March 5~11, 2012
Headline News
Thousands celebrate 140th anniversary of George Mackay’s arrival to Taiwan
Reported by Lin Yi-ying,
Written by Lydia Ma
About 2,000 Christians from 20 different churches gathered on March 4, 2012 to commemorate the 140th anniversary of Rev. George L. Mackay’s arrival to Taiwan. All of these churches were founded by Mackay and they were now coming together in a thanksgiving service to remember the Canadian missionary who devoted his life to proclaiming the gospel in Taiwan. “Mackay gave his life to missions and was later buried in Tamsui, in his beloved Taiwan. He left a legacy that the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) ought to remember and emulate!” said PCC General Assembly Moderator Rev. Dr. Rick Horst during his sermon.
Horst referenced various passages from the Bible during his sermon entitled “Proclaiming the living love of God” and underscored that just as the apostle Paul proclaimed the gospel to the gentiles, Mackay also proclaimed God’s love to Taiwan as a medical missionary. From reading Mackay’s biography, Horst learned that in the 29 years that Mackay ministered in Taiwan, he had pulled more than 12,000 teeth. However, tending to people’s ailments was merely a means for Mackay to share the gospel with them because he knew that continuous interaction with people would help him share and spread the love of Christ.
During this service, Tamsui Presbyterian Church Elder Su Wen-kui gave an overview of Mackay’s life and legacy. He noted that Mackay was born on March 21, 1844 in Zorra Township, Oxford County in Ontario, and arrived to Kaohsiung on December 30, 1871. Mackay later journeyed to Tamsui on March 9, 1872 and began ministering in northern Taiwan and among indigenous Taiwanese. He died on June 2, 1901 from illness at the age of 58, but founded more than 60 local churches in Taiwan. Though some churches were closed later on while others were recovered after a period of stagnation, about 29 of the churches founded by MacKay remain and continue to operate to this day.
Besides Horst, a few notable Canadian delegates also attended this service, including former missionary to Taiwan Wilma Welsh, Oxford County Warden Don Mackay, PCC Synod of Central and Northern Ontario and Bermuda Moderator Barney Grace, and Taiwanese Canadian Mackay Committee Chairman Edward Chung. After the service, these delegates and others visited Mackay’s grave to lay flowers and pay their respects.
