Taiwan Church News 3754 Edition February 5th ~ 11th, 2024 Weekly Topical Going on toward Perfection, Bunun Ciubu Presbytery Celebrates its 30th Anniversary of Mission Reported by Hong Tai-yang from Nantou To celebrates its 30th anniversary of mission, with the theme of “Going on toward perfection while it’s in our prime”, Bunun Ciubu Presbytery held a series of celebrations, including thanksgiving service, charity auction, sports competition, entertainment games and etc., at National Shui-Li Vocational High School of Commerce and Industry in Nantou County from February 3rd to 4th. More than 2,300 pastors and church members gathered to give their thanksgiving to God’s grace and guidance toward the indigenous Bunun Ciubu. Entitled as “Inspiring a life of faith, going on toward an abundant homeland”, a sermon of thanksgiving service was delivered by Rev Fuyan Suda, vice moderator of the PCT General Assembly. Quoting the biblical verses of Jeremiah 31:27-34, Rev Fuyan Suda stressed everyone should pursue the faith honestly and stand before God independently. Faith is not a property-like thing inherited from our ancestor or family. Instead, the church should treasure a vivid vision of faith, do our best to guide and help the youth and children to experience an abundant and creative faith. In the same time, we should encourage young people and children humble down to listen to the faith stories of their elders, to learn and experience the grace and blessings from God. He emphasized that looking back at the missionary history of the Bunun Ciubu Presbytery, God had unfailingly fulfilled his wonderful promises during the past 30 years. “May we all humbly walk with God and live out a witness life in his glory!”, prayed Rev Fuyan Suda. Rev Umas Tanapima, general secretary of Bunun Ciubu Presbytery, retrieved the pioneering history of the mission, when the Bunun people in central Taiwan first came to contact the gospel in 1945. Established as a district ethnic conference affiliated to the PCT Taichung presbytery, now Bunun Ciubu Presbytery becomes independent. This is an incredible story, amazingly supported by our tribal elders, brothers and sisters of the churches, and the blessings from God. Our Lord God lead us to experience and engage into His various ministries and blessings, Rev Umas Tanapima concluded. Rev Vava Manqoqo, moderator of Bunun Ciubu Presbytery, led the congregation to read a dedication prayer, in which the audience pledged to turn away from their wrongs and pleaded for being granted the spiritual power to do the right, become compassionate and walk humbly with God. During the service, Rev Bonnie Anak Sedau, moderator of the Sarawak Iban Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in Malaysia, and the pastors of the Akkha Church in the Seventh District of the Christian Council of Thailand also offered blessings and songs; Fuyan Suda offered blessings on behalf of the moderator and general secretary of the PCT General Assembly. In the thanksgiving service, Standing Committee of Bunun Ciubu Presbytery presented commemorative medals to moderators from 21st to 30th general assembly of Bunun Ciubu Presbytery, general secretaries served for Bunun Ciubu Presbytery and representatives of its 26 local churches. A Bunun youth, Mr Ispalakan Bukun, who wrote the theme song, “Heaven Scenarios”, for the 30th anniversary celebration, were awarded together with many sport-competitions winners participating the significant Bunun Ciubu event. After the thanksgiving service, a celebration party with song and dance was held. Each church carefully prepared and rehearsed the dancing performance and hymnal singings. The Bunun Ciubu Presbytery also prepared plentiful prizes and bounteous awards for the participating groups. To encourage each local church to live out a faith witnessing the grace of God, and carry on the evangelical mission for the next 30 years, members of Bunun Ciubu Presbytery are urged to keep going on toward building up the Kingdom of God – i.e. to glorify God and benefit people. Translated by Peter Wolfe |