[3155] Children visit PCT General Assembly Office as part of summer camp

3155 Edition
August 13-19, 2012
General Assembly News

Children visit PCT General Assembly Office as part of summer camp

Reported by Lin Yi-ying

Written by Lydia Ma

Sunday School children and teachers from Yuchuan Presbyterian Church located in Majia Township visited the PCT General Assembly Office (GAO) on August 9, 2012. They journeyed from Pingtung to Taipei via train and were greeted by PCT General Secretary Andrew Chang once they arrived. They toured the GAO building and were introduced to all the ministries and works undertaken by the staff at the GAO. The children also toured Shihlin Night Market, Aletheia University, Tamkang High School, and Tamsui area. When they concluded this two-day excursion, they rode the High Speed Rail back to Pingtung.

“Every one of you is a member of the General Assembly. The GAO is merely a place where all PCT ministries are coordinated,” Chang said during a presentation of the GAO. He added that all the 1,220 local churches that form the PCT are indispensable members of the church. Chang said that the PCT was founded 147 years ago and that it would be celebrating its 150th anniversary in 3 years.

“In 50 years, PCT will be celebrating its 200th anniversary. You guys will have a huge celebration then. I won’t be around anymore, but our God will always be here!” he said. He then proceeded to summarize the history of the PCT, placing special emphasis on the contributions of missionaries such as George Leslie Mackay, David Landsborough, and Thomas Barclay.

Rev. Vuluk, senior pastor of Yuchuan Church, said that these Sunday School kids often pray for all the ministries managed by the General Assembly during Sunday School. However, they have never visited the GAO and do not have the faintest idea of what it looks like. To help these kids have a better idea of the kinds of ministries that pastors at the GAO are involved in, the church decided to take the kids, Sunday School teachers, and some church elders to visit the GAO. For some children of the church who come from poor families, this is their first time visiting Taipei.

This visit is part of the church’s summer camp, said Rev. Vuluk, who also thanked church elders for their wisdom in perceiving the needs of these children and for financially supporting this trip so that the children could attend. In total, 27 people visited the GAO on that day, including children and church staff.

PCT Associate General Secretary Kho Sing-doh remarked that the visit by Yu-chin Presbyterian Church is the first time during Chang’s term in office that a church has taken its Sunday School kids to visit the GAO. Such a special occasion was therefore followed by a group portrait of all the children, church staff, and the General Secretary as a memento. He urged all PCT churches across Taiwan to consider organizing such an excursion for their Sunday School children as this would help them to become acquainted with the GAO.

Photo by Lin Yi-ying

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