Wilderness becomes sweet spring
Ganquan Taifu Christian Church
Photo courtesy/Luo Cunxin, Ganquan Taifu Christian Church
Ganquan Taifu Christian Church, located in Pingtung County, Taiwan (No. 17-5 Shuangxin Road, Gaoshu Village, Gaoshu Township), has only been established for more than three years, but it is quite large. It turns out that it was started by God through the hands of a couple.
Mr. and Mrs. Nian Xiying immigrated to Australia 18 years ago for the sake of their children, and served enthusiastically there. After both daughters completed their studies and got married, Mr. Nian decided to return to Taiwan. He studied theology at Holy Light Theological Seminary in Kaohsiung to equip himself to serve the Lord more effectively in the future.
God’s will is revealed in the heart
After the theology course, Pastor Nian and his wife, who had returned from Australia, accepted Teacher Mao Zhongying’s invitation to serve God together at the “Dajin Camp” in Pingtung. Teacher Mao was a Sunday school teacher at Kaohsiung Mandarin Chapel during his high school days. He hopes that Evangelist Nian and his wife will become the successors of the camp. Unfortunately, six months later, Mr. Nian and his wife felt that God was not calling them there, and decided to return to Australia. Teacher Mao shed tears because of this, and earnestly prayed to God with them to give them guidance. Evangelist Nian and his wife were planning to return home. One day before leaving Taiwan, they received a call asking them to visit an abandoned factory.
Teacher Mao took a look at them and thought that this was originally an illegal timber and later drug factory, and it was the good land prepared by God for them. This place is remote, but just around the corner is a prosperous urban area. It is an ideal development site with tranquility in the bustle. It is truly a paradise area with "a village full of bright flowers and dark willows"! Teacher Mao, who was traveling with them, immediately took out all the money he had as a deposit without hesitation. Mrs. Nian thought that if they didn't come back to close the deal, Teacher Mao would lose the money, so she resolutely paid the deposit.
▲Preacher Nian Xiying (second from left in front row), Mrs. Liang Meixiang (third from left in front row) took a group photo with church officials, co-workers, and the author (first from left in back row).
Cultivation of a land "flowing with milk and honey" and the establishment of a church
On November 18, 2006, Pastor Nian and his wife returned to Taiwan from Australia and responded to God’s call. Teacher Mao also handed over the 80,000 yuan he had saved over the years and handed it over to them. He told them that after closing the deal, there would be a lot of junk work to be removed and they must accept this payment. They summoned three co-workers to pray, organize, build, and prepare together... As expected by Teacher Mao, the cleaning work was very heavy. Everything started from scratch, one table, one chair, every plant, every tree, every bit of hard work, and it took two years to gradually take shape.
On March 25, 2007, Ganquan Taifu Christian Church was established. About 230 people attended the thanksgiving gathering. For more than two years, Evangelist Nian and his wife had to work hard bit by bit with little help. Without outside help, they had to do everything by themselves. Evangelist Nian even bravely killed four venomous snakes! He was running around so much that the friction of his shoes caused inflammation in his feet, and his wife also suffered a spinal dislocation. Both of them need to go to Kaohsiung every week for physical therapy, but they still serve God with joy and never tire of it. At the door of the church, you can see big red letters: Ganquan Taifu Christian Church. A big red cross is erected at the top. Because the cross absorbs solar energy during the day, it emits light at night, even on cloudy days. When Pastor Nian and his wife raised the cross high, they cried with excitement!
A good steward of all gifts
Just as God promised them, brothers and sisters sent love and donations from all over the world, making them constantly moved by God's faithfulness. Preacher Nian visited various schools and collected many old tables and chairs. Some were used as classroom desks and chairs, while others were used in outdoor libraries and leisure tables and chairs. The current Ganquan Taifu Christian Church is quite large. On one side are the pastor's office, living room, guest room, and bathroom; in the middle are two large classrooms, a chapel, and a glass partitioned sound room; on the other side are the library and three bedrooms. Due to the careful design of Pastor Nian and his wife, the bookshelves in the audio room and library are in order, and the books and materials are arranged in a neat and orderly manner, which is refreshing.
Pastor Nian was ordained on March 22, 2009. Every morning, Pastor Nian and his wife began to worship God and pray together before God. Then they separated for the morning watch and started the day's work. In addition to visiting together every week, they also serve with different gifts. Pastor Nian prepares sermons, designs blogs, etc.; the wife, who graduated from the orthodox music department, serves as pianist, prepares weekly newspapers, Sunday worship schedules, cooks Sunday lunch, and other trivial matters.
▲Preacher Nian and his wife transformed the old warehouse into a beautiful and solemn chapel.
▲The library is specially designed for children in villages and towns. The tables and chairs are collected from nearby schools.
Planting a church and running a school, spreading its reputation widely
They often pray for the 28,000 residents in the 19 villages in Gaoshu Township, hoping that the gospel of Christ will spread quickly. Residents of Gaoshu Township are engaged in farming, planting various fruit trees including betel nut, and some people make a living by selling betel nut. Ganquan Taifu Christian Church utilizes God’s principle: “To love others with God’s love is unbearable!” Pastor Nian and his wife also insist, “If there is a relationship, it doesn’t matter; if there is a relationship, it will be easier to do things.” Therefore, they actively care for them. The good reputation of the community spreads far and wide, and everyone is willing to make friends with them. In the past two years, many residents such as temple owners (furnace owners), mentally ill people, and drug-addicted youths have experienced complete changes in their lives. Pastor Nian has conducted eight baptisms.
In order to plant a church, Mrs. Nian mortgaged her house in Kaohsiung and bought a four-story building in Chaozhou Town, Pingtung County. On November 2, 2008, she established "Ganlin Taifu Christian Church". Pastor Nian and his co-workers Participate in the service there every month. On March 29, 2009, another church was planted in Anping District, Tainan City, and "Gann Taifu Christian Church" was established. The Ganquan Taifu Christian Church, which is only two and a half years old, can achieve such "achievements". Pastor Nian and his wife both said, "These are wonderful acts of God."
▲The 2010 summer camp attracted 83 children and teenagers to participate. Teachers and students took funny photos in front of the camera.
Pastor Nian and his wife also organize community training courses at the "Oasis Academy". Not only is it completely free, but it’s also rich in content. There are academic tutoring classes, classical piano classes, jazz piano crash courses, English conversation classes, Japanese classes, massage classes, choirs, flower arrangement classes, computer classes, pottery classes, etc. The brothers and sisters in the church serve as teachers, and the team is strong. In addition to excellent teachers, the teachers are also caring and patient.
God also sent short-term mission teams from Australia, the United States and Taipei to come here to support the missionary mission here. In addition, they also welcome short-term and long-term mission teams from all over the world to participate in this holy work. The last August 8 flood did not affect this area, but Pastor Nian led 300 people with eradication tools to clean up the garbage and mud. The second assistance to the disaster area was to go to each victim's home to investigate their needs and provide appropriate gifts of rice, beds, electric fans, refrigerators or electric cookers and other practical items. Pastor Nian’s third disaster relief project is to rebuild the hearts of young people and children. Computer classes, leather carving classes and driftwood art classes were launched in November last year (2009). Brothers and sisters in the church revealed that Pastor Nian and his wife were enthusiastic about preaching and caring for the community in the area, and the entire village prospered because of it. There are already three supermarkets in the town, and residents even persuaded Pastor Nian to run for mayor!
Author profile
Luo Cunxin, who studies literature ministry, likes to write down true and touching testimonies and share them with everyone.