This is Linzinhei Church also called Na-a-lai Church in the Chia-Yi Presbytery of The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan where our churches are making a covenant relationship about sharing in mission. The poem/reflection below is by Lin, Yi-chuan when based in Manchester at St. Mark's URC for a 3 month 'mission with community' placement about her views on mission.What is the mission?
Is it called mission when talking about God and church?
Is the final goal of mission is to convert other’s religion?
Mission is the sharing of the life
Sharing the idea about life is the gift from God
Sharing the thought about life is creative
Sharing the attitude that life can be changed
Mission is giving
Giving love and concern
Mission is not for establishing the bigger church
Mission is not for getting more and more church members
Mission is standing with people, and showing signs of hope
Joy with them
Sorrow with them
Laughter with them
Crying with them
Is there any policy or method for mission?
Yes, there is an approach
It is love.
At the recent renewal group last week we welcomed a different guest from Taiwan The Revd. Pan Ching-Chang who shared the day with us at St. Marks & the Tree of Life Centre in Wythenshawe. We are learning from Mark's Gospel and deepening our spiritual life through the Bible. We heard from Revd Pan about the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan's support for local churches through the 'Reading the Bible with New Eyes' programme. Each local church member regularly receives a booklet (or regular texts) with daily readings & contextual reflections. These are free to each member and the giving of local churches supports this. It is all organised centrally. People use them in daily prayer groups, church bible studies and in communal worship. With Revd Pan we shared in the South District Ministers Meeting about our relationship with the church in Taiwan, the local church life, the North Western Synod relationship and exchange of laypeople and the place of the earthquake in the transformation of church life. At Synod last week we signed our Covenant with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and the United Reformed Church. Much of the focus is on sharing in mission together. In 2007 plans are being made for a group visit with Chia-Yi Presbytery in Taiwan. We hope to share worship materials and to link local churches in the NW SYnod of URC with local churches in Taiwan. These are important times to keep looking wider than the local church in order to encourage and enliven local mission and the work of Gods community in our context.
Pray for the churches in Taiwan and in the UK and the unity of the Spirit which has brought us together in mission.
