Taiwan Church News
3820 Edition
May 12 ~ 18, 2025
Weekly Topical
A Joint Indigenous Ministry between Rural Church and Urban Congregation Witness the Vision of Partner Church Project
Reported by Lin Wan-ting
On May 7, the Iziuci i Vecekadan Church of Payuan presbytery formally accepted the urban congregation, Buliu Church, as a partner church, and signed a contract with Mission Center of Payuan presbytery to witness the partnership.
Rev Ljegean Tudalimaw, general secretary of Payuan presbytery, explains in the interview that Payuan presbytery has promoted the “partner church project” since 20 years ago, in order to follow the teaching of “love one another”, facilitate the growth of urban congregations, enlarge its scope of ministerial services, and practice the mission of indigenous rural churches together with its diverse ministries.
In view of the facts that urban congregations often face resource shortages, and frequent transferrals of preachers and many other unpredictable factors, the partner church project, championed by Payuan presbytery in the early time, was initiated to take care of the welfare of preachers and facilitate the urban ministry for the indigenous.
For example, large indigenous rural churches will directly transfer its presbytery-tax to small congregations as preacher’s remuneration. Through such financial support, many indigenous rural churches came to realize the importance of accompanying small urban congregations for sake of the evangelical mission and pastoral care.
In 2017, Payuan presbytery reformed the partner church project via encouraging large rural churches not only offer financial support, but also develop in-depth joint ministry with urban congregations. At that time, the indigenous Masilidj Church took the lead in paying attention to help Sinse congregation in Taichung, until the latter established the church.
In 2020, Timur Church reached out to Cevung Congregation, supported its service with monthly personnels, ministry expenses and house rent, and even donated NT$ 1.05 million when Cevung Church was established. Last year, Iziuci i Tjaizaya church carried on the task to take care of Cevung Church.
In the same year, 2020, the indigenous urban Luqem Congregation was established, and its ministry has been since supported by its mother church Ciusinglun Church every month. After the partner church project with Luqem Congregation expired, the partnership was carried on by Kuabar Church.
Heizang Church in Pingtung City signed a contract with the Pingyuan Congregation for three years, and two evangelists of Heizang Church went to Pingyuan Congregation to assist pastoral care and teachings; in the same vein, Piuma Church simulated a similar ministry to care about Kaviangan Congregation.
It has been observed that pastors in urban congregations are often replaced and transferred, and it is difficult for small congregations to develop long-term ministry and manage church growth. In 2018, Payuan presbytery began to promote the appointment of deputy pastors or evangelists to its local churches or congregations, and help hem to march toward a full-fledged church.
In the past, assisted by Kaidi Church and Tjavadran Church, Vuljavuljaw Congregation had become a church. In the meantime, Drakki Congregation, a long-term partner of Sagaran Church, is expected to be upgraded as a church in August, 2025.
Inviting local churches, presbyteries and general assembly to entered into a partnership fellowship, the PCT Indigenous Mission Committee had implemented a missionary project, entitled as “Companion to Indigenous Urban Mission”, with local churches such as Luqem and Cevung as its outstanding models.
Rev Ljegean Tudalimaw stresses financial support is indeed a main catalyzer to church partnership in the past, and now it needs a new cooperative project to integrate diverse ministries. He points out, “the ministry reform lies in the resolves of many churches to break through and root deep, and formulate goals and strategies for sake of the mission. “
“Especially in the tribal villages of the indigenous community, most of the indigenous compatriots are Christians, brothers an sisters will care most how to connect and support their love ones who have migrated into urban cities. When the church members feel the common needs and see the same vision, it is time for the mission,” Rev Ljegean Tudalimaw remarks.
Translated by Peter Wolfe
