Taiwan Church News
3843 Edition
Oct 20 ~ 26, 2025
Weekly Topical
From First Aid Rescue to Holistic Pastoral Care, PCT Hualien Evangelical Union Walks Humbly with God
Reported by Dalul from Hualien
The Hualien Evangelical Union (HEU) held a thanksgiving service at the Tafalong Church of ‘Amis Presbytery on October 15, symbolizing both the end of first aid rescue and a new start of long-term care and reconstruction for Guangfu Township after a barrier lake overflow occasioned on Sept 23.
HEU members, including ‘Amis Presbytery, Truku Presbytery, Bunun Presbytery, Eastern Taiwan Presbytery, and staffs of PCT General Assembly Office, were assembled to proceed a long-term pastoral care ministry for the inflicted residents and indigenous communities.
Themed with “In Grace We Walk with Light to Rehab”, the thanksgiving service was hosted by Rev Bavan Ispalidav, chairman of HEU and pastor of Si-Sui Church of Bunun Presbytery. Quoting Isaiah 49:1-6, he compared the church’s services for the affected Guangfu Township residents to “a serving steward”, and stressed “our faith does not only show alive on the pulpit, but also shows in action.”
“Even if it seems our service doesn’t change anything, we should complete the ministry entrusted by God with thanksgiving,” advised he, “the road to rehab the community may be more difficult, though, but only by sticking to a servant mindset can the church become the light of community!”
Rev Namoh Arang, chief executive of the HEU First Aid Rescue and pastor of Tafalong Church, remarked “the town folk’s trauma caused by barrier lake overflow is extremely huge and far-reaching.” He emphasized: “Rehab ministry is not only about repairing those broken households, but also about repairing the traumatized souls.”
Meanwhile, he indicated the future rehab work needs to focus on four major aspects: first, charity group needs to ensure an incessant social care and support from Taiwan society; second, specific social service, like accompanying, needs to be set up with a network; third, psychiatrical treatment and counseling shall be offered; fourth, imitating the spirit of “shovel supermen“ with patience and expertise, more “psychiatrical counseling supermen” are urged to serve in Guangfu Township’s rehab project.
Rev Pawlo Mayaw, moderator of ‘Amis Presbytery, recalled: “Many co-workers themselves are also devastatingly affected by the inundation, but they still serve and accompany many other inflicted people and family resolutely. And this is the power of faith!”
He gave his deep thanksgiving to staffs of PCT General Assembly Office for their immediate first-aid guidance and valuable advises, which enabled local churches to respond rapidly to follow government’s emergency mechanism and implement the exact operations, so as to avoid subsequent rescue support and resources to be dominated or abused by specific interest-groups.
There are indeed many different opinions, though, he reminded “there is always only one heart, that is, the heart of Christ.” He encouraged the younger generation to learn diligently on Christian faith and cultural wisdom of our indigenous tribal elders, “because our homeland must be rebuilt and the faith must be inherited and carried on!”
Rev Chen Hsin-liang, general secretary of PCT, explained in interview that facing more and more complicated and composite disasters, such as earthquakes, typhoons and landslides, the Presbyterian Church has learned in these events and accumulated first-aid rescue experiences and expertises. “Through the platform of PCT Church and Society Committee,” he said, “PCT works hard to integrate kinds of support and resource to enhance first-aid procedures, and manage efficiently on disaster relief funds to ensure financial support can be delivered efficiently in the emergency of disasters.”
“In this barrier lake disaster in Hualien, a disaster relief workshop was immediately established to offer first-aid and supports at Church and Society Committee of ‘Amis Presbytery”, stressed Rev Chen, “meanwhile its rehab mission will also extend to restore our mountains, forests and landscape, and especially pay attention to emergent crises of green environments.” He promised to carry on an in-depth review and care about Taiwan’s environmental issues.
Rev Omi Wilang, a former secretary of PCT Indigenous Mission Committee, thanked brothers and sisters from various churches for their selfish-less dedication to first-aid relief. Describing the voluntary first-aid actions as “a common will to stand by”, he reminded the audience “a rehab project consists of policies, budgets and opinions of different ethnic tribes, but the most critical ones are about the subjectivity and grassroots power of local residents.” He called on the churches in Guangfu Township to show the spirits of autonomy, discipline and order. “The church has no political motivation to gain votes, only to bring hope to the inflicted,” he said.
Remarkably, Natawran Church is an important intermediate center of resources distribution in the inundated area. Its pastor, Rev Sontok Kaying shared that on the date when Typhoon Ragasa swept across on Sept 22, he was very worried about a possible shortage of daily supplies. “But, to my surprise, hundreds boxes of mineral water and hundreds of volunteers poured into the church within a few hours,” he said, ”80% of them are non-Christians and the church promptly becomes a community platform for first-aid rescue and voluntary youth participation.”
To encourage and reward these enthusiastic youth volunteers, Natawran Church designed a special backpack, which contains rain boots, self-protective equipments and an innovative QR Code for New Testament, to help volunteers engage themselves in first-aid relief immediately and receive obtain protection guidance and good news simultaneously.
Translated by Peter Wolfe
