Taiwan Church News 3776 Edition July 8 ~ 14, 2024 Weekly Topical Press On Toward the Goal –I Love Taiwan 2024 Mission Camp Empowers the Youth Reported by Lin Yi-ying from New Taipei City An orientation meeting for the “I Love Taiwan 2024 Mission Camp” (a.k.a. ILT Mission), organized by the PCT Youth Ministry Committee, was held at Our Lady of Providence High School in New Taipei City from July 4th to 6th, attracting 37 Taiwanese youths and 23 ecumenical youths from six countries, including the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, India and New Zealand, to participate into the acclaimed evangelical mission. “Because the Paris Olympics is about to open in the end July, the theme of 2024 ILT is entitled asPress On Toward the Goalto remind everyone that preaching the gospel is like running a race to win the glorious champion for the Lord”, indicated Rev Lee Hsin-ren, secretary of the PCT Youth Ministry Committee. Rev Lee also said, “As 2025 is the 160th anniversary of the PCT mission in Taiwan, the theme –Press On Toward the Goal– also reminds young people the importance of searching the goal and meanings in their own lives as well as God’s mission in current ecumenical network”. The ILT orientation service was hosted by Rev Lian Chin-Siong, pastor of English parish at Shuang Lien Church of Chi-Hsin Presbytery, who led everyone to write a brief autobiography in order to lead the participants to check into their inner souls. Ms Lin Sih-yin specially brought egg yolk pastries from Changhua to share with the youth. She stressed the excellent services offered by PCT’s ILT Mission: allows young people from various countries to communicate with each other; expand the participant’s visions to the envelope; learn by serving in local churches with an ecumenical spirit; Taiwanese youths can introduce Taiwan culture to friends from overseas. She sincerely hoped that all Taiwan and ecumenical youth can forge a solid fellowship to preach the God’s mission beyond borders. Modeled on the awarding podium, the ILT orientation site was designed by Mr Hsu Tai-li and Mr Wang Yong-hong, both are secretary assistants of the PCT Youth Ministry Committee. The podium design was inspired by two pioneering missionaries, the British missionary Dr James Maxwell who arrived at Tainan on June 16, 1865, and the Canadian missionary Dr George MacKay who landed at Taipei on March 9, 1872. Arabic numbers of the date and year, intercepted from two legendary missionaries’ arrival at Taiwan, were made as the plate of marathon runners to inspire the youth cladding them to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the PCT mission and carry on the Missio Dei, according to the designers Mr Hsu and Mr Wang.. In the afternoon of July 5th, ILT youth divided into three groups to visit Sin-Tiam Church of Taipei Presbytery, Chi-Nan Church of Chi-Hsin Presbytery, and Gi-Kong Church which was the heinous site of the Lin Family Murders in 1980. These three respective churches symbolized the oppressive histories when Taiwan was colonized under the Qing Dynasty, Japanese occupation, and the authoritarian rulings of the Kuomintang (KMT). In addition, the PCT General Assembly Office, the National Taiwan Museum and other places were also visited to learn about the mission and contexts in Taiwan. After the commissioning service on July 6th, all 2024 ILT participants were sent off to Nan-Fang-‘ao Church of Chi-Hsin Presbytery, Shi-Lin Church of Taipei Presbytery, Fuh-Hsin Church of Taichung Presbytery, Tek-Tung Church of Changhua Presbytery, Hsiang-Ho Church of Chiayi Presbytery, Ecumenical Mission Committee of Bunun Presbytery, and three indigenous churches of Payuan Presbytery: Kazangiljan Church, Ciulaku Church, and Drakki Church respectively. In addition to assisting church youth summer camps, all 2024 ILT members also joined the community care, explored local/indigenous languages and cultures, and attended diverse educational activities and charity services. A closing service to share and bless all 2024 ILT members is scheduled to be held at Presbyterian Bible College at Hsinchu from July 17thto 19th. Translated by Peter Wolfe |