2008 Xiangfu Senior Experience Camp
Taiwan's "Christian Rural Evangelistic Mission" (Xiangfu) was founded in 1971 by American missionary Pastor Richard A. Webster and his wife. Their vision was to develop and establish churches in rural areas in Taiwan where there were no churches. In 1981, the first pioneer area was established in Manzhou Township, Pingtung County, at the end of Taiwan. Over the past 20 years, ten other work areas have been successively developed. Currently, there are eleven work areas in central and southern Taiwan. The twelfth work area under preparation will be established in Changzhi Township, Pingtung County.
▲The "Xiangfu Prime Experience Camp" held in Dongshi Township, Chiayi County from November 10 to 16, 2008, encouraged and helped young Christians to invest in the second half of their lives, serve in rural Taiwan, and become short-term or long-term missionaries.
In the past few years, I read and heard the testimonies of many colleagues of Xiangfu. I was deeply moved, as if I heard the voice from the countryside, so I signed up to participate in the event held in Dongshi Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan from November 10 to 16, 2008. "2008 Xiangfu Adult Experience Camp". The purpose of this camp is to encourage and help young Christians to support Xiangfu’s vision, invest in the second half of their lives, serve in rural Taiwan, and become short-term or long-term missionaries.
▲Xiangfu’s vision is: “Preach the gospel throughout Taiwan’s villages and gain disciples for the Lord.” The picture shows the distribution map of Taiwan’s work areas.
Missionary motivation begins with spiritual practice
It was my first time to go to the countryside for a short stay. I was a family in the Lord with 14 brothers and sisters from North America and Taiwan, and had fun studying; I was at Xiangfu General Secretary, Pastor Chen Wenyi of Dongshi Church, and his wife Lin Bo and Ou Yinan. Under the leadership of the teacher, experience the life and ministry of rural missionary work in Taiwan. The experience camp schedule was tight. Pastor Chen prepared a variety of topics to help us learn the importance and needs of rural missions, as well as the understanding of spiritual warfare. He also arranged multiple visits.
Pastor Chen emphasized that spiritual practice must be disciplined, must be practiced continuously, form a habit, and must not be interrupted; spiritual practice is a spiritual key, and you can "get strength from God" whenever you need it in real life. The most basic focus of the camp is to prepare spiritually by reading the Bible, singing hymns, and praying before 11 a.m. each morning in order to engage in study, seminars, tours, meetings, and visits in the afternoon and evening.
▲Spiritual prayer is the key to spirituality. No matter in life, mission or service, you can "get strength from God" at any time.
We received training at Dongshi Church and visited three work areas in Guantou, Dapi and Linluo, as well as two gospel centers in Guogou and Wannei. The preachers of Xiangfu live a frugal life and work hard. With a firm missionary ambition and limited resources, they work hard and quietly cultivate, sow seeds and water in the countryside for a long time. The work of a preacher is very detailed, from church planting to pastoral care, and everyone from the elderly to children needs care. Class tutoring, community elderly ministry, women's association, Bible study class, children and youth ministry, family gatherings, home visits, evangelism, care, everything is done. Their hard work and dedication are admirable.
Sowing in the desolate land of the gospel
Dongshi Township is close to the sea, and its oyster production accounts for more than one-third of the country's total. When marching and praying in the early morning, women can be seen everywhere squatting in groups of twos and threes in front of piles of shells, opening oysters, and there are also piles of shells on the roadside. The township has a population of only 29,000 and has 39 temples. Near Dongshi Church, temples of various sizes can be seen everywhere; there is a large and magnificent temple that is still being expanded. The square in front of the temple is the business, opinion, and entertainment center of the villagers.
▲Dongshi Township is close to the sea. In the early morning, you can see women squatting in groups of twos and threes in front of piles of shells to open oysters. Shells are also piled on the roadside.
Rural Taiwan is a place where folk beliefs are flourishing but the gospel is desolate. There are many temples and many homes have Buddhist halls. According to statistics, Christians account for about 3% of Taiwan's total population, but only 3% of people in rural Taiwan know Jesus. It goes without saying that the harvest field is huge. The best strategy to prosper the gospel is to call mature Christians to live in the countryside for a long time, work with the preachers, work together to establish good relationships with the villagers, pray for them, witness their faith in life, become a role model for the villagers' lives, and lead them Believe in the Lord and be their spiritual partners after they believe in the Lord.
▲Experience camp sisters and country children.
Dedicate yourself to after-school tutoring
There are nearly 40% disadvantaged children in rural areas who come from intergenerational education, single-parent families, and low-income households. They have not received good care in terms of life, character, and academic performance since childhood. Seeing these needs, several churches in Xiangfu, such as Garlic Church, Guogou Gospel Center and Wan Nei Gospel Center, have fully devoted themselves to the ministry of after-school tutoring to help disadvantaged families and spread the gospel to children and families.
After class every day, co-workers from these churches carefully tutor students in their homework and correct their characters. Some students lack healthy interpersonal relationships at home and behave strangely. When necessary, they have to use stricter methods to discipline them, such as correcting their bad habits of saying "dirty" and correcting their children to let them know and discipline them. It's out of love, and using only material things to satisfy them actually harms them. We have seen that the tutoring work has indeed produced results. It not only serves the society, but also spreads the love of Christ to every family.
Evangelical Immigration, the final night of the missionary relay’s seminar began with “What Can We Do?”
As a theme, let everyone feel the needs of rural areas, and pray for the rural blessing ministry urgently; support it with donations; go to the work area for long-term missions or short-term missions, and work with the preachers; join the short-term missionary relay of the Bay Nei Gospel Center ; Become a gospel immigrant after retirement; encourage young people to go to the countryside to teach English during summer vacation, and become a counselor in youth camps. During the week of study, we laughed and were even more moved.
Pastor Chen encouraged us: "Continue to be moved in your heart, and don't eliminate the move of the Holy Spirit." Thank God, there is a couple who participated in the camp at the same time. After many years of prayer, they are willing to respond to the Lord's call and repay the Lord's grace, and are ready to return to Taiwan. Be a gospel immigrant. Another sister is also preparing to go to Bay Nei Evangelical Center next spring for a missionary relay.
▲The rural welfare ministry is recognized by the local community.
Give your life for the Lord
The biggest gain from participating in this experience camp is the adjustment of my mentality; for example, for the first time, I felt that Taiwanese is also a beautiful language, especially Taiwanese poetry is very touching. I am willing to learn and practice, and look forward to the future Able to communicate with villagers in Taiwanese.
Learning to go deeper into spiritual practice is also a big gain. The time to be close to the Lord in the morning is so wonderful. It makes me feel that every morning is new, and I can praise God's truthfulness and greatness. A hymn sung during the morning watch "Why Did You Choose Me" deeply moved me. The refrain is also my prayer:
"Oh Lord! Help me to be like You, to obey the Lord's will forever; to sacrifice my life now, to live for the Lord, and to walk with the Lord forever."
Author profile
Wu Guiying is from Taiwan and currently lives in Maryland.