Taiwan Church News 3862 Edition 2 ~ 8 March, 2026 Weekly Topical 46 Years after Lin Family Murders, Taiwan Persists to Seek Truth, Reconciliation and Justice Reported by Lin Yi-yin from Taipei Remembering the 46th anniversary of the heinously murdered Lin Family, including Mrs Yiu Ah-mei, Lin Lian-jun and Lin Ting-jun who were lawyer Lin Yi-hsiong’s dear mother and his beloved twin daughters, a memorial service was held at 10 a.m. on February 28 at Gi-Kong Church of Chi-Hsin Presbytery. The church is established at the very site of the Lin Family Murders occurred. Rev Wang Ming-zer gave a sermon, entitled as “Dark hour is also an occasion to do the ultra good”. In the service, vice president Hsiao Bi-khim, poet Li Min-yong and his wife, Ms Cheng Chu-mei, daughter of Freedom Fighter Cheng Nan-rong, Mr Yao Wen-chih, former director of Government Information Office, and Mrs Linda Gail Arrigo, political activist for Taiwan democracy, and many others were invited to attend at site. Rev Wang Ming-zer pointed out that if we don’t learn humbly from history, how can we pursuit the justice in our daily lives? “To find facts through history is not to provoke hatred, but to find the possible reconciliation amid the truth barely uncovered,” he indicated. In his sermon, Rev Wang shared a very impressive story: “When the Lin Family Murders occurred on 28 February 1980, Mr Kang Wen-hsiong, a democratic activist, rushed to the site and wished to offer first-aid. Because all fluorescent lights in house were intentionally destroyed and the basement became even darker, he therefore failed to identify and rescue the slain twins laid in the basement. Ever since, not only he had to endured KMT’s long-term surveillance, but also his self-inflicted sense of guilt, for not rescuing Lawyer Lin’s twin daughters in time, made him even dared not to turn off light for sleep in the rest of his life. It was not until Mr Kang’s death in 2023 that his son revealed this stunning story at his father’s funeral service, where the son cried out loud before his father’s coffin: ”Dad, from now on, you can turn off the light to have a good sleep!” Rev Wang reminded “the PTSD caused by authoritarian oppressions often continues to pass on to next generations, leading to alienation and misunderstanding among family members.” Due to recent trending topics and enthusiasm of “make-up-a-lesson“ on Lin Family Murder, Kang’s daughter Kang Ming-hua texted Rev Wang a message, expressing that she finally could understand the external persecution and internal sense-of-guilt resulted into her father’s ‘leaving home without saying anything to the family.’ And, most amazingly, she wished to let go of all her inside bitterness and resentment and forgive her father! “This kind of forgiveness is not forgetting, but built upon an insight into the truth of history; this story shows that when our history is reflected honestly, the injuries inflicted on individuals and their family can be healed, and peace can reach to those broken hearts,” Rev Wang remarked. In his speech, vice president Hsiao reminded the audience: “To fulfill his promise of ‘No Reconciliation without Truth,’ president Lai Ching-de had ordered National Security Bureau to de-classify and open all political files under the martial law period in Taiwan.” Currently, these files had been officially handed over to National Archives Administration of National Development Council. “Although current Gi-Kong Church is a sad historic site to witness hideous murders, evil persecution and countless sufferings in Taiwan’s history,” stressed VP Hsiao, “it also keeps telling us how bumpy a road it is when we Taiwanese insist to fight for freedom, democracy and human rights.” “Although the Taiwanese always face difficult challenges,” said she, “yet it is just because of these difficulties that we cannot be more proud of living as a Taiwanese.” She also prayed that God would bless the Taiwanese with wisdom and courage, so that compassion, faith and hope as well as peace, love and justice would come to our dear homeland and protect our beloved Formosa away from the evil. As Gi-Kong Church was open 7/24 all day long during the Lunar New Year, several thousands of people have come to visit the church according to a statistics at site. Ms Hsu Yu-ting, Deacon of Gi-Kong Church, specially designed a QR Code for tour guide introducing the public to gain an digital easy-access and in-depth curation of the Lin Family Murders. (https://gikongchurch.zeabur.app/) Accompanied by Rev Wang Ming-zer, Mrs Janet Chia, chairwoman of Taipei 101, also visited Gi-Kong Church at 4 p.m. on Feb 28. Amid the church visit, Mrs Chia wrote a memo with heartfelt blessings to Taiwan. Rev Wang said that Gi-Kong Church will continue to open to the public for remembering the campaigners for Taiwan democracy either by the trends of make-up-lessons about their contributions or by an in-depth curation and education at site. Translated by Peter Wolfe |