Rejoicing

We joined the pastor and members of the Sihhu Alliance Church to give thanks to God for the purchase of this building that will now be their church facility. A Thanksgiving Service was held on April 25.  Rev. Silas Yang, President on the C&MA in Taiwan. spoke and challenged them to represent Christ well in their community.

The initial cost of the building was beyond the means of the church. About a year later, the price had come down, but was still much higher than the church could afford. People prayed. One church member encouraged the church to make an offer that they felt was appropriate and within their means. The owner countered with an offer still beyond their budget.

After prayer, the church board set a maximum price they could offer, and stated that if the owner would agree to that price or less they would purchase the building. The owner made a final offer that just happened to be the number that the church board had set. However, the conditions were that the real estate agent’s fee could not be deducted from what the owner received.

Usually the fee an agent would charge for selling such a building would be a percentage of the final purchase price. That would be beyond the church’s ability to pay. However, the agent decreased their fee to a set amount that was within the church ability to pay.

God made a way for them to purchase this building when it seemed there was no way to do so.

Please join us in praising God! And please pray for the church as they make plans to use this newer and bigger facility to share the good news about Jesus with those living nearby.

Praise and Prayer

• We joined with many others and witnessed JiaWei’s baptism on April 26. Her family and friends heard her explain why she trusts Christ as her Saviour.  Please pray for her as she continues to live for Christ. Pray for other family members to join her and put their faith in Christ.
• We have added additional ways of advertising that our car is for sale. Please pray for God to provide a buyer.
• May 2 will be a family rally at Amazing Grace Alliance Church in YuanChang Township (about a 10-minute drive from our house). Please pray that God will use what is shared to help build healthy families.

Learning from History

While visiting in Taipei, we heard the history of two of our Alliance churches.

The NanGang Alliance Church (top photo) was started in 1965. The goal was to share the gospel with coal miners. The area has since been redeveloped and the church is now located near Academia Sinica (the most prestigious academic institution in Taiwan).

The SongShan Alliance Church was started in 1958. The goal was to share the gospel with railway workers. The church was located near one of the major railway hubs. The area has since become a major commercial district in Taipei City. Older buildings are being replaced by high rises.

Those churches, and many others around Taiwan, were started because people needed to hear the good news about Jesus.

Please  pray that the need for people to hear about Jesus would continue to motivate believers to share the gospel and to start new churches.

Praise and Prayer

• More than 300 people witnessed Jerry and Jennifer as they said their wedding vows last Saturday. Please pray for them as they begin their life together as a couple.
• We continue to advertise the car. So far there have not been any inquiries. Please pray that we will find the right buyer.
• It will be about three months until we arrive in Canada. Please pray for God to provide housing, a dependable used vehicle, and other things that will be needed as we return to living in Canada.
• Please continue to pray that we will recognize opportunities and know what to say to have conversations with people about living in a relationship with Christ.

Red Envelopes

It is time to use another red envelope.

On Saturday, two of our Alliance pastors will get married. It is traditional for friends of the family and all guests attending the wedding ceremony and wedding feast to use money in a red envelope as a wedding gift.

The cultural expectation is that the amount given will be sufficient to cover the cost of the wedding banquet and something extra to bless the couple as they begin their marriage.

Please pray for Jerry and Jennifer as they say their vows before God and other witnesses. Pray for God to lead them and guide them as they navigate life together.

Praise and Prayer

• We are busy down-sizing. Photos and documents are being digitalized because a computer file has less weight than the paper version. Pray for wisdom as we make preparations for our July move back to Canada.
• Each time Lorne hauls a cartload of recycling to a local collector, neighbors take notice and ask about our plans. Pray that we will have opportunities to talk about God’s love in addition to explaining about our upcoming retirement.
• Please pray that we are able to find a buyer for our car. We are asking God for that to happen sooner rather than later.

Religious Fervor

Do you consider yourself to be a devout religious person?  Are you passionate about your beliefs?

Mazu is one of the most revered goddesses in Taiwan. There are numerous images and many temples dedicated to her worship. Frequently, devotees will request her to protect them. Worship of Mazu is especially prominent among fishermen.

Each Spring, one of the most famous Mazu images is paraded through the streets on a circuit through central Taiwan. The destination is a temple that is temple located about 14 km south of where we live. This year, the pilgrimage will begin just before midnight on April 12, carrying the image 400 km in four days. Devout pilgrims will walk the route with the image.

The photo above is from a news report that stated people lined up for one and one-half kilometers to register to walk in the procession. More than 300,000 people have already registered, and more are adding their names daily. Those who participate will make the pilgrimage, seeking personal protection and blessing.

Please pray for opportunities for Christians to have significant spiritual conversations during this time when people are sometimes more open to talking about such matters.

Praise and Prayer

• The Baozhong Alliance Church decorated hard-boiled eggs and church members distributed them in the community on Sunday morning. It provided an opportunity to tell others about Resurrection Sunday when we celebrate Jesus’ greatest miracle. Please pray that people will be curious to learn more about Jesus.
• Please pray that we are able to find a buyer for our car. We are asking God for that to happen sooner rather than later.
• The warmer weather has arrived. (You would likely think it is hot!) Please pray for stamina and good health as we live through our final months in Taiwan.
• Although it is early to begin looking for housing, please pray for God’s provision of a place to live when we return to Canada in July. (We will need to purchase a car too.)

Holy Week

We join believers around the world to celebrate the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Christ Jesus. It is something we should remember daily, weekly, and monthly. But this week is traditionally set aside for special times of remembrance.

The Yunlin County Alliance Churches will gather on Good Friday evening for a Time of Remembering.

On Saturday, the Baozhong Alliance Church will prepare decorated eggs. These will be distributed in the community on Easter Sunday morning prior to church. It will be an opportunity (our last Easter before leaving Baozhong) to remind people that we celebrate Resurrection Sunday.

Sunday worship will include Holy Communion.

How will you celebrate Holy Week and Easter?

Praise and Prayer

• We attended Brother YuZhu’s  celebration of life service last Saturday. More than fifty people attended.  Please continue to pray for his mother and older sister as they continue to grieve. Knowing that he is present with the Lord is a great comfort.
• Thank-you for praying for the Strategy Meetings. There was positive feedback from many who attended.
• This year, Easter weekend in Taiwan is a long weekend. This is because of the “Children’s Day’ holiday and the ‘Clear and Bright Festival.’ Families will send representatives to tidy the graves of the ancestors. Those who follow traditional religious practices will include veneration and requests for protection from the spirits of the deceased. Please pray for Christians to have wisdom in talking with family members about spiritual beliefs and values.

Invited

This week’s photo is Rev. Hsieh presenting Lorne with a special gift to commemorate our international service in Taiwan. This happened during the service on Sunday morning at the Fullness of Life Alliance Church.

Many years ago, while Lorne was serving as Field Leader for both the USA and the Canadian mission organizations, Lorne began praying for an area of Taiwan south of the Taipei International Airport. Driving through that district, there were temples everywhere one looked.  But no church crosses were visible.

Each time Lorne saw the sign for the freeway exit to go to that town, he prayed that God would make ways for the residents to hear the gospel and have the opportunity to place their faith in Christ. About a year later, an established Alliance Church informed Lorne that they had plans to start another Alliance Church. The chosen location was in Chungli, but on the western side close to the district that had been in Lorne’s prayers. The name chosen for the new church was “Fullness of Life Alliance Church.”

God blessed that work and a church was established. At the end of last year the church relocated to new facilities. It was exciting to be able to visit and share in their new location.

But to the truthful, the greatest excitement (maybe I should say ‘joy’) was to think back of how God invited Lorne to be a part of the work that God wanted to establish. God could have accomplished it without Lorne’s participation, but chose to generously invite participation.

We are in relationship with a wonderful, holy God!

Praise and Prayer

• Please continue to pray for Lorne’s friend who is reading the Gospels.  Please pray for Christ to reveal Himself to him.
• Annual Strategy Meetings are scheduled for March 23-25. We will join Alliance pastors from around Taiwan to attend. Please pray for the keynote speaker as he prepares to come and teach us. Pray for denomination leaders who will lead discussions about church ministry.

Worry-Free

The above logo “Don’t Think Too Much–Future” was spotted on flipflop sandals probably made by FunPlus. They looked well-made, but I did not stop to see if my size was available.

The wording made me think of Matthew 6:34 in one of the older translations. It states: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

The days seem to fly by. We have now entered our final four months in Taiwan. We are frequently answering questions regarding our future plans. Although we are making necessary plans, we are not worrying about the future. God has designed it and will help us navigate it.

Praise and Prayer

• Lorne’s friend is reading the Gospel of Matthew. Interesting conversations are taking place. Please pray for Christ to reveal Himself to him.
• Annual Strategy Meetings are scheduled for March 23-25. Both Taiwanese Alliance pastors and international workers will attend. Please pray for the keynote speaker as he prepares. Pray for denomination leaders who will lead discussions about church ministry.
• A traffic accident claimed the life of a young Christian man who attended another Alliance Church. Please pray for his family and the many others impacted by his passing.

FUNDRAISING

Praise the Lord! The donations to our five-year fund-raising project towards assisting the Baozhong Alliance Church purchase a building are ahead of the faith goals that were set!

Thank-you for your generosity!

Our goal was to raise CAD$115,000 to assist the church to pay a down payment on a building that they would own. Purchasing their own facility will eliminate the need to pay rent. The church anticipates that the future building will be built or renovated to facilitate the church’s ministry. With your help, and your prayers, that dream is being realized!

As you pray about this, please pray for the church leaders in Taiwan as they appeal to Taiwan’s legislators to change recently revised laws governing the purchase of real estate by charitable organizations. The new rules prevent the churches from easily obtaining mortgages. The Baozhong Alliance Church is trusting God that when it is time to purchase a facility, that God will make a way for them to do so. Thank-you in praying with them.

ENVISION SUMMIT 2026
May 15-18 at Ambrose University

A gathering for 18-28 year olds who want to grow, be stretched and discern God’s call on their lives. To learn more go to the Summit Website. Help us spread the word to young adults, pastors and friends!

Praise and Prayer

• This month we will be travelling to different churches each weekend. Please pray for safety for us and others on the road.
• Please pray for a friend Lorne visited last week. He has many questions about Christianity. He agreed to start reading the Gospels to discover Who Jesus is. Pray that God will open his eyes to the truth.
• International workers in the Middle East continue to shelter in place and are evaluating the possibility for safe evacuation to safer locations. Please continue to pray for their testimony for Christ during this time.

Thinking and Praying

Many of you have joined us praying for political stability in our region of the world. Some reports declared the tensions to be one of the “hot spots” on earth. We thought we would share what life is like at the moment:

• The budget for the military is a frequent item in our news feeds.
• Reports of military operations by nearby powers have become the norm.
• Daily we hear the test of the air raid siren at 9:30 am.
• We hear and see military jets flying overhead, wondering if they are on a training exercise or being sent on a mission to protect Taiwan from a potential hostile threat.
• Prayers for peaceful relations with geographic neighbours are frequently heard during church services.

Even though the above is a factual report on what it is like to live in Taiwan at this time, please be assured that we feel safe. We believe that God is in control and protecting Taiwan–Protecting us!

However, the news of military action in the Middle East, and the continuing war in Ukraine, are hard to ignore.

• On Saturday night, international workers sent by Taiwan to the Middle East issued an emergency prayer request. They asked us to pray for protection and health concerns.
• On Sunday, we heard that some of our colleagues sent from North America are sheltering in place or are being evacuated to safer locations. Once again, we are being asked to pray.

Would you join us in praying?

1. Pleaser pray for those affected by wars and instability.
2. Please pray for the families of those who are suddenly in a war zone.
3. Please pray that God will use the uncertainties of war zones to build the kingdom of God in people’s lives
4. Please pray for God to comfort those who need it and replace anxiety with His peace.

Praise and Prayer

• This month we will be travelling to different churches each weekend. Please pray for safety for us and others on the road.
• The task of sorting through accumulated papers and files from 35+ years of living in Taiwan has begun. We are making a list of furnishings and belongings that will be given to designated people at a later date. We will advertise our car later this month. Thank-you for praying that we will be able to bless people and have opportunities share about Jesus as we make this transition.

Eating Together

The Taiwanese culture loves to do life by eating together. Food and relationships are a perfect match.

We had the opportunity to have dinner with Pastor Joshua and Ilaine. We talked about life, ministry, and many other things. We also had the opportunity to pray together.

Each Sunday, after church service, the Baozhong Alliance Church offers the opportunity to eat lunch together. The habit stopped for awhile due to Covid, but everyone seems to be pleased that we are once again eating together.

The informal setting provides opportunity to care for and encourage each other. It is a non-threatening opportunity for people to ask questions about faith, church life, or to share about a life challenge.

Please pray that God will use the opportunities of eating together to strengthen His church in Taiwan.

Praise and Prayer

• Please pray for a friend struggling with addictions to gain victory over the temptations to rely on substances rather than on God. Pray that God  will help him find healthy coping skills to deal with the challenges in his life.