August 2, 2009
Reported by Lin Yi-ying
Written by Lydia Ma

After obtaining approval from Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) and Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT), a congregation belonging to PCK that had previously been meeting at a PCT church in Hsinchu area finally became an official member church of the PCT on July 21st. This new development is expected to draw the PCT and the PCK even closer in partnership and ministry and become a model for other churches.

According to reports, the new Korean PCT church's beginnings dates back to 2005 when Korean pastor Rev. Kim Dong Ryul felt the need to minister to Koreans living in Taiwan who worked in Hsinchu Science Park. After discussing his burden with Rev. Cheng Wen-ren from Hsinchu, Rev. Kim searched and found a church willing to share its facilities so that Koreans could meet for services on Sundays and group meetings on weekdays. This arrangement and partnership between a Taiwanese congregation and a Korean congregation continues to this day.

According to Rev. Cheng, elders and members from local churches in Hsinchu were more than willing to help out and become partners in evangelism with the new Korean church and it soon began a women's Bible study on Tuesdays, a Korean Bible study on Wednesdays, and daily prayer meetings in the morning.

According to Hsinchu Presbytery Moderator Lin Bo-shou, this is the first time Hsinchu Presbytery adopts a non-Taiwanese church as an official member. Lin has seen first hand how much PCK missionaries love Taiwan and identify with this land and its people. Not only are these missionaries committed to sharing the gospel in Hsinchu area, they are also willing to start a PCT church to demonstrate their respect toward local churches and seek partnership. This reminds Lin of the Apostle's Creed, where Christ commissioned us to become "one holy church, sharing the communion of saints," and he said the inclusion of a Korean church in Hsinchu Presbytery is very significant for the ecumenical movement. According to Lin, Hsinchu Presbytery will help the new Korean church with church administration, gathering resources, organizational issues and finances. Their goal is to work together in intercultural and international missions.

In response, PCT Associate General Secretary Lyim Hong-tiong said the inclusion of a Korean church in Hsinchu Presbytery is a good thing and conforms to the spirit of the ecumenical church movement. Though this is the first time a Korean language church is joining a PCT presbytery, the PCT has accepted Japanese and English language churches in two of its presbyteries before.

Rev. Kim Tae Hui is the pastor of the new Hsinchu Korean Church and though he has been in Taiwan for only one year, his Mandarin is excellent. According to Kim, a lot of communication with the PCK General Assembly took place when the new church began considering joining the PCT because it originally belonged to the PCK. After obtaining approval and support from PCK and receiving a lot of help from Rev. Cheng, the new church finally became an official member of PCT's Hsinchu Presbytery.

According to reports, the new church has about 30 official members. However, church members often invite their Korean and Taiwanese friends or families to join them during services, increasing the number of attendees to more than 60 people. The church has been saving for a church building project and hopes to have its own permanent place of worship in Hsinchu in the near future.

Taiwan Church News