Taiwan Church News
3381 Edition
December 12 – 18, 2016
Church Ministry
Mrs Intiw Commemorated As The First Indigenous Christian In Taiwan’s Aboriginal Church History
Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan
Commemorating the first Amis Christian, Mrs Intiw, who was born at Sapat and baptized in 1916 by Rev Duncan Ferguson at Tikay Church, a centennial thanksgiving service was held at Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church on December 10. Over 300 Amis Christians assembled to witness this historical moment. A joint-statement was read in the languages of the Amis and the Chinese by three moderators of PCT presbyteries, including Amis presbytery, Eastern Amis presbytery, and Western Amis presbytery respectively, pledging to carry on the evangelical mission in Taiwan’s aboriginal society.
According to the church documents of Tikay Church, reported in a Centennial Seminar On Commemorating Mrs Intiw held by Yu-Shan Theological College and Seminary in May 2016, Mrs Intiw was confirmed as the first baptized indigenous Christian on 22 October 1916. The baptism of Mrs Intiw is even eight years earlier than Mrs Ciwang Iwal, who was baptized at Hua-lien Habor Church in 1924 and commonly respected as the Mother of Aboriginal Faith in Taiwan.
Translated by Peter Wolfe
Mrs Intiw is commemorated as the first baptized aboriginal Christian ever recorded in Taiwan’s church history. Over 300 Amis Christians assembled to express their thanksgiving in a centennial commemorative service at Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church(also called Tikay Church in 1916) on 10 December 2016.
Photo by Chen Yi-hsuan
