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Movement News

 

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

IN TAIWAN

 


It is our feeling or thought that our generation has developed many in­dustrial techniques which are highly developed and have improved our life. Given these techniques, cities have grown up quickly, and our society seems to change day by day.

In our society, the university is only one of many change agents, but in Taiwan it is a very important agent of change. Students come from all over the island, and for the first time are separated from their families as they study new things and employ new methods. The university has changed students, standards and principles. The university is the primary force in developing students who will manage other people and organizations. There­fore, if the church is to be successful and follow God's call, we must work with the universities in developing God fearing students who will lead the next generation.


The primary functions of student work in Taiwan are first to spread the gospel among university students. For example, we can have no greater joy than to see a student and his fami­ly accept Christ as Lord. Secondly, we are instructed to educate the young people under our control. It is excit­ing to see these young people grow in Christ as well as grow intellectual­ly and morally. Finally, it is crucial that the students have opportunities to serve other people—serve non-Chris­tians and Christians.

Specifically, we hope and pray that our students grow in knowledge and wisdom. Secondly, we encourage our students to develop their whole body, and are responsible to keep them­selves healthy. Third, we work so that God will enrich each young person's spiritual development and knowledge about Christ and Christianity. Finally, we want our students to not only be

 

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concerned about their spiritual deve­lopment, but also develop meaningful relationships with other non-Christians.

From this basic structure of thou­ght, theology, and commitment to stud­ent  work,  the  Southern  Presbyterian Church in 1954 began a student center in Taipei and near Taiwan University. In  1961,  the General Assembly set up the  Committee  on  University  Student Work to start student centers and acti­vities  in  the  northern,  middle  and southern parts of the island. At that time, all of the workers were missiona­ries. The Presbyterian Church of Taiwan in 1963 began the first magazine ori­ented towards student work, "The Apost­le, "  and  selected  one  local  worker to serve in the Taichung area. By 1964, each  area  (north,  south  and middle) were  assigned  one  local  person,  and five missionaries assisted these local pastors. In 1972, all provinces were as­signed local workers (such as Taipei, 'Hsin Chu, Taichung, Tainan, Gaoshuing, and  Ping  Tung)  and  started  student centers. At that time, we had- twelve local  workers  and  five missionaries ministering  students.  In  1975,  the funding from the Southern Presbyterian Church and the help from the Reformed Church was terminated, and these stud­ent centers were now to be supported through local funds. By 1977, the only student centers that were still operat­ing were in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Gaoshuing, and Ping Tung, and now only five workers served these centers.

The university student leaders in 1980 were now developing Presbyter­ian Student Fellowship programs in the various universities and colleges around the island. By 1903, all the provinces had initiated (started) their own Presbytery Student Work Committees. Student centers were now operating in Hsin Chu and Chyai Yi as well as in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Gaoshuing and Ping Tung. Presently, there are nine workers who are committed to stud­ent work, and they are working with 45 student fellowships on the island.

The General Assembly has organized its student work under the Higher Edu­cation Committee of the Presbyterian Church. The Higher Education committee is made up of the Higher Education Committee Chairmen from each Presbytery, and some people who are selected by the General Assembly. Ten of the 16 Presbyteries have Higher Education Committees. They are: Chi Sheng, Taipei, Hsin Chu, Taichung, Chyia Yi, Chang Hwa, Tainan, Gaoshuing, So Shan, and Ping Tung. The present Chairman of the Higher Education Committee is Pastor Tswun Hung Jen, and the Student Work Coordinator is Rev.Chen Ming Shen. Rev.Chen is assisted by the following student workers in their respective locations:

Taipei                    Chen Mei Hwei

Hsien Chu              Chang De Lin

Taichung                Chen Ming Shen

Chen Jen Sung

Wo Li Ywan

Syu Bwo Lung (work with mountain students)

Chia Yi                  Chang Shen Jye

Tainan                   Lin Jung Jeng

Gaoshuing             Lin Jeng Jye

Ping Tung              Shr Lyan Cheng

The Higher Education Student Work Committee of the Taiwan Presbyterian Church's main responsibility is to discuss with the workers the needs of university and college students, and how best to meet their needs; to publish books and training materials for student work; and to promote and initiate student action programs. For example, the Higher Education Committee will be promoting the following meetings:

January                 Gospel Meetings

February                Greek  and Hebrew Bible

Study Classes March     

March                    Study Meetings for Christian University women

April                      Seminars on Dedicating One's Body to Christ

June                      Training in Modern Discipleship

July                       Summer English Program

August                  Training Programs for Junior College Students

A Program for Welcoming freshmen September  Bible Study Classes

 

While these programs are designed to reach students from around the island,, each  Presbytery  is  responsible  for developing programs that meet the needs of their own particular situation.

As we span the scope of the programs and the ministry to university students, the Higher Education Committee on Stud­ent Work is confronted with five major problems. First, not all of the student workers have received the same training. For example, some are very adept at leading Bible studies, and other workers are very good at taking care of the money (accounting).  Therefore, programs must be instituted to help each worker grow and develop his or her skills. Second, as we look at 104 universities and colleges and see over 30 thousand students, we simply do not have enough workers and churches that are committed to student work.  The  harvest  fields are  full,  but  the  workers  are few, but we are reaching  some 45  schools through our Presbyterian Student Fellow­ships.  Third, the church is still to small  to  financially  support  all of the programs that are needed to reach all the students. Fourth, the government officials at times have made it diffi­cult for the Christian Church to effectively minister and work with students. Finally,  Local  churches  at  times  do not fully support our Christian minist­ry  to  the  university  and  colleges. However, with God's help and guidance, some of these problems are being over­come  by  the  efforts  of  our  student workers  and  the  help  from  churches outside Taiwan.