Editorial: Building upon Bible-reading and prayer
Translated by Lydia Ma
When we review the history of Taiwanese churches, we notice that missionaries came and shared the gospel with people living in various regions of this country from late 1800s onward, starting with Canadian George Mackay ministering to northern Taiwan and James Maxwell ministering to southern Taiwan.
Because of these missionaries’ labor of love in the fields of medicine, education, and evangelism, a new generation of native doctors, teachers, and preachers were born and nurtured to serve their country and transform it by ministering to the poor and the forgotten in society.
The gospel was never meant to be a secret or offered only to the rich and the powerful. It was meant to be shared with everyone and used as a means to free people and society from sin, evil, and injustice wherever it was proclaimed.
As we prepare to celebrate PCT’s 150th anniversary, we hope to become vessels God can use to show his love and justice in this country. Hence, PCT’s “One-leads-One, New Doubling Movement” is much more than just a personal, church-based, or ecumenical goal to see our pews filled to maximum capacity.
However, this movement or strategy requires faith as a solid foundation and motivator. That is the reason why Bible study and prayer are essential components of evangelism. Jesus built his own ministry upon prayer and Scripture. The Gospel of Luke summarizes Jesus’ teenage years with the following statement: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52).
This passage is a good reminder to our churches that the source of Jesus’ strength during his years in ministry was a close relationship with God whereupon he gained wisdom and power. If prayer and studying Scripture was so important for Jesus, how can it be any less for churches today?
So, as we fix our eyes on this movement and respond to Jesus’ Great Commission, let’s make good use of resources provided to us by PCT, such as “Reading the Bible with New Eyes” devotional book, “One-leads-one Adoption Cards”, prayer booklets, and weekly church prayer meeting guides, so that our ministries, like Jesus’, can be built upon prayer and Scripture. These resources can strengthen our ministries and help us stay attuned to God’s heartbeat and people’s needs.
