As we told the second part of the Christmas story in the classroom this past week, we had fun watching the students.  One young boy, who was hearing the story for the first time, had exclamations of surprise.  During the discussion after the story, Pastor Joshua asked the students about the reason for celebrating Christmas.  The answer in all three classes was “to get presents.”  It was an excellent opportunity to talk about Jesus being God’s present to mankind.  Please pray that the Holy Spirit will help them understand and receive God’s most precious gift.

If you have a few minutes, why not write and tell us what someone’s response was when you talked with them about the Christmas story.  We’d love to hear!

Praise and Prayer

• Please pray for students to register for the new set of ukulele classes that are scheduled to start January 16.
• Please pray for the Christmas Carolling at the night market on Christmas Eve.  Our church will be joined by the Village Gospel Mission Church for this event.  A bag with candy and a tract will be given to people who stop by to listen.
• We praise the Lord for faithful supporters  like you.  Your sacrificial giving means there are sufficient funds to pay all the bills.  Because you gave, people have heard about God’s love.  There is still time for a year-end gift if you are able.  Please designate it to the Global Advance Fund.  Donations as we finish the year will help support the sending of new workers to places around the world in early 2021.

A Surprise Visit

This year, a recurring theme in songs and talks about Christmas is that it is not about Santa Claus, but is about Jesus.

So, we were pleased that the surprise visitor to our church Christmas Program was not Santa, but rather Sheriff Woody.  (The pastor of Taipei Church dressed up as this animated movie character.)  The children and parents all loved it!

“Woody” led us in singing songs about Jesus being  the greatest gift, and of course ‘Silent Night.’ In Chinese the carol is translated as “Peaceful Night.”  That is also the term that is used to describe Christmas Eve.

Praise the Lord for a happy, fun-filled event.  And the students did very well playing after their three lessons.  A new ten-week class will begin on December 26.  We are hoping many of the students will choose to continue learning to play the ukulele, and continue relationship with our church.

Praise and Prayer

• Please pray for students to register for the ukulele classes
• Please pray for those who are pressured to work overtime prior to the end of the calendar year.  Pray that they will be encouraged even though they cannot attend services.
• Pray that the students at FuHsing Elementary School will understand that Jesus is the greatest gift that they can receive.
• Pray as we advise FuHsing Elementary School and provide resources for a school Christmas Celebration that the principal is planning for Dec. 24.

Water

Water is a topic of conversation these days.
I would not have thought to mention it in our newsletter if a water shutoff notice had not been posted for our neighbourhood.  The town is repairing water mains.

But the real reason that water is a topic of conversation is that 2020 is the first year since 1964 that typhoons has not hit Taiwan.  This is a concern as typhoons provide water to fill the reservoirs.  December through April is usually Taiwan’s dry season when little rain is expected. ^ref  Low water levels mean that people are talking about conserving water.

Please pray that God will provide the needed water for Taiwan’s people.  Pray for farmers who may have their livelihood affected by water rationing.

Thankfully, there is no shortage of ‘living water” that Christ has promised.  Please pray that Taiwanese will drink and be satisfied as Jesus has promised.

Praise and Prayer

• Please pray for the recital and Christmas Rally on Saturday evening (12/12).
  • The students and their families are invited to stay at the church building for dinner after class.
  • Pastor Joshua will share that evening.
  • The church members will sing “The Most Precious Gift“
  • Pray that God will use His Word to touch people’s heart.

• Please pray for Lin Mama who is recovering after being hit by a car.

Sweet News Treats

• There are 14 students registered for the Pre-Christmas Ukulele Classes.  Some of the parents stayed and participated too! (Thanks for praying!)
• A new health advisory requires that starting December 1 we will again wear masks and have temperature monitoring at public venues.
• Next Sunday after the service we will be decorating the church in preparation for Christmas.

Praise and Prayer

• Praise the Lord for elementary students coming to learn to play the ukulele.  Pray for relationships to develop and for God to grow His kingdom in Baozhong.
• Praise the Lord for our days of rest.  Pray for us to have wisdom and know the Spirit’s leading as we talk to people about Christmas.
• Please pray for peace and harmony to be restored in our friends’ marriage.
• Please pray for healing of stress-related sickness for another believer.
• Pray for people to come to know the Christ of the Bible, not just the folklore traditions about Jesus.

Advent Adventures

This year, Baozhong Alliance Church is using the Advent Season to reach out and connect with our community.

On November 28, December 5, and December 12, ukulele lessons will be offered for elementary students.  The three weeks of lessons will be conclude with a recital and Christmas sharing on the third week.

Plans are to offer ongoing ukulele lessons on Saturdays for those wanting to continue learning.

Thank-you for praying for these efforts to build relationships with families in our community.

What Do You See?

The above photo of Sail Rock (船帆石)  is a well-known landmark in the Kenting National Park in southern Taiwan.  The name was given because of its likeness to the sail on a boat.

However, some people look at the same stone and  believe it looks like someone’s head.  Similarities to different famous people have been suggested (Richard Nixon, Queen Elizabeth II, etc.).  They have suggested naming the stone according to their opinion.

Some people take a similar approach toward God.  They elevate their opinions and arrange their lives accordingly. However, as Christ-followers we must accept that the Bible clearly describes Who He is and how His actions flow out of His unchanging character.  Belief in an opinion of God is not the same thing as belief in Him.

Please pray that Taiwanese people will be able to move beyond having an opinion about Christ, to truly understanding Who He is.  Pray that they will want to believe in Christ.

Praise and Prayer

• Praise the Lord that the injured MK is recovering well.
• Praise the Lord that contracts have been signed for our mobile phones.
• Please pray for planned Christmas Outreach activities.  Ukulele classes are planned, concluding with a special program for the community.

Standing Alone: Handling Covid-induced Aloneness

On a recent walk, we noticed that site preparation has started at this construction site.  We don’t know what they are building, but noticed this tree.  Everything around it has been stripped away.  It is now standing on its own.

Many of us will think of parallels to our own lives.  Contact with others has been reduced or eliminated.  Things and people we relied upon in the past are no longer available to us.

That holds true for us in global ministries too.

• We cannot host short-term teams at this time.
• We are privileged in Taiwan to be permitted to continue to gather, but there are still restrictions and precautions in place.
• We think twice about meeting with people, and then consider whether it is necessary to meet outdoors, wear masks, disinfect hands, etc.

We feel the need for community, and are looking to different people to be “in our bubble” than we previously did.

• Rather than requesting help from overseas short-term teams, we are asking churches in Taiwan to consider coming to help.
• We are getting good at recognizing people behind the masks, realizing they are not the “Lone Ranger” that is unrecognizable behind his mask
• We need to be intentional, maybe more than previously, to create time to be in contact with others.  We may do it in slightly different ways, but relationship is still possible.

Thanks for praying for us, as we pray for you.

Praise and Prayer

• Kathy-Lu will be joining women C&MA pastors and pastors’ wives on a retreat this week.  Please pray that the playing, sharing, and praying together will bring encouragement to these frontline workers.
• One of our Canadian MKs (missionary kids) had an accident playing basketball injuring his arms.  Pray for wisdom as the medical workers help to control his pain and provide treatment.
• Please pray for planned Christmas Outreach activities.  Taipei Alliance Church will send members  to teach ukulele classes, concluding with a special program for the community.  Follow-up ukulele classes will be offered for those who participate.

God’s Work

We gathered for worship as usual, but with a special reason to praise and give thanks to God.  We were celebrating 5 years of Sunday services. (The first service was on October 4, 2015.)

Individuals were given the opportunity to share.  We heard unique stories of how God works in people’s lives, providing love, grace, mercy, peace, and hope.  It was an encouraging time.

There were only a few pieces of the cake left over.  In Taiwanese culture, having leftovers is a reminder that there is provision for the future.  We believe that!  God is still at work, building his church in Baozhong.

Praise and Prayer

• This will be a busy week: month-end finance reporting, prayer meeting, teaching in schools, preparing for next Sunday’s ministry, connecting with friends, etc.  Please pray for God’s strength to accomplish it all.
• Praise the Lord for moments of laughter and learning together in the English classroom.  God is helping us find teaching resources to use and keep the classes interesting for the students.
• Please pray for the planning of  the Christmas Outreach activities.  Taipei Alliance Church will send members on three consecutive weekends to teach ukulele classes, concluding with a special program for the community.  Follow-up ukulele classes will be held at the church to continue the relationship with those that participate in the pre-Christmas activities.

Celebrating a 5th Birthday

Our church is celebrating five years of holding Sunday Services.  Our Sunday service (Oct. 25) will be a Thanksgiving Service as the church reaches this milestone.

For those who are counting, yes, we have been working in Baozhong much longer than that.  But when we chose to start counting when the church held its first worship service.

One big THANK-YOU that we are expressing this week is for you, our faithful partners.  You have spent time in prayer.  You have sacrificially given.  Some of of you have visited and helped onsite in various ways.

Thank-you for joining us in taking the message of God’s love to those who have not heard.  Thank-you for helping to invite more people to be Christ-followers.

Praise and Prayer

• Please pray that the church members will be encouraged as we celebrate 5 years of God establishing the church in Baozhong.
• Pray for us as we reconnect with students in the classroom after several weeks away.  (Last week got cancelled by the school at the last minute.)  Pray that God will speak through the Bible story and bring people to belief in Christ.
• Please pray for people who recently attended our church services.  Some are facing intense pressure from family members to stay away from church and not believe in Christ.

Giving Thanks

On our Canadian Thanksgiving Monday, we want to give thanks for:

• God:  He is our Rock.  He is Sovereign.  He has brought us into relationship with Him. He speaks to us.
• YOU!  We are thankful for people who encourage, pray, give financially, and engage in person in other ways.
• Kids:  We are proud of how our children are trusting God and for how they are navigating these turbulent times.
• Coworkers:  Thankful for both Taiwanese and international workers who share a common burden and are willing to work together.
• Taiwan:  It’s success in the battle against COVID has permitted us  to continue ministering in person to many people.
• Thanksgiving decorations:  We get to see Fall colors inside, even when the leaves on trees around us do not change colour.
• Glimpses of God at work.
  • Charlie was transferred from ICU to a regular ward, and may be released from hospital this week.
  • CaiFu is studying the new believer’s class in preparation for baptism
  • Opportunity to tell Bible stories in the local elementary schools.
• So much more!

What things are on your list?  We welcome you to write and let us know.

Praise and Prayer

• Please praise the Lord for Charlie’s improvement in health. Let’s continue to pray for his spiritual and emotional healing.
• Praise the Lord for the opportunity to attend the October 6-8 Prayer Retreat.  We met, shared, listened to Bible teaching, and prayed together.  We focussed on praying for God to create breakthroughs in Taiwan ministries and in people’s lives.
• Please pray for God to be honoured, Christ to be exalted, and the Holy Spirit to lead at the Taiwan C&MA Business Meeting on Saturday, October 17.