A Festive Time

The Dragonboat Festival on Monday, June 10. Traditional sticky rice dumplings, like the one above, are commonly eaten on this holiday.

Because the name of our town is a homonym (sounds similar) for the phrase for wrapping this kind of dumpling, Baozhong uses the day as an annual day of celebration. This year;s event was on the Saturday of the long weekend. After three years of Covid-cancellations, people were excited to gather again. There was a festive atmosphere.

Afternoon activities included DIY handcrafts, booths selling premade handcrafts and foods, educational displays by the health and fire departments, and a place to sign up for the raffle draw at the evening program.

The evening included FuHsing Elementary School students performing a flower-drum dance, the local middle school presenting a lion-dance, acrobatics, music, speeches by politicians, and the draws for a large number of prizes. (We admit that we did not endure to the end, so may have missed mentioning something.)

It was a good time to meet people and see some friends.

Praise and Prayer

Friends Visit

We have been privileged to host Rev. Wilson Tran and his wife Irene at our home this weekend.

Lorne worked with them when he was the Field Team Leader 2003-2005. There are lots of memories of what God did as we partnered together in ministry.

It was a privilege to show them our town and take them to visit other Alliance churches being started in our area of Taiwan.

Dr. Irene Tran shared from Psalm 103 in the Sunday morning service. Among the many things that were shared, she challenged us to pray in the following ways for those who are not yet Christ-followers:

1. Ask the Lord to give people repentant hearts and the gift of forgiveness for confessed sin. (Acts 5:31)
2. Ask the Lord to give people a capacity for clear thinking, so that they can understand the gospel. (Luke 24:45)
3. In Christ’s name break down the strongholds that prevent people from believing in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Will you this week pray in these ways and as God directs for the people of our town that do not yet know Christ as their Saviour and Lord?

Praise and Prayer

Out of Gas

Saturday evening, we suddenly found ourselves without power. A few minutes later, the lights came back on at our house and a few of the neighbours’ houses. But most of the subdivision continued to be in darkness. That did not last long as we once again joined those who were sitting in darkness.

When things like that happen, neighbours will frequently go out onto the lane and talk to each other. People made sure that the outage was reported to the power company. And there was visiting, in the dark, on the street. The only light was from a passing vehicle or a few mobile phone flashlights.

Pastor Lee contacted us and requested that a  weekend guest could come and stay in our guestroom. We welcomed her. We stood in front of our house laughing with the Lee family about the fact that we still had hot water at our house. That was because we still use a propane water heater, and have not upgraded to an electric unit (like they have at the church and at Pastor Lee’s house). Everyone said that they would be over in the morning for showers if the power was still not available..

Our guest came and showered, expressing thanks to us and to God for hot water. We all went to bed slightly earlier than usual because of the lack of electric lights. And, of course, had to get up a couple hours later to turn off the lights when the power was restored.

Sunday morning, Lorne was the last to shower. And the water turned cooler and cooler. The propane was used up. But, we were very thankful there was sufficient for our guest to use. And, we will easily have a replacement tank delivered to our house.

God’s provision is enough. In Philippians 4, Paul could be content with the provision of God in Christ Jesus even while in prison and while he was prevented from travelling to preach the gospel. He was confident that God would provide for all our needs, so that we too can be content through trust in and reliance on Christ. I think God wants us to be content even when we run out of propane gas.

Praise and Prayer

Camp News

Elementary Summer Day Camp is scheduled for July 1-5. Once again we will use the Fuhsing Elementary School facilities.

The theme for this year’s camp is “Who am I?” and will include the following stories”

• Monday: John 14:6 Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life
• Tuesday: John 6:35,51  Jesus is the Bread of Life
• Wednesday: John 10:11,14 Jesus is the Good Shepherd
• Thursday: John 10:7, 9 Jesus is the Door of the Sheep Pen
• Fri: Exod 3:24  God is the I AM

Praise the Lord we have found three additional English teachers to help that week. Please pray for Nathan, Laura, Jon, Kathy-Lu and Lorne as we plan English lessons that will be taught that week.

Pastor Joshua and our intern Kai will teach songs. Pastor Joshua will also tell the Bible Stories.
The pastor and some volunteers from Living Water Alliance Church in Greater Taipei will assist in leading other camp activities.

Please pray for the registration process and for the plans that are being made.

Praise and Prayer

Mother’s Day

We are thankful for this year’s Mother’s Day celebration at Baozhong Alliance. We had a number of parents attend with their children.

Before going to Sunday School, the students participated in the service by singing and doing the actions to a song about love originating with God. Lorne helped Kathy-Lu with Sunday School because there were 14 students.

While the students were in Sunday School, Pastor Ho shared with the adults from the Bible and her own experiences about a mother’s love.

It was a special day! We hope and pray that God will give more opportunities with today’s attendees, helping them learn more about Christ Jesus.

Praise and Prayer

Interactive Activities

The Baozhong Alliance Church is inviting members of the community to participate in activities sponsored by the church. The first of eight parent-child clay modelling classes happened last Saturday.

A class teaching how to use essential oils and massage techniques will be offered on the Saturday before Mother’s Day.

Please pray for God to help Pastor Joshua with the promotion of the interactive activities. We are hoping to establish and deepen relationships with people in the community. Our hope is that we can share and learn from each other. Attendees will be invited to participate in other church activities.

Praise and Prayer

Unshakable Truth

Isaiah 54:10 is a verse that Kathy-Lu memorized many years ago. It seems appropriate to share it with you in light of the April 3 Taiwan earthquake and the almost constant aftershocks that are being felt since.

We are still in Canada, so we have not personally felt the tremors. But we feel constant concern for the residents of the island that we call home. Canadian Alliance international workers have repeatedly posting to our private chat group, indicating that they are feeling the tremors and that all are safe.

Thank-you for continuing to pray for the Taiwanese. Please include prayers for Christ-followers to be able to testify to the peace that God provides.

Praise and Prayer

Praise the Lord!

Pastor Joshua Lee was officially ordained at a service on Saturday afternoon, March 16. (Online Video Link) Rev. Silas Yang, President of the Taiwan Alliance Church Union officiated at the service. After the laying on of hands and prayer, Rev. Yang affixed the clerical collar that Pastor Joshua is now entitled to wear.

The service was well attended with over 60 adults in attendance. Pastor Joshua’s family attended to witness the event. We are still praying that his parents and other family members will choose to follow Christ as their Saviour and Lord.

Praise the Lord with us!

• A flower-arranging instructor has been found and has agreed to teach a class at the church. Final details of when the class will begin will be worked out with Rev. Joshua Lee.
• A visitor at church yesterday is a believer who will be returning to Baozhong on some weekends to care for her parents. There seemed to be a good relational connection with the women at our church. Please pray that God will use our church to encourage her in her faith.

Praise and Prayer

Ordination

Pastor Joshua Lee will be officially ordained at a service on Saturday afternoon, March 16.

This is a moment of recognition by the denomination that God has both called him to  pastoral ministry and that God is enabling him to do the ministry. It is an expression of affirmation by the church that they accept him as a leader appointed by God to serve in the pastoral role.

Please pray for God’s blessing on him, his family, and the church.

About 60 people are expected to attend the service, including many Alliance pastors from around Taiwan. Even his family are coming to witness this event. Pastor Joshua will host the guests for a special feast after the service.

Because our facility has limitations, some people will participate by watching the service on a television monitor on the second floor.

The service will be at 3 PM Taiwan time (12 midnight on Mar 15, Pacific Daylight Time). The service will be broadcast on the church’s YouTube channel and will remain posted there for delayed viewing. (It is broadcast only in Chinese.) Lord willing, there will not be technical difficulties that day.

Praise and Prayer

Model Student

The elementary school, where we teach and tell stories, chose their model student this past Thursday. The candidates were two sixth-grade boys.

All the students and all the teachers voted. In typical Taiwanese fashion, the votes were publicly counted and the tally was kept for all to see.

The chosen student’s name is forwarded to the county government. The list of model students is published, bringing honour and prestige to the student, his family, and the school. It was a difficult choice as both students display exemplary behaviour.

In Hebrews chapters 11 and 12, we read God’s honour roll. There is a list of biblical characters who are held up as examples of how to live life.

Please pray that we and those who are a part of God’s church in Taiwan would follow the example of those godly people. May we in this way bring glory to God’s name.

Praise and Prayer