Mothers and Children

Mother’s Day this year is memorable because it stands out from the celebrations of other years.  We have all had to be more creative this year to make the mothers we know feel special.

Rather than ordering a large cake for everyone to share, each mother who attended our worship service received their own individually wrapped piece of cake. The children were pleased to present that and a small gift to the mothers who were present.  Mothers who did not attend but who are a part of our fellowship received a special delivery later in the day.

Honouring mothers is just one of the ways that we live out Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Praise and Prayer

• Praise the Lord that Lin Mama was able to return home on Saturday where she continues to recover from her surgery.
• Praise the Lord for opportunities to communicate with and try to bless some church members who have not been attending recently.  Please pray that God will grant them grace where needed in their lives.
• Praise the Lord for opportunities to affirm mothers this past weekend and pray blessings on them.  If you are one of those special people, we pray God’s favor and peace upon you.
• Praise the Lord that the meetings last Wednesday went well.  There are developing partnerships to expand Vietnamese Diaspora ministry in Taiwan.

The Place was Shaken

Lorne preached from Acts 4:23-31.  After the believer’s prayer, the place shook (earthquake-like) and the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit so that they witnessed boldly.

The worship service finished and after a few minutes break prayer meeting began.  Only a few minutes into the meeting, there was a significant earthquake.  Everyone could not help but think of the passage of Scripture that we had just been studying.

God has our attention.  Now the questions that come to mind are:

1. Are we ready for the filling of the Holy Spirit?
2. Are we ready to boldly proclaim Christ?

Praise and Prayer

• Please pray for Lin Mama who continues to recover after surgery.
• Please pray for those facing difficult economic times due to the virus epidemic.  Pray that they will put their hope in God.
• Please pray for those with whom we are meeting weekly.  Pray that God will reveal to them their need for His love.
• Lorne and Chinh will meet with church leaders in Chungli to discuss partnership in Vietnamese Diaspora Ministry.  Please pray for God’s clear leading as we plan together.

Thank-you to those who have given generously to our support.  Thank-you for your sacrificial commitment to help people hear about Jesus.  For those wishing to participate in this way, please designate your gift to : Lorne and Kathy-Lu’s Support

Affirmation

The number of students attending Sunday School is not large.  But the dedication of the teachers showed this last Saturday as they took time to attend the Sunday School workers training session.

The Fuhsing Alliance Church (in Greater Taipei) sent some of their teachers to provide a training time for teachers from our church and one other nearby Alliance church.  The workshop included the explaining of their teaching goals, how scheduling is done,  possible preparation methods, and available online resources.  Their sharing was very well received.

And, from our church’s viewpoint, the teachers seemed to be greatly encouraged.  Because of the training there may be some creative additions to what they are currently doing.  Our hope is that they are all affirmed and feel the Lord’s pleasure with the foundation they have already laid.

The biggest challenge facing our church’s Sunday School ministry is the need for more students.  With some planned transitions, and one student entering junior high school in the Fall, that will leave one elementary aged boy as a regular attender.

Would you pray with us that God will provide some more elementary age students to come and learn about being a Christ-follower?

Praise and Prayer

• Please pray for Lin Mama who is recovering from surgery.
• Please pray for those facing difficult economic times due to the virus epidemic.  Pray that they will discover new ways to put their hope in God.
• Please pray for those with whom we are meeting weekly.  Pray that God will reveal to them their need for His love.

Happy Easter!

Because we are a small group and living in Taiwan where by the grace of God prevention measures are helping to curtail the spread of the epidemic, we were still permitted to meet for Easter morning worship.

The Communion Table looked different.  That was because we had the Communion steward spray alcohol sanitizer on his hands and wear gloves before serving the believers.

Unstoppable!  That was the love of God to provide salvation.  And that is also the response of those who desire to remember the significance of the death and resurrection of our Lord.

May you find creative ways to express your celebrations this Easter as we celebrate the Risen Christ.

Prayer and Praise

• We are thankful for the opportunity to watch online at no cost some dramatized versions of our Lord’s life.  Additional times of reflection are helping us to find peace for our souls.  May you also find ways to rest in God’s peace.
• God made a way!  When the request came to help update a missions curriculum for the C&MA in Canada, it seemed that there was not time in the schedule.  But because a few things were suddenly requested to be cancelled, we had enough time.  We are thankful to other colleagues who are helping by providing advice and photos!
• Praise the Lord that Lin Mama was feeling well enough to attend church on Sunday.  Lin Papa came too!  Please continue to pray for his salvation.

The Cross Marks the Spot

In Taiwan, a red cross on the outside of a building helps people identify the location as a Protestant church.  To the average person, the church is an organization that helps people in the community.

But as Christians, the cross is much more.

• It marks the spot in history when the penalty for our sins was paid.
• It reminds us of Jesus suffering in order to being healing into our lives.
• It is a symbol of our salvation.
• It is where we died with Christ so that we can rise with Him in newness of life

This week we will have a unique Good Friday.  It is the designated day each year to remember the cross and the Christ who died on it.  Current societal happenings mean that many people will have additional time this year to reread the story and reflect on its significance in their own lives.

Even when facing social isolation, we are blessed because Our Saviour faced the greatest isolation in order to save us.

Simplifying Life

We recognize that many people are facing a reduction in income and have a reduced ability to give.  We are all making efforts to reduce expenses as much as possible.

If you are still able to give to support C&MA global efforts, we ask that you prioritize gifts toward worker support.  This can be done by designating your gift using one of the following:

• Designating to “Lorne and Kathy-Lu’s support” (You will receive a thank-you letter from us)
• Designate your gift to the Global Advance Fund from which we also receive support.

It is possible to give from your own home by using this button

DONATE

Praise and Prayer

• We had hoped to do much more, but will celebrate Easter this year with small gatherings of masked believers on Good Friday evening and Easter Sunday morning.  It is too important an event to do nothing!
• This past weekend the Taiwanese had a long weekend to permit people to remember ancestors.  By doing this they maintain and strengthen family relationships.  Unfortunately there was a segment of the population who opted to add some recreation at certain tourist destinations.  The resulting crowds mean that people are wondering if we will see an outbreak of sickness within the next couple of weeks.  Please pray for God’s mercy in limiting the spread of disease in Taiwan and other places.
• PLEASE make wise choices so that the danger of infection is limited.  And join us in praying for God’s mercy and healing.

Cheering On Our Coworkers

Yesterday, Lorne travelled to Taichung Alliance Church to hear our coworker (Rev. Chinh Truong) share his testimony.  After studying Mandarin for one and one half years, this was the first time he used his new adopted language to share in front of a group.  We celebrate his success!  We pray that God will continue to give Chinh and Lieu progress in the task of language learning.

(It may have been more difficult to share than usual as everyone around the table wore face masks.  The masks not only provide others protection from us spewing germs on those around us, they also hide some of the facial expressions that help a speaker know they are being understood.)

Please pray for Chinh and Lieu (pictured above) as they complete their final months of language learning.

Staying Safe in a COVID-19 World

We are very aware that in everything we do we are to bring glory to our Lord.  That includes the efforts we take to stay safe in a virus-filled world.  So our first line of defense is “Trust in God” demonstrated in a number of ways:

1. For overall health:  Prayer, More Prayer, Careful Listening to God, and Sharing Lessons from God’s Word with Each Other
2. For our spiritual and mental health:  Finding healthy ways to stay in touch with loved ones, friends, and other believers.  We all need encouragement during this time when we cannot meet face-to-face.
3. For our physical health:  Wash hands frequently, especially every time we go out or come in.  Avoiding public transportation and gatherings of more than 50 people.  We also avoid shaking hands and are careful to wear masks in group situations.
4. For our social health:  At this moment we are still permitted to meet for church services because infection rates are lower than other countries. But we have cancelled our lunch at church as people cannot wear masks and eat at the same time.

We firmly believe that God is still in control and has the ability to demonstrate that truth “so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that (we who believe) might always fear the Lord (our) God.” (Joshua 4:24).

Praise and Prayer

• We continue to give thanks to God for His protection and for health to serve Him and the people around us.  Thank-you for remembering us in your prayers, even as we remember to pray for you.
• Taiwan has implemented restrictions on air travel from other places, a ban on foreign visitors, and compulsory quarantine for any residents of Taiwan who arrive back from outside the country.  Everyone is watching the daily statistics.  We pray that those living here will find true peace in Christ Jesus.  Please pray that we will trust God for protection, knowing that He is protecting us through measures such as these.

A Message from our Worldwide Team:

As a global team, our confidence during these unsettled times is in God, our Rock and Refuge. We are committed to mutual care and support for one another as we span the miles. Thank you for bearing witness to the hope we have in Jesus. It is our collective desire to make Him famous and may we all continue to bring access to Jesus through our loving words and actions. We deeply appreciate your ongoing prayers and financial support as together we live each day by faith.

Uprooted Hope

Listening to the end of a sermon by a famous preacher, my attention was drawn to the above verse.  It seems to describe what everyone is experiencing at this time.  Our hope has been uprooted like a tree.

Two questions immediately come to mind:  (1) Where will I find hope to replace that which is lost?  (2) How will I help people find hope in the current situation?

Thankfully that is not the only verse in the Bible that talks about hope.  That same preacher drew my attention to Job 14:7.  “There is always hope for a tree. If it is cut down, it can grow again. It will keep sending out new branches.”  This statement brings perspective.  God can bring to life that which appears to be dead.

And I remember the words of the prophet in Joel 2:21-32.  It is a message that God can restore what is seemingly lost.  He can replace what the the locust swarms have eaten.  Those promises are given right before the promise that God will pour out His Spirit on ordinary people.  With the help of God’s Spirit those people will do extraordinary things.  And I believe that one of those extraordinary things is to find hope where it is lacking.

Together, let’s trust God to fill us with hope and be able to share hope with those around us.

Praise and Prayer

• We continue to give thanks to God for His protection and for health to serve Him and the people around us.  Thank-you for remembering us in your prayers, even as we remember to pray for you.
• With the possibility of mandatory quarantine facing people who travel to minister to others, short-term teams and speakers at conferences are needing to make difficult decisions about their ability to act on plans previously made.  Please pray that in the spectrum between panic and recklessness, they will have Holy Spirit inspired wisdom to make the right decision specific to their situation.

The need for the church to have financial resources to minister to needy people remains and may even be greater than last week.  Please continue to support your local church and the worldwide efforts to take the good news about Jesus to those who have not yet heard.  Let’s keep praying and trusting God to enable us to do this.

Viral Influences

Above is a photo of Bible Study.  (Lorne’s chair is the empty one.)  The number of people attending is less than before.  COVID-19 virus spread prevention means that some people’s regular work is suspended.  They have taken on temporary shift work to insure the family continues to have income.  Others had other family responsibilities that kept them away on Sunday.

Everyone seems to be monitoring the spread of this virus and noting the influence it has on people’s lives.  But we also have another kind of viral influence in our lives that is less obvious.  Posts on social media sometimes go viral.  Videos are being used to promote opinions, and some go viral.  Facebook is giving free space to the World Health Organization, hoping that their posts can counter some of the misconceptions about COVID-19 that are going viral.

The viral influence of this current sickness is much more visible than the influence of our speech on others and theirs on us.  Our societies are pleased that there is freedom to say just about anything.  But similar to the COVI-19 viral outbreak, we see that not all viral communications are healthy and good.

The Bible has many verses that teach us that we need to be careful what we say and what we hear regardless of whether it goes viral or not.   May God’s Spirit help us to be careful about what we say and what we fill our minds with.  Consider these three examples of God’s teaching:

“Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.”  (Prov. 12:18)

“Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.” (Prov. 13:3)

“Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” (Prov. 18:20)

Praise and Prayer

Thank-you for praying as we began teaching in the schools last Thursday.  We used English to talk about hand-washing, etc., so that we can stay healthy.  We have since learned that some schools in Taiwan have forbidden volunteer workers to be on campus until at least April.  We feel very privileged to have the opportunity to teach English and tell Bible stories to the students at this time.

Preventing Disease

Not becoming sick with the Covid-19 Virus is becoming an international effort.  We received a multi-lingual version of the above directive telling us how to recognize the symptoms of this disease and how to protect oneself from becoming sick.

We appreciate the wisdom of government leaders in Taiwan as they have carefully constructed methods to reduce transmission of this new disease.  But even such measures are not reducing the fear in people’s hearts.

We join with others in praying that the efforts of the different governments will be successful in containing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. 

We will have our temperature taken, and will wash our hands, and will wear masks in order to teach in the classroom this week.  It is a small discomfort we must endure in order to have the opportunity to tell the students about the God Who loves them.

Jesus instructed (Matt.10:28) “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

The fullness of the Holy Spirit in our lives is one thing that protects us from the sin and evil that destroys the soul as well as the body.  May we be as vigilant to watch over our souls as we currently are to watch over the health of our bodies.

Praise and Prayer

• Thursday (March 5) will be the first opportunity of this semester to teach English and tell a Bible story.  Please pray that the students will build a relationship with the God who can calm all fears.
• Please Pray for Charlie, as he is returning to former habits.  Please pray that Christ would help him break free from his bondage to alcohol.
• Due to the adjustments in the school year, the elementary summer camp has been cancelled.  We are working on a plan for a 2 1/2 day junior high summer camp.  Please pray as we continue to work out a myriad of details.

Evaluating Choices

Travelling through the airport in Taipei last week, I was  able to capture the above photo.  There are three different religions offering the opportunity to pray.  Each has its own prayer room because what is being offered is actually quite different.

Many people we interact with believe that all religions serve a common purpose and lead to a similar destination.  However, our investigation would indicate that statement is less than accurate.  There are differences.

We affirm individuals and even families to make choice about their beliefs, but we also believe that everyone should have the opportunity to hear about the choice to believe in Christ.  That is why we are committed to providing access to the gospel.  Last night we talked with a taxi driver and shared that we believe people need more than a set of rules to obey.  Rules are easily broken.  Rather we need a relationship with a God who loves us and wants us to respond to Him in love.  That is the path to having a transformed life.

Please join us in praying for the people you and I meet.  May we be courageous to take opportunities to provide people with access to Christ.

Praise and Prayer

• Thank-you for praying as we attended the Grip-Birkman Basic Coach Training.
• Please Pray for Charlie, as he is returning to former habits.  Please pray that Christ would help him break free from his bondage to alcohol.
• Please pray that the efforts of the government will be successful in containing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. 
• Elementary, junior high, and high school students return to class tomorrow (Feb 25).  We have been asked to wait until March 5 to begin teaching in the elementary schools.