable pastors and guests were led in queue, each raising the banners of the PCT and the Truku Presbytery to enter the assembly hall. After the calling in service, the youth of the Tmunan Church played ancient tunes via the xylophone, both Women Ministry and Truku Choir jointly sang the hymns of “Happy Harvest” and “The Glory of God’s Creation” to celebrate and give thanks to the centennial mission to the Truku people. Rev Peng Chi-hong, moderator of the PCT General Assembly, quoted Hebrews 13: 11~16 to give a sermon, entitled as “The Sacrifice that God Pleases”. Through imitating the biblical tradition of the sin offering of the Jewish people, he called the audience to cherish the gospel we had received, do our best in the spiritual build-up and evangelical mission, serve each other with love, submit to one another, pray and forgive, and serve our society in the same vein. He also shared the wonderful footsteps of Mrs Ciwang Iwal, an indigenous Truku women and the first Christian among the Truku people. Since Ciwang’s brave reception of the gospel from 1923 up to date, Rev Peng hoped that the beautiful heritages of Truku people could be carried on and the gospel would continue to proclaim in eastern Taiwan. The assembly honored the incumbent pastors, retired pastors and some elders who had passionately served the church for more than 30 years. Rev Teymu Cihung specially chronologized the missionary history for the indigenous Truku people and detailed how the gospel was preached into the Truku tribes in the liturgical pamphlet. A short video clip was also played during the assembly, showcasing various missionary activities of the centennial celebrations, including traditional hymnal singing sessions with Truku mother tongues, road jogging contest, and tracing the evangelical footsteps of the faithful forebears to explore the indigenous cultural inheritance, etc. Rev Labi Burung, general secretary of Truku Presbytery, reminded the audience to work together to reach four goals in the future ministries: first, all 36 churches of Truku Presbytery shall closely cooperate with each other; second, all church members should recognize Taiwan as the good land of Canaan given by God; third, we should learn the spirit of the pioneering missionaries; and last, we shall also endeavor to plant churches in urban areas. Many honorable pastors and church leaders came to attend the jubilant and historical thanksgiving service, including Rev Chen Hsin-liang, general secretary of the PCT General Assembly; Rev Peto Ukan, director of the PCT Indigenous Mission Committee; Rev Sudu Tada, assistant general secretary of the PCT General Assembly; Rev Awi Tadaw, general secretary of the Sedig District Assembly; Rev Batu Behuy, general secretary of Tayal Presbytery; Rev Lin Wei-dao of the Hualien Harbor Church of the Eastern Taiwan Presbytery; Rev Yoon Yeo Sam, moderator of the Gyeong Nam Presbytery of the PROK. After the thanksgiving service, kinds of activities also proceeded lively. Some churches kept holding worship and praise with songs and dances. In the meantime, there were varieties of booths at the garden party, including Yushan Theological Seminary’s charity sale of Christmas cards, book sales and school briefings. The food booths also provided bamboo rice, Chinafu dumpling (millet rice), barbecue and other delicacies, as well as dozens of booths showcasing aboriginal crafts, clothing and accessories. This centennial celebration did not come to an end until 4 p.m. before the sunset. Translated by Peter Wolfe |