Taiwan Church News

3824 Edition

June 9 ~ 15, 2025

Weekly Topical

Celebrating PCT160, A Picture Book Entitled asJames Laidlaw Maxwell – The First Protestant Missionary to Taiwanis Launched

Reported by Dalul from Tainan

To celebrate the 160th anniversary of the PCT mission, Taiwan Church Press (TCP) published its 38th picture book amid its renown publication –Beautiful Footsteps Series. The new picture book, entitled asJames Laidlaw Maxwell – The First Protestant Missionary to Taiwan, was launched at the Tainan Branch of Taiwan Church Press in the morning on June 7.

Dr Maxwell was also the first missionary sent by the Presbyterian Church of England to this beautiful island. He arrived at Kaohsiung in 1865, and laid down a pioneering foundation for the medical ministry of PCT in Taiwan.

Rev Fang Lan-ting, president of TCP, remarked “Dr Maxwell is not only a historical legacy to PCT, but also a contemporary ‘migrant worker’ who left his comfortable hometown to offer free medical service and amazing good news to a pre-modern Taiwan.”

He also indicated, “this picture book goes beyond personal biography, as it reinvigorates the memory and spirit of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan over its past 160 years of mission.” “It is not only a picture book belongs to children, but also a powerful reminder of a humble missionary, who came from the prosperous British empire to live his faith in an uncivilized Formosa then with passion and love,” he stressed.

Dr Liu Chi-chu, superintendent of Sin-Lau Hospital (SLH), was invited to share recent on-going events between Dr Maxwell and SLH. As this year 2025 marks the 160th anniversary since the SLH’s founding in 1865, he and SLH management board decided a retrieval of the footsteps of SLH history as the most important commemoration of Dr Maxwell’s medical ministry.

By mentioning an installation of a memorial SHL plaque not long ago in Edinburgh, the visit to Dr Maxwell’s former residence house in Scotland, and many cooperation projects with local churches and seminaries in recent years, Dr Liu explained that these were are all SHL’s ecumenical actions to witness the audacious faith that Dr Maxwell bequeathed to SHL.

He said “the mission of SLH as a Christian hospital is not only limited to provide medical care, proclaiming the good news like our founding missionaries is also an indispensable task to do our mission.” He encouraged the audience to learn the wisdom from the past missionaries and witness the amazing grace of God in daily lives.

Rev Chu Chon-hong, pastor of the Tai-peng-keng Maxwell Memorial Church (TPK) of Tainan presbytery, said “TPK ministry has become a witness to Dr Maxwell’s legacy though a joint efforts of past church elders and believers. Through the preservations of TPK’s history, foreign tourists or domestic visitors can easily understand the chronicle of medical services and evangelical ministries of Maxwell in Taiwan.”

He explained further that TPK showcased historical church pictures in the spirit of “contextual elements” on the church wall, hence civilians and tourists can easily understand the contributions and legacy that Dr Maxwell left to Taiwan and the church. In addition, he said, “TPK continues to support overseas missions, publications of picture books for evangelical mission, and assist small congregations in ministries and etc, in order to comply Jesus’ teachings of love and reach out amid neighbors.”

On the book launch, Rev Chu specially dressed an indigenous Siraya vest to symbolize an in-depth thanksgiving to Dr Maxwell’s pioneering ministry toward the indigenous people. He remarked that he was a native born at Bak-Sa, Kaohsiung, an descendant of indigenous Siraya, who were obliged to have the good news preached by Dr Maxwell. He stressed “although TPK can not offer direct medical service, it can serve Taiwan and follow the wonderful footsteps of Dr Maxwell’s mission!”

Elder Chiang Shu-wen, editor-in-chief of the picture book, shared her observations during the process of writing, illustrating and editing. As 2025 is the 160th anniversary of Dr Maxwell’s mission to Taiwan, she said, publishing a commemorative picture book for Dr Maxwell became a grave challenge for the editorial team to proceed with great care.

She explained the difficulties, lying in several ways: first, the members of the picture book team have different expertises, coming from backgrounds; second, they were assigned different duties to collect historical materials, scripts-writings and illustrations respectively; third, the narrative of Dr Maxwell’s story required to be done with exact historical details and heartfelt warm touches.

Meanwhile, she especially emphasized “the picture book not only strives to be loyal to history, but also focuses on correctly showcasing the scenarios and spirits of Dr Maxwell’s medical mission.”For example, she explained further, “the true illustrations of early medical equipments, anecdote of chicken feathers as cotton swabs, and etc not only reflect Dr Maxwell’s daily lives, but also invite readers to learn the interesting historical facts.”

Elder Chiang concluded that many female missionaries also had made an enormous contribution behind male missionaries or evangelists. She sincerely expected much more mission stories of these pioneering female missionaries could be published in the future to enrich the church’s understanding of the mission of God.

Translated by Peter Wolfe