Taiwan Church News

3847 Edition

17 ~ 23 November, 2025

Weekly Topical

Devastated by Typhoon Fung-Wong, Su’ao Township Receives First Aid from PCT General Assembly, Chi-Hsin and Tainan Presbytery

Jointly report by Lin Yi-ying and Chiu Kuo-rong

As Typhoon Fung-Wong brought a heavy rain in Yilan and Su’ao on Nov 12, especially the inundation in Su’ao was unprecedented in decades, a high-alert emergency of the affected area was immediately implemented. Only the military and heavy machinery were allowed to enter the inflicted areas. Rev Ng Tiet-gan, secretary of PCT Church and Society Committee, went to Su’ao Township to survey the wreak havoc after typhoon on Nov 13.

According to his report: the basement of Dong-Shan Church of Chi-Hsin Presbytery was inundated one meter high; while local churches, including Su’ao, Nan-Fan-Ao and Li-Ze-Jian in Lanyang area, were not seriously inflicted due to being located at high-elevation places. However, households or shops of many church members of Su’ao, Luo-Dong, Nan-Fan-Ao and Dong-Shan churches got a grave losses due to the unexpected inundation.

There were many PCT members reported their property loss or households damages, including one hardware grocery store run by two Yan sisters of Luo-Dong Church was soaked in water, a hotel owns by church members was defunct, an elderly retired couple surrounded by water, a single elderly of Su’ao Church was isolated without proper care and etc.

A group of pastors of Chi-Hsin Presbytery, including Rev Zeng Yu-zhi, pastor of Luo-Dong Church, Rev Yang Chi-ren, pastor of Yi-Lan Church, Rev Hong Chi-lian, pastor of Tou-Cheng Church, Rev Zeng Chong-ren, pastor of Dong-Shan Church, Rev Chu Chiong-wen, pastor of Su’ao Church, and Rev Chen Chi-en, moderator of Lanyang District Assembly,gathered on Nov 14 to manage clean up and offer pastoral care for the inundated elderly who live alone.

Rev Chu Chiong-wen said: after PCT General Assembly issued the inundation disaster in Su’ao on Facebook page, Lanyang Corp Command of Ministry of Defense and Su’ao Township Office immediately called her to express their concern and asked if there was any demand for help.

Rev Zeng Yu-zhi helped clean up the hardware grocery store for two consecutive days; Yan sisters said that their loss this time was at least above ten millions NT dollars, and the care and intercession from brothers and sisters were absolutely needed.

Rev Zeng Chong-ren indicated that the basement of Dong-Shan Church was totally inundated, and many electrical devices, used clothes, three electronic pianos and de-humidifiers were all soaked in the water.

Elder Yuh Chong-ren, director of Church and Society Committee of Chi-Hsin Presbytery, said on Nov16 that most affected church members had got their households cleaned up. He pointed out: the communication between Chi-Hsin Presbytery and General Assembly was fast and efficient once after the inundation happened.

“PCT pastors and volunteers of each church are swiftly mobilized, and the needs of the typhoon-inflicted churches and households are reported and identified effectively,” affirmed Elder You.

“For example, the Nuan-Nuan Church led by Rev Chuang Shang-en carrying three high-pressure water sprayer to assist muddy-household washing, and pastors in Lanyang district also called volunteers to help clean up the affected families on Nov 15,” remarked Elder Yuh, “Most families have recovered very soon, and the first aid to the needy is done quite satisfactory.”

Except the first aid from Chi-Hsin Presbytery, Church and Society Committee of Tainan Presbytery also came to rescue with financial offerings to help relieve the disaster-stricken households to buy necessary foods, water and life-sustaining appliances. Elder Yuh praised the mobilization of public sector doing a very good job this time, particularly local governments and MoD moved swiftly to join the operation of cleaning up the mess.

“On the whole Taiwan government’s training, preparation and action to respond natural disasters becomes efficient, effective and exemplar,” remarked Elder Yuh, “If the inflicted need to apply for first-aid relief from PCT General Assembly, we will help to speed up the process as soon as possible and try our best to do what we should do.”

During an interview on Nov 16, Rev Chu Chiong-wen explained why Typhoon Fung-Wong delivered a disastrous inundation not seen in decades due to several factors: such as low elevation of Su’ao Township, insufficient drainage system, and under a monsoon season. She said “the early local name of Su’ao as “Holy Lake” suggests this area is originally a low elevation location and easy to form a lake.”

She also frankly admitted “any post-disaster rehab works is a ‘long-term warfare’ for local communities. Even if the church and volunteers reach out to help, it is not easy to restore daily lives back to normal in a short time.”

In addition to volunteer charity of cleaning up, running errands and accompanying the affected people, there are also inspiring stories which encourage people to walk into faith again. Rev Chu Chiong-wen shared a true story of a poor young man, who had joined the church’s cell-unit recently, inadvertently left his new motorcycle soaked in the water. She said:

“He is unable to do anything but pray. Next day, someone shows up, helps him to discard the defunct motorcycle in procedures and provides him a second-hand motorcycle. And the event makes the young man overwhelmingly surrendered to God’s amazing grace!”

She also shared that many people who joined the cleaning service were Christian volunteers who had just came back to church again. A sister who had left the church for years took the opportunity to sign up for the church charity ministry, participate in the operation to clean up the drainages and support the affected households, she said.

On November 16, after the unexpected inundation brought by Typhoon Fung-Wong, Su’ao Church used Hymn 481 of old PCT Hymnal (i.e. Hymn 149 of new PCT Hymnal) in Sunday service, inspiring the audience to step out from fear of darkness and praying for solid rehab, spiritual revival in the light of the world – our Lord Jesus Christ!

Translated by Peter Wolfe