New Life Church

Our baby church is finally learning to crawl! Our interim pastor, Ken, initiated a leader's committee to help with the church planning. It's really exciting to be part of something this new, and it made me realize how much I take established churches for granted. For example, we had a long discussion about whether to have an offering box or to have offering bags (the offering box won at the end).

Pastor Ken and his wife, Pat, left for the States this morning! It was sad to see them go. They arrived in the same week that I came to Taiwan back in May. So this couple is the only pastoral couple that I know well in Taiwan. In these short six months, they've taught me so much with their lives. Both of them were in Taiwan as missionaries for over 30 years before, and although they're seemingly "retired", God called them to come out to Taiwan once again. They're both in their early 70s, yet God is still using them! Ken has been so diligent in preparing for the sermons every Sunday, and Pat has been a mother to us all. Through them, I've learned that God is not asking us to be skillful or be charismatic in order to do His work. Instead, He wants us to be available... and that was what Ken and Pat was. As the Israelites were in their sandals and holding walking sticks in preparation to leave Egypt during the first passover, we must also be ready to go as soon as God calls. That's also one thing I've been thinking about - God constantly commands us to "Come" or to "Go". They're such simple commands, yet it takes so much to obey.

Please continue to pray for the church! We are constantly under spiritual attack! Last week, Luke (fellow partner) was supposed to be leading the worship songs, but came down with a stomach virus on Sunday morning. So another Partner and I rushed to fill in the spot (thank God our worship service is in the afternoon!). After a good time of practice, the congregation gathered to pray before the service. Suddenly, Jenny, who was our translator/singer that day, fainted from low blood sugar level. It was really scary... and Pastor Ken rushed to hold her up to keep her from hitting the table... PLUS there was a staircase right behind her. Jenny was sent home, so at the last minute before service started, we found a fellow missions co-worker who became the praise translator. Praise God for His mercies and grace that we were able to cope!

Also praise God for Peter and Susan! They are a couple from Arizona who arrived just last Sunday, unexpectedly, due to visa issues. Nobody knew that they were coming, but God sent them over to us at the perfect time! It wasn't until LAST SUNDAY that Ken and Pat were asked to pick Peter and Susan up from the airport... and they've never even met each other! And it just so happen that the couple ended up in Taiwan, at a church that is saying farewell to their interim pastor! It's all soooo amazing! Our God is an awesome God =D