Christmas Memories

Saturday, December 20 at 4 PM will be the Baozhong Alliance Christmas Event. It will include group games, singing, listening to a story, a gift exchange, and a meal. The poster above advertises the event, including the need to bring a gift worth up to $300 Taiwan Dollars (about CAD$14) or less.

Christmas Symbols 

Sunday, December 21 at 10 AM is our Christmas Worship Service. Lorne is working with Pastor Joshua to design a special worship time. The focus is Christmas and how the various symbols (tree, lights, angels, and gifts) remind us about the time when the God of the Universe came to rescue mankind from the power of sin.

Christmas Carolling

Wednesday, December 24 at 7 PM, members of the Baozhong Alliance Christmas will go Christmas carolling. We have been invited to different homes to sing, speak words of blessing, and pray for them.

Praise and Prayer

• Please pray for the Christmas events sponsored by the Baozhong Alliance Church and other churches throughout Taiwan. Pray for clear gospel messages and open hearts to receive what is shared.
• Global Ministries of the Alliance Canada is searching for the next leader of Marketplace Ministries.  Details are available at: International Strategy Director, Marketplace
• Would you consider a year-end gift to support global missions work. Here are some options available to you.

Celebrating

Christmas is a time that offers additional opportunities to enjoy fellowship with friends. While doing so, we sometimes discover special events and performances.

When we asked for a time to meet with long-time friends,  they suggested we attend a Christmas music concert together and visit afterwards. So that is the plan.

Please pray that events such as this one will help people to grasp the true reason that we celebrate Christmas.

• Please pray for “Jen.”  Our church assists her to receive food and other support for daily life for her family. About two months ago she was in a serious vehicle accident resulting in serious injuries. The initial negotiations toward a financial settlement begin this week. Please pray that she would discover a relationship with Christ through the care that the church is providing.
• Please pray for people to attend Christmas events sponsored by churches across the island. Pray that those leading the events will give clear presentations of the gospel. The Baozhong Alliance Church will hold a special event on December 20.

Advent Begins

Anticipating celebrating Christmas began a day early in Baozhong. The official Advent Season began on Sunday, November 30 this year. But ladies from the church and community gathered last Saturday to make wreaths.

A total of eleven ladies attended. In addition to the handcraft, they heard our pastor’s wife share about her own journey of knowing Christ as Saviour. She explained how others can have a similar relationship with Christ.

Please pray for each attendee to desire a meaningful Christmas celebration centered on Christ.

Praise and Prayer

• We found reasons to be thankful as we gathered with coworkers on American Thanksgiving Day. The food was good. And there were significant conversations that occurred. Thank-you for praying for that event.
• Please pray for people to attend Christmas events sponsored by churches across the island. Pray that those leading the events will give clear presentations of the gospel.

Foreigners

Look at the number of foreign residents living in Taiwan! They are working or studying, many doing graduate studies at one of the universities. They are pursuing opportunities to make money or get an education.

The largest number come from the most populous Muslim nation in the world. Many of those Indonesians live with Taiwanese people in their home providing care for elderly or infirmed family members.

We have coworkers on our international worker team who are focussed on sharing the gospel and discipling the Vietnamese in Taiwan. The ministry includes visitation to the prisons and detention centers.

We also have coworkers from the USA who have opened a coffee shop. They hope that their shop will become a meeting place for Indonesians. They sell Indonesian foods and have decorated with items brought from Indonesia. They partner with an Alliance missionary sent from Indonesia to reach out to Indonesians living in central Taiwan.

One of our hopes is to mobilize Taiwanese believers to reach out to new immigrants and to the migrant worker population in their midst. Will you pray that the ministry to the foreign residents will expand from being something foreigners do for foreigners to what the Taiwanese do for foreigners?

Praise and Prayer

• Please pray for believers who declare their allegiance to Jesus alone. Pray for protection from spiritual attack and for the strengthening of their faith.

Twice as Much

We often think that to obtain twice as much is a good thing.

• A double burger has twice as much meat.
• BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) is a common marketing tool.

In Taiwan, there are certain days that are special because of being “double.”

• Double Ten Day: October 10th is Taiwan’s national day.
• Double Nine Day: September 9th is the Double Yang Festival. People climb mountains and visit ancestral graves. It is not a public holiday.
• Double Eight Day: August 8th is used to celebrate Father’s Day.

Because we have our Canadian cultural background and are now living cross-culturally, we sometimes find ourselves celebrating special days two times. For example:

• Father’s Day (Canadian and Taiwanese)
• Thanksgiving Day (Canadian and American)

The Bible mentions some important instances when getting double was important:

• Jacob gave a double blessing to the sons of Joseph.
• Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.
• Isaiah 61 promises double honor and everlasting joy after the humiliation of being exiled.
• Paul wanted to visit the Corinthian church so that he could provide double the encouragement and double the edification.

We are blessed by  all the “doubles” in our lives.

Praise and Prayer

Solitude is a good opportunity to deepen one’s relationship with God. But isolation is frequently detrimental to that same relationship. The Bible has more than 100 commands that teach believers how to relate to one another, encouraging each other to live by faith. Please pray for some believers who lack adequate relational support as they live out the Christian life. Please pray for God to heal brokenness if that is the root cause.

When is it a Church?

The Baozhong Alliance Church is officially called a “Preaching Point.” It is still considered to be in the “start-up phase.” We sometimes refer to these churches as “New Ventures.”

It is a church, but has not yet met the criteria to be a member church (an organized church) of the Alliance denomination in Taiwan. In order to become a “member church,” it must first meet the following qualifications:

• Have twenty-five or more adult members.
• Have a Deacons’ Board with five or more members.
• Able to financially support a pastor and the work of the church.

Although these are the legal requirements that must be attained before officially being recognized as a member church, the Baozhong church is already doing the work of the church :

• Introducing people to Christ and explaining how to have a relationship with Him.
• Teaching people about living in relationship with the Creator God.
• Creating opportunities for fellowship (gathering, emotional and spiritual support, etc.)
• Being the presence of God in their community.

Would you pray and ask God to help the Baozhong Alliance Church to become the church that He desires it to be?

Praise and Prayer

It is important for all people to have a good rhythm of work and rest. How that is done is influenced by the culture around us. However, the Bible also has some teaching about the subject. The Taiwanese culture puts great value on productivity and frowns on apparent laziness. Please pray that the Taiwanese pastors and the church members will model for those around them a healthy balance between work and relaxation.

Fundraising Update

We are on vacation while you are reading this, but we wanted you to know about God’s blessing in helping us raise funds toward the purchase of a church building for Baozhong Alliance Church.

The project began in August 2024, and as of October 27, 2025 a total of $39,174.00 has been donated. Praise the Lord with us.

Our year-end goal for 2025 is CAD$46,000.

Thank-you for your participation through praying and giving!

Praise and Prayer

Christmas is less than two months away. Christmas Day 2025 has been declared a holiday in Taiwan. It is actually the  Constitution Day holiday, but will be a special blessing to Christ-followers. Please pray for Christmas events being planned by churches. It is an annual opportunity to talk with people about Christ Jesus.

10th Anniversary

Baozhong Alliance Church is celebrating ten years of Sunday Services.

We rejoice for all that God has done to build His kingdom in this town and in people’s lives.

• The Baozhong Alliance Church Youth Group meets on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Please pray for them to deepen their relationships with Christ. Please pray for creativity and wisdom as Ilaine (Pastor Joshua’s wife) leads this ministry.
• Praise the Lord that five first time attendees participated in the Women’s Craft Activity last Saturday. Please pray for wisdom to know how to follow up and have more conversations with these ladies.

Business Meeting

We attended the Taiwan C&MA Business Meeting last Saturday.

At  the meeting, they formally accepted the Baozhong Alliance Church plan to raise funds and plan to purchase a facility within five years. The financial plan included that we are asking for donations toward the facility down payment from our Canadian friends. If you would like to contribute, you may do so here.

While we were doing that, the opening ceremonies for the National Games were held in Yunlin. (That is the county where we live.) It is the first important sports event held at a newly constructed stadium, located about 20 minutes drive from our home.

We saw delegations from other parts of Taiwan, guessing they were athletic teams because of their uniforms. Visits to local prominent temples were included in their itinerary. It likely was considered to be a natural part of Taiwan culture and was easily accepted by those planning their time in Yunlin.

Please pray for the Christian church in Taiwan to boldly find relevant ways to share the gospel enabling people to be freed from the bondage of idol worship.

Praise and Prayer

• Please continue to pray asking God for three more baptisms prior to the end of the calendar year. It seems unlikely to happen, but God is the One able to do the seemingly impossible. We continue to pray and ask for this.
• The Baozhong Alliance Church will hold a Service of Thanksgiving on Sunday, October 26 to celebrate 10 years of Sunday services. The church considers this to be its Tenth Anniversary. Stories of what God has done in the past will be shared. The vision for the future will be shared by Pastor Joshua. Lorne will share words of encouragement and challenge.  Please pray that what is said and done will bring glory to Christ.

Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a Blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Following the Canadian tradition, we choose to pause and give thanks this weekend, and especially on this Monday.

We are thankful for God’s presence and enabling in our lives and in yours. From the viewpoint of eternity, everything worthwhile is because He blesses us and helps us to do His will.

We are thankful for your participation in this ministry. We are better together: praying, testifying, living out God’s plan for us.

We are thankful for evidence of God at work. As we share life together, we hear stories of how God is transforming lives.

Join us in giving thanks for these items and so much more!

Praise and Prayer

• Saturday, October 18, is the annual Business Meeting of the Taiwan Alliance Church Union. Pastors and church delegates will gather in Taipei to hear reports from last year and plans for next year. Decisions will be made to permit individual churches to purchase buildings. Other legal matters will be discussed and decided. But mostly it is a time to understand and affirm how God is leading us as a family of churches. Please pray that those who attend will be encouraged. Pray that there will be a sense of unity that originates from the group listening to the Holy Spirit. Pray for spiritual boldness and faith to overrule fear and doubts. May Christ be glorified as they meet together.