Chinese Union Mission Lay Congress

August 27 2008, Taiwan Adventist College, Taiwan 

On August 1-3, 2008, lay members from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan gathered together at the beautiful campus of Taiwan Adventist College, Taiwan, ROC for the Union-wide Lay Congress.  SS/PM Department of Chinese Union Mission invited Pastor Samuel Hsiao from South Bay Chinese Church of USA Central California Conference to be the main speaker for this special event.

Pastor Hsiao’s topics were mainly divided into four parts: Destined for Greatness on Friday evening; To Infinity and Beyond on Sabbath morning; Experience God’s Power on Saturday evening; and In the Hope of His Glory on Sunday morning.  Each of his talk was preceded by three testimonies and a special music from the lay members.

On Sabbath and Sunday morning, the morning devotion was conducted by the Ministerial Director of Chinese Union Mission, Pastor Robert Wong. Comparing Adventist membership with world’s population figures, Pastor Wong showed us the huge mission we have among the Chinese. He challenged all the members to share Christ in every aspect of their daily lives.  

516 members gathered to worship together at the main sanctuary and the Sabbath School lesson was taught also by Pastor Robert Wong. During the sermon, Pastor Hsiao shared his message on “To Infinity and Beyond.”  Groups were divided in the afternoon for discussion and sharing on the following topics: 1. Church of Proclamation  2. Church of Learning  3. Church of Worship  4. Church of Fellowship  5. Church of Serving. The new VOP “Discover” Bible lessons and “Kid Zone” lessons as well as the “1752” mission booklet were also introduced as tools for evangelism among friends and relatives.

Talks by Pastor Samuel Hsiao and Pastor Robert Wong deeply touched the hearts of all lay members and their messages matched with the Lay Congress theme “Tell the World.”  At the end of each session, the theme song “We have this Hope” was sung in response with aspiration from the lay members’ heart.

On Sunday, over 40 lay members graduated from the one-year Laity training course and received their certificates from Taiwan Adventist College.  In closing, all members were challenged to be witnesses for God and to share Christ in their daily lives. Chinese Union Mission executive secretary Pastor Terry Tsui dismissed the congregation with a consecration prayer.