LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 17

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MISSIONS 17

6. China Evangelical Lutheran Church (Taiwan)
Major Developments

The China Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC) has been
working in Taiwan for more than 20 years. The CELC pre-
sently has seven missionaries, 18 local pastors and six evan-
gelists, who are not only responsible for the pastoral work of
17 congregations and eight chapels, but also in charge of some
subordinate organizations such as Bring Christ to the Nations
Bible Correspondence School, Truth Magazine Press, the
Lutheran Hour, Concordia Middle School, and other two orga-
nizations which we work coordinately with Taiwan Lutheran
Church—namely, Joint Lutheran Television and Lutheran
Federated Seminary.

In 1972, we paid our special attention in the development of
the evangelism. We put the work of whole church on Gospel
spreading. Besides reinforcing the pastoral work of each con-
gregation, we especially started layman service campaign
which was initiated by Orient Crusade. After CELC Evangelism
Committee had consulted with Orient Crusade, we held several
co-workers’ seminars in southern and northern parts of Taiwan,
concerning layman participation in serving the Lord. Now all the
CELC congregations are trying to mobilize layman Christians
to serve the Lord.

In order to promote the parish education, we have encour-
aged each congregation to develop Christian education work,
such as children’s Sunday school, youth group, student center,
etc., to let each member of the congregation know the impor-
tance of Christian education and challenge them to share the
responsibility in the significant task that God has committed to
them.

Self-support is the main goal of the common endeavor of
the whole China Evangelical Lutheran Church. As a result of
the systematical preaching on the truth of stewardship during
the past 2 years, the tithe and the offering of the local congrega-
tions have been increasing drastically.

Besides improving Bible correspondence courses and rein-
forcing the contact with our students, we are going to use face-to-
face talk to bring people to Christ. We intend to establish a
follow-up center at each congregation.

Concordia Middle School was built in Chia Yi. After several
years’ hard work, everything is on a level with governmental
school. There are now nearly 1,000 students with scores of teach-
ers and officers.

CELC established cooperatively with TLC a Lutheran Feder-
ated Seminary located at Taichung. Everything is most beautiful
and ready for use plus sufficient budget. We have now enrolled
two students who will dedicate themselves to the service of the
Lord.

The seven year old ‘“‘Sunday Theatre” is a joint effort done
cooperatively by CELC and TLC. A weekly 30-minute TV pro-
gram is produced by ourselves, and telecast by Taiwan Televi-
sion each Sunday afternoon to disseminate the Gospel seed
into man’s heart. Audience fellowship meetings are held from
time to time at different parts of the island to have a closer con-
tact with our audience and readers in order to introduce them to
our local congregation pastors.

In order to make the work of mass communication more
effective and relevant to local congregational evangelism,
plans for reorganizing its administration and strengthening
relationships are now being carefully studied.

Plans and Hope for the Future

The annual conference has passed a propsal of 1973 evan-
gelical project and budget in order to reinforce and develop the
evangelical work. This project is made in accordance with the
national characteristics of our country and the experience of
Orient Crusade and Billy Graham’s international evangelism.
We will encourage all the Gospel workers to have the same mind
in them, which is also in Christ Jesus, so that we can try our best
to reach our common goal of spreading the Gospel message and
bringing people to Christ.

All the pastors of the local congregations and evangelists of
different chapels have begun to preach systematically the
unique truth of Christian stewardship based on the Bible.
Emphasis is being placed on building new chapels to develop
the mission work. Plans are being made now for chapels at
three major locations— Tou Liu, Hualien, and the reconstruc-
tion of Truth Chapel in Taipei.

Truth magazine is going to change a little bit in its style
and add some English articles. It will not only provide spiritual
food for Christians to help them grow spiritually, but also Gospel
message and testimonies for non-Christians to draw them near
to God. We intend to add some report on local church activities
to share our success and failure, satisfaction and need with our
friends both in Taiwan and overseas to increase our mutual con-
cern and understanding, and pray for each other.

A Chinese proverb runs that: “A workman who wishes his
work to be well-done must first of all sharpen his tools.’’ CELC
does have a brilliant perspective and will reach its goal of self-
support. But first of all, all the local congregations should have
their own solid church buildings and then they can move for-
ward step by step. May the merciful Lord bless us abundantly
and enable CELC to grow up to become one of God’s mighty
instruments to work for the furtherance of the kingdom of
heaven under the prayer and support of all our brothers and
sisters overseas, as well as the assistance of each relevant
church organization. Amen.

John Li, President. CELC

7. Hong Kong and Macao Evangelical Lutheran Church
Major Developments

In His name, greetings from the Hong Kong — Macao Church!
In 1971, the “Hong Kong and Macao Evangelical Lutheran
Church” adopted a constitution, and now is working on Bylaws.
Baptized membership of the 20-congregation church is about
6,000.

The Hong Kong LWML sends the Chinese Lutheran Monthly
to about 200 former members now overseas. An Evangelism
Committee assists congregational outreach through pilot proj-
ects and helps with planning. Two “Project Timothy” pastors
spent five productive weeks here in 1972.

In 1971—72 three new double-session, ‘“‘subsidized’’ schools
were opened, one built completely and the others four-fifths
by the Hong Kong government, enabling us to accept an addi-
tional 6,000 students. Our ‘Hong Kong International School,”
with an American curriculum and serving an international com-
munity, has completed site formation for added structures to
accommodate another 600 students. Three small schools were
closed. There is a school for the deaf, two English night schools,
and there are special arrangements for retarded children. Now
we can accommodate well over 15,000 students in a system
where the teaching of the faith is an essential part of the
program.

The seminary, in addition to the ministerial training program
(B. D. and B. Th.), offers a Master of Ministry degree, a ‘School
Chaplaincy” program, training for deaconesses, for lay workers,
and in-service training courses for teachers. A total of 52 people
are enrolled in all programs. The seminary, looking forward to
a ‘“worker-priest” ministry, for the time being is accepting as
new students only those with at least part-time employment.
Already eight pastors and teachers have received specialized
training through Synod’s STAPOC program, others through
different arrangements. Hong Kong’s Social Welfare Depart-
ment and the Education Department train youth leaders and
teachers.

Seven congregations have youth centers, two operated
“Summer Tea Houses,” and the Education Department helped
primary schools with summer camps. The Youth Committee
prepared workshops and retreats for leaders. Due to lack of
funds in the conference budget, the committee had to postpone
plans to start a special pilot youth center. Summer camps
attracted nearly 200. As rooftop clubs close due to the increased
number of regular school seats, the rooftops are being converted
into ‘‘community centers.”

Our Social Welfare Committee has become a member of
“Hong Kong Christian Service.’ In 1971 it engaged a profes-
sional social worker. Financial help came from Synod’s Board
for World Relief, the Wheat Ridge Foundation, the Hong Kong
Children’s Clubs Association, and smaller sources.

Our church carries on joint work in a number of areas:
the Haven of Hope TB Hospital, in mass media and audio-
visual evangelism, in welfare, and in curricular literature. Our
local Committee for Theology and Church Relations is working
on a program for ecumenical contacts on the local congrega-
tional level.