국제협력 CWM 홈페이지에 I Love Taiwan 2011에 관한 글...

[허준혁]

14 Jul 2011

Taiwan hosts mission event for 170 youths

Almost 200 young people from across the globe have gathered in Taiwan for the annual mission programme: I Love Taiwan. Flying in from Australia, Canada, Malaysia and the US among other countries, the 170 participants are meeting for two weeks as part of a major programme immersing them in Taiwanese culture and faith through short-term mission work. The CWM-supported programme, which is hosted by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, encourages youths to observe and serve at various PCT churches and organisations throughout their stay, so that they can take their experiences back home. Through its experience enlargement programme, CWM provides grants for youths from its member churches to attend. Accompanied by 80 local youths from churches across Taiwan, the participants first convened at Aletheia University in Tamsui for three days of training before being sent to various churches across Taiwan for 10 days to observe and serve at various local ministries. On finishing their placements, they will meet at Hsieh-wei Campgrounds in Puli to share what they have learned.

PCT Youth Ministry Committee Secretary, Itan Pavavalong, said he hoped that through the programme, the youths will come to understand Taiwan's isolation from the international community and appreciate its beauty and diversity. "The ultimate goal behind this mission is to encourage youths to experience the Taiwanese culture and lifestyle and share about it once they go back to their home countries," he said. This year's theme is "Diverse and Beautiful Taiwan" and camp leaders are hoping it will remind youths of Taiwan's current international predicament. "Taiwan is like a lonely, self-confident, and multi-colored bird flying solo," said Mr Pavavalong. "Though the journey may be at times lonely, it is also filled with hope because Taiwan is flying towards its destiny." The programme gives young people a chance to make new friends and see different ways of life. Song Meng, a Japanese youth who speaks Mandarin fluently and whose parents are Chinese, is hopeful that he will get to know some indigenous new friends and visit their reservations. He will be interning at Hongye Presbyterian Church, an Indigenous church belonging to Bunun Presbytery. Joonhyuk Huh, a South Korean youth who came to Taiwan through ILT Mission a few years ago, is excited to be back because he really appreciates Taiwan's trademark hospitality. I Love Taiwan mission programme is just one major youth event to take place in the country this summer. More than 100 Taiwanese American youths came to Taiwan on 30 June to minister to Taiwanese students through an English summer programme. They first gathered in Hsinchu at Canaan Church for a three-day training before heading out to serve with various churches throughout Taiwan.

Sponsored by Nehemiah Foundation USA, the programme - Americans Dedicated for Voluntary English Teaching in Taiwan (ADVENT) - will be held at various schools in Taoyuan, Yunlin, Changhua, Hsinchu, Sinbei, and Taitung in collaboration with local churches in those areas. In return for helping Taiwanese children improve their English and sharing the gospel with them, these youths will experience Taiwan – the country their parents grew up in. Bread of Life Great Park Church pastor and programme coodinator from the USA, Chang Yu-ming said the programme was emotional for some participants - one youth was moved to tears when 20 children made a decision to accept Christ during his class. "The greatest achievement for these youths is probably the discovery that they can share the gospel too," he said.

- CWM 홈페이지에 I Love Taiwan 2011에 관한 글이 올라와 있어 올려봅니다. 사실, 제 이름도 있고요. 하하하.

  http://www.cwmission.org/news/youths-gather-for-i-love-taiwan-programme