Taiwan Church News
3821 Edition
May 19 ~ 25, 2025
Weekly Topical
In God We Trust Manifest in Burning-Bush-Relay for PCT 160 and Beyond
Reported by Chiu Kuo-rong from New Taipei City
To celebrate the 160 anniversary of the PCT mission, an event entitled as Burning-Bush-Relay initiated from Fong-Shan Church of Sou-Shan presbytery on May 4th, arrived midway at Ban-Chiao Church of Taipei presbytery on May 18th. The event, organized by PCT General Assembly to simulate an Olympic torch relay, urges the church to stand firm in God and proclaim the gospel audaciously in dark times.
A thanks-giving service was opened in a hymn singing by the assembly. Rev Pan En-sheng, moderator of the 70th PCT GA and pastor of Fong-Shan Church, delivered a sermon to the audience.
Reviewing the evangelical gospel proclaimed across Taiwan from south to north, especially those pioneering ministries introduced by the 19th century missionaries from England and Canada, Rev Pan emphasized that our response to the amazing grace of God is to follow the wonderful footsteps of our pioneering missionaries’ faith in Christ.
Facing stringent challenges of the aging of population across the church, Rev Pan quoted Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”, to inspire the assembly that we could still stand firm on the faith and carry on our spiritual journey fearlessly.
“Many people joke that the PCT will finally has the elderly left in the church”, Rev Pan said “but our church members do not agree. Instead, they say we observe the faith from young to old, and the enthusiastic faith within us has never been blot out,” he took an example of the evangelical Fong-Shan Church, established 158 years ago, to encourage the assembly.
“Therefore, we should encourage each other and walk into the glory of God hand in hand. Not for personal success, but to glorify our Lord only,” Rev Pan concluded.
In the subsequent semi-Olympic torch relay service, Rev Pan passed the PCT emblem of burning bush – symbolizing the spirit of ”burnt but not destroyed”, to Rev Wang Zong-ren, vice moderator of the PCT GA and pastor of Fuh-Chou Church of Taipei presbytery. Rev Pan indicated that the burning bush symbol is a precious spiritual legacy for PCT, and the 160-year-old missionary passion of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan has kept burning and will never put off.
After receiving the emblem of burning bush, Rev Wang said that this event was not only a ceremony, but also a joint ministry of the churches. “The PCT has been working hard for the past 160 years,” he said, “and now it will carry on the mission and pass this important torch to future generations.” He cordially invited all pastors together to receive the calling and blessing of the holy spirit passed down from generation to generation.
During the liturgical session of public prayer, Rev Huang Hsu-cheng, a pastor of th Shu-Lin Church of Taipei presbytery, led the assembly to pray for the missionary ministries in Taiwan; Rev Chang Shuo-En, moderator of Taipei presbytery and pastor of the Ming-Te Church, led the audience to pray for local churches and co-workers.
The semi-Olympic torch relay service in northern Taiwan for PCT 160 gradually came to an end in the chorus of the hymn of The gospel bell are ringing. As the sound of hymnal chorus wound down in the chapel, suggesting the mission will carry on for PCT 160 and beyond, Rev Wang delivered his blessings of peace and justice to the audience.
Translated by Peter Wolfe
