Taiwan Church News 3790 Edition Oct 14 ~ 20, 2024 Weekly Topical Through Music and Sport, PCT Gives Thanksgiving for its Indigenous Mission at 70thAnniversary Reported by Lin Yi-ying from New Taipei City Through a series of thanksgiving service, hymnal performance and sport contests, more than 1,100 PCT members from 11 indigenous presbyteries and 4 ethnic district assemblies gathered to celebrate the 70thanniversary of the PCT Indigenous Mission at Aletheia University in New Taipei City from October 10thto 11th. At the opening service on Oct 10th, Rev Fuyan Suda, moderator of the PCT General Assembly, entered into the venue holding high the PCT flag together with flags from each indigenous presbytery and ethnic district assembly. Hosting the opening service, Rev Peto Ukan, former chair-director of the PCT Indigenous Ministry Committee (IMC), prayed, preached, and invited the audience to read aloud the Confession of the PCT. Rev Ripun Sukinadrim, former IMC director, read the biblical verses; Rev Fuyan Suda preached and presided the Holy Communion; the Indigenous Youth Choir and the Indigenous Pastors Choir sang the hymns. . Rev Fuyan Suda gave his sermon, entitled as “Rather burnt out than rust out”, to explicate the celebration’s main slogan, “Taiwan’s indigenous people are so good with blessings in God’s mission”, and affirm the 70th anniversary of the PCT indigenous mission. He reminded the indigenous people not to forget the amazing grace from God when they faced so many difficulties and challenges in the past centuries. In the eyes of God, the indigenous people are as honorable as their audacious forebears, he stressed. Responding to God’s calls with passionate service to the church and our society, Rev Suda encouraged the audience to stick to God’s solid promises with a faith in his unfailing actions standing by the needy. He also remarked that God is the hope on this beautiful island as God’s glory shall shine on the indigenous peoples from generations to generations. Rev Omi Wilang, former IMC secretary, presided over the ceremony of granting awards of missionary achievement to the pastors/evangelists served once as the moderator, director, secretary and staff amid the presbytery/ethnic district assembly. The thematic song of IMC 70thanniversary, written and composed by Ms Dongi Kacaw, former director of the PCT Liturgy and Music Committee, was sung in prayer by the audience to care and bless various concerns: the indigenous youth and its related campus ministry, the awakening of indigenous consciousness, current situations and destinies of Taiwan country, the marginalized groups, gender justice and etc,. Mr Daniel Thrupp, youth representative from Te Aka Puaho Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ), and Ms Keitha Thrupp, moderator assistant of Te Aka Puaho Synod, participated in the thanksgiving service and gave greetings and speeches to the audience. Rev. Chen Hsin-liang, general secretary of the PCT, said in his speech that the PCT IMC was originally established in 1953. Through the pioneering efforts of the indigenous faithful forebears, IMC developed its service and ministries for Taiwan’s indigenous peoples and assist various ethnic groups in building churches and connecting communities, Rev Chen expressed. Today in the IMC 70thanniversary celebration, he continued, there are 11 indigenous presbyteries and 4 ethnic district assemblies established across the island. He sincerely blessed everyone to share God’s love with each other and witness God’s glory through hymnal performance and sport contests. The hymnal performance was held in the evening on Oct 10th. Singing in Tayal, Payuan, Ngudradrekai and other indigenous mother-tongues, top prizes were awarded to the best choir teams of pastors/evangelists from different indigenous groups. The hymnal singers would perform either by designated songs or self-selected songs in front of the panel composed of renowned church music experts, including Prof Lin Su-na, Prof Lee Chian-yi and Mr Edgar L. Macapili. In the sport contests, there were group competitions for volleyball, table tennis, basketball, and badminton in the afternoon on Oct 10th. As to contests of archery, tug-of-war, relay races of 400m, 1,600m, and 2,000m in tracks and fields, and various ball games were held in the morning on Oct 11th. Rev Rii Taljimaraw, former IMC secretary in education and organizer of a series events for the IMC 70th anniversary, specially offered her thanksgivings to many backstage “core-coworkers”, including pastors, evangelists, directors of indigenous college student center, and PCT members. From the events of simmering heavy-motorcycles around the island, riding bicycles across the country, hiking up to the hills, to holding thanksgiving service, hymnal performance and sport contests, these passionate backstage “core-coworkers” always offered their loyal and selfless efforts in photographing, video recording, catering, guidance, and miscellaneous services, according to Rev Rii Taljimaraw. Remarkably, for the outstanding leadership and seamless cooperation in organizing the IMC 70thanniversary celebration to honor our almighty God, she gave her heartfelt appreciations to Rev Sudu Tada, associate general secretary; to the IMC directors for their maximum support without reservation; to the participation of pastors, brothers and sisters from all PCT indigenous presbyteries and ethnic district assemblies. Translated by Peter Wolfe |