Taiwan Church News
3718 Edition
May 29 ~ June 4, 2023
Headline News
Reported by Lin Yi-yin from Taipei
Translated by Peter Wolfe
In the morning on May 25th, to honor the PCT’s MacKay Memorial Hospital for sending Taiwan’s warmth and love to Ukraine via medical action and services, and pledge that the Taiwan government will continue to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine and assist her devastated cities to rebuild, President Tsai honors and pays tribute to MacKay Medical Mission as the first medical team from Taiwan to go to Ukraine.
She expresses her praise to the members of the medical mission when they encountered an air raid alert as soon as they arrived in Ukraine, and still insisted to carry on medical services, operations and training without fears. President Tsai praises their bravery and compassion, for the mission is so encouraging and makes Taiwanese people feel very proud. She would like to express her deepest gratitude and respect to everyone involved in this medical mission to Ukraine.
Rev Chen Hsin-liang, general secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, first thanked President Tsai for taking the time to meet and honor the Mackay Medic Mission. He also expressed his thanks-giving that the PCT could be offered the opportunity to engage with non-governmental organizations in aiding Ukraine, and cooperate with the government to demonstrate the spirit of “Taiwan can help”.
Rev Chen said that when the Ukrainian-Russian War broke out in February last year, he was then the chairman of the National Council of Churches of Taiwan and hosted a “Prayer Meeting for Ukraine” in mid-March. Many government and church leaders were invited to attend the prayer meeting, including representatives of the Catholic Church, Orthodox Church and Protestant Church, as well as Dr Chen Jian-ren former Vice President and current President of the Executive Yuan.
To show the PCT’s commitment to Ukraine via action, Rev Chen remarked that Changhua Christian Hospital, an affiliated institute to the PCT, was also coordinated to donate US$100,000 in medical supplies, and supplied Taiwan-made electric hospital beds to Ukraine.
Rev Chen Hsin-liang pointed out that MacKay Christian Hospital follows the pledge of the prophet, “I will bind up the injured and I will strengthen the weak”(Ezekiel 34:16) and bravely went to Ukraine to assist the people suffered in the invasion. Rev Chen especially pays tribute to Dr Chen Heng-der, a physician from the Taiwan Christian Medical Association (TCMA), and Dr Zheng Bo-ren, a physician from the Luke Christian Medical Mission (LCMM) in Northern America, for their solid support and enthusiastic coordination to make the ministry of MacKay Medic Mission in Ukraine so successful.
On behalf of the PCT, he thanked Rev Hsiao Kong-ying, chairman of MacKay Christian Hospital, and Superintendent Dr Liu Jian-liang, to support mission members to feel assured with a full-scale back-up at home. He also thanked the incoming Superintendent Dr Chang Wen-han for his commitment to continue to carry on the ministry of this medical team.
Dr Tsai Wei-der, head of the MacKay Medical Mission, reported to President Tsai the results of this medical mission to Ukraine. The medical mission was warmly welcomed by the local people and medical institutions, and was reported by local TV and media.
They also visited the mayors of Mukachevo and Lviv, who expressed their greatest gratitude to the medical mission from Taiwan. Dr Rudi, chairman of the Ukraine Christian Medical Association, told Dr Tsai on the mission’s last day that, among all international medical missions to Ukraine, MacKay Medical Mission was the only mission team which received no negative comment.
Ms Olga Kulish, convener of Taiwan Stands with Ukraine, and Mr Alex Khomenko, convener of the Taiwan-Ukraine Front, presented souvenirs to President Tsai and represent Ukrainians to pay tributes to Taiwan government, the Taiwanese people, and the PCT for Taiwan’s humanitarian rescue and relief operations.
