Taiwan Church News
3817 Edition
April 21 ~ 27, 2025
Weekly Topical
As a Burning Bush to Witness the Holy, PCT Committed to Love Taiwan at its 160th Anniversary of Mission
Reported by Dalul from Taipei
Celebrating its160th anniversary of Taiwan mission, the 70th PCT General Assembly was held at McKay Memorial Hospital in Taipei from April 22nd to 24th. Hosted by Rev Fuyan Suda, moderator of the 69th PCT General Assembly, the opening service was opened on April 22nd. And a thanksgiving service was held next day on April 23rd.
Before the opening service, vice president Hsiao Bi-khim was invited to deliver a speech to the audience. She expressed her deep thanksgivings to the PCT to speak for Taiwan society for decades and become an pioneering missionary of social reform and democratic transition from authoritarian regime. She also remarked that she was honored to be raised up in a big family like the PCT and warmly embraced with love from the PCT brothers and sisters. She specially affirmed the PCT’s great passion to love Taiwan in the past 160 years, leading Taiwan society to march forward through her diverse evangelical ministries, and serving as the most critical force for Taiwan pursuit for freedom and democracy.
Vice president Hsiao specially mentioned the cyber attack of McKay Memorial Hospital’s information system a few days ago. As MMH’s cyber network after the attack became more safe and secure, she indicated, “every challenge is an opportunity to make us more stronger.” She explained further, “this kind of cyber attack not only targets medical institutes across Taiwan, but also aims to infiltrate the government, public sector and private business all over the world.”
For example, she said, “the undersea cables, along the coast of Brazil, have been frequently sabotaged in recent months, affecting the overall communication resilience amid Latin American countries.” A few years ago, she explained further, the company of “Colonial Pipeline” in the United States was also attacked by cyber-hackers, resulting in a total shut down of oil supply to the east coast of the United States, seriously affecting people’s livelihood. “All these hi-tech cyber terror events show that the world is facing more and more challenges and threats,” she said, “it is therefore necessary to strengthen the resilience of our Taiwan society via multiple ways to face such global issues.”
She also pointed out that the emblem of the PCT is a burning bush, and its spirit of sacrifice and resilience in hard times will continue to inspire Taiwan society’s democratic endeavor and lead our Formosa island march forward to a bright future. Finally, to bless the prosperity, progress and peace for Taiwan, she sincerely wished the PCT 70th General Assembly a big success, and encouraged the PCT ministries become more and more vibrant and deep-rooted into Taiwan society.
Entitled as “In Christ We Love and Serve Together”, Rev Fuyan Suda preached his sermon in the thanksgiving service. He reminded the audience, “though there are many reflections and thoughts on the PCT’s 160 years of mission, the core idea shall take the church as the body of Christ.” “Only by a ministry, committed to love and serve together in Christ, “ he indicated, “can the PCT become a faithful fellowship to witness and preach the gospel.” He pointed out that the PCT has long championed the importance of a holistic mission, covering six major dimensions, including preaching the gospel, educating believers, serving with charity, supporting social reform, caring the world and proclaiming evangelical messages.
Rev Fuyan Suda affirmed the PCT, with its 27 presbyteries and ethnic district assemblies, 1,300 local churches and many affiliated institutions, and one General Assembly to lead the ministries, is an energetic church showing a diverse, ecumenical and inclusive fellowship. Even amid the challenges characteristic of modern societies, such as low fertility, lack of resources and an aging society, he praised the PCT “still works together, stands firm to faith, and carries on to move forward!”
He pointed out that the spirit of the mission is not to showcase any heroic success of individual person or single ministry, but to lead people to appreciate the presence of Holy Spirit and the compassionate love of Christ through lives and services of the church. He encouraged the audience to do justice and pursue compassion as the core of Christian faith, and to walk humbly with God together with local churches and ecumenical groups.
Several short-clip videos of deceased pastors and their spouses between 2024 and 2025 were also played in the assembly, and the audience prayed in silence to commemorate these wonderful shepherds of our brothers and sisters. The PCT thanksgiving service for its mission at the 160th anniversary is designed with a space-time reversal, making its liturgy presented in a historical and poetic way. Especially languages of the Chinese, Taiwanese and indigenous mother tongues were utilized in turns amid the worship to reflect the contextualized faiths in their true colors. And this amazing praise and worship showcase the PCT 160 mission as being diverse, ecumenical and inclusive in communion.
Translated by Peter Wolfe
