May 2003

On the Way to the Tomb
Praise the Lord for good Easter services at Taya and Lighthouse. The children at Taya gave a short presentation and the choir sang part of an Easter cantata before the message. After the service everyone enjoyed lunch together.
The Easter service at Lighthouse was on Sunday evening with every age group having a part. The highlight of the service was a play entitled “On the Way to the Tomb” presented by the ladies of the church. The play focused on the women who went to the tomb and shared their testimonies about how Jesus had changed their lives. We were excited that of the more than sixty in attendance a good number were adults and teenagers. We ask you to pray that we may be able to reach more adults and families with the gospel so that these churches may be strengthened.

SARS
Everyday the news in Taiwan is filled with reports about the spread and fight against this deadly sickness. With more than forty deaths and 345 possible cases, what once seemed like a distant problem has recently closed in on Taiwan and spread a cloud of fear over the island. People are wearing face masks, turning off air conditioners despite the heat and emphasizing hygiene more than ever. Most of these are positive things or ones we can live with; however, a negative affect has been the fear of crowds due to the contagious nature of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Services and activities at our churches have been affected, especially those for children and teenagers. Summer camp has also been affected by the postponement of an important test for students. This rescheduling means that many teens will not be able to go to camp this summer. At this time, VBS plans are going ahead and we will wait to see if there will be any impact on this. Also, visiting church members and other prospects has been curtailed somewhat due to the stigma of spreading the disease. We pray that things in Taiwan will stabilize very soon and that the Lord will help us to see His purpose in this situation.

A Bright Spot
Finally, we praise the Lord that Louis (Jiang Yueh-jan) a fifth grader who has been faithfully attending the Wednesday Children’s Bible Class accepted Christ as Savior! The lower attendance due to SARS gave him the opportunity to focus more and not let classmates distract him. His simple prayer of childlike faith was an encouragement to us and a reminder of how Jesus wants each of us who enter His kingdom to be.