March 9, 2009
Reported by Lin Yi-ying
Translated by Lydia Ma

World Day of Prayer falls on the first Friday of March every year and this year's theme is to pray for Papua New Guinea. Taiwanese churches chose "There are many members in the body of Christ, but all are connected to one body" as the main theme for their prayer meeting.

Participating churches and organizations included the Catholic Church, Episcopal Church, Methodist Church, Lutheran Church, National Council of Churches Taiwan, Salvation Army, YWCA, etc.

Leaders from these organizations convened at Grace Baptist Church in Taipei for this special joint prayer meeting, including Catholic Archbishop of Taipei Most Rev. John Hung and Methodist Bishop Enoch C.H. Kuey. Hung and Kuey embraced each other warmly – a gesture meant to convey reconciliation between Protestant and Catholic churches.

A missionary from Wycliffe Bible Translators Taiwan was invited to share her experience as a missionary in Papua New Guinea from 2001 to 2008. According to reports, there are currently four other Chinese missionaries in Papua New Guinea involved in translating the Bible.

Grace Baptist Church Senior Pastor Stephen Lee delivered his sermon entitled "Unity in Christ" during the prayer meeting. Lee emphasized that unity among believers was God's intention from the beginning, especially when it comes to accomplishing ministries.

The meeting also collected over $40,000 NTD in offering and the entire sum will be donated to Harmony Home Association Taiwan, a non-profit organization helping people living with AIDS. This association provides halfway houses, shelter, medical assistance, hospice care, and counseling for AIDS victims and their families.

Taiwan Church News