Taiwan Church News 3889 Edition 7 ~ 13 September, 2026 Weekly Topical PCT Churches Reach Out to Receive the Disabled Dragon-Boat Team from the Philippines Reported by Lin Yi-ying from Hualian The 15th International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) Club Crew World Championships (CCWC), jointly organized by Hualien County Government and Chinese Taipei Dragon Boat Association, was held at Liyu Lake, Hualian County, from Aug 29 to Sept 6. A dragon-boat team of 53 players, named PADS (Philippine Accessible Disability Services Inc.), came to attend the CCWC on Sept 1. Unfortunately, due to a loss of contact with some CCWC sponsors, PADS players were instead received with foods and accommodation by Rev Chen Feng-ming, pastor of Shou-Feng Church of PCT Eastern Taiwan Presbytery, and supported by Rev Sontok Kaying, pastor of Natawlan of ‘Amis Presbytery, with efficient transportation and holistic services. Rev Chen Feng-ming said, PADS players were accommodated at Shou-Feng Church, which was located only ten-minutes drive away the dragon-boat competition venue, making the issue of transportation easier for PADS. Rev Chen apologized for being unable to offer air-conditioned and hotel-class accommodation at Shou-Feng Church, however, he felt very honored and grateful to have the opportunity practicing the charity of Good Samaritans to receive the PADS players from the Philippines. Rev Sontok Kaying gave his thanks to Rev Chen Feng-ming and Shou-Feng Church for hosting these Filipino friends. “When the PADS team is in trouble,” said he, “it is a grace of God that the church can help. The meals prepared for PADS players were purchased from local manufacturers such as Hualian Li-Chi Rice Box, Lin-Ji Fish Ball and etc. Meanwhile, many local charity groups and Catholic churches also reached out to help the PADS team. Remarkably, Rev Sontok Kaying raised money to pay the PADS’s logistics cost among the accommodated church, competition venue and Hualien airport. From the interaction with the PADS team during their competition days, Rev Sontok Kaying and Rev Chen Feng-ming learned that in addition to 19 disabled players, the PADS team had 10 extra teen-aged members. According to the interviews with these two pastors: most PADS members had experienced dropouts from school, loss of their family, and some even needed to beg on the street to make a living; both teen-aged and disabled PADS players were accompanied by some veteran Catholic team-mates, so that they can be protected from further exploitations from human traffickers and local gangsters. “When PADS players come to Taiwan to participate the IDBF CWCC competition, it is indeed an amazing gift to bless their lives to be born again!” After the CWCC competition is finalized, the PADS won eight gold medals and one silver medal, which claimed the most-high record among 45 participating teams. For this glorious achievement, Rev Sontok Kaying thanked all local partners for their enthusiastic and selfish-less support to witness the biblical teachings: “Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42 ). He specially gave his thanksgiving to God for granting local churches the precious opportunity to receive these brothers and sisters from the Philippines. In the evening on Sept 6, a celebration and farewell banquet was held for PADS team and a communion photo was taken at Shou-Feng Church. Amid the venue, the Eden Foundation, invited to attend the celebration, also sent their representatives to inquire how PADS served the disabled and vulnerable teenagers from the scratch. To develop a cooperative project of overseas mission next year, Natawlan church decided to raise funds and visit the PADS, located at Mandaue City, Cebu, the Philippines. The PADS team flied back to the Philippines on Sept 7. Translated by Peter Wolfe |