Origin:
According to the vision and mission of the Taiwan Conference: “Our mission is to preach biblical truths, including the eternal gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages, to the residents of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, as well as lead people to the Lord, cultivate and equip them to become disciples, and prepare to welcome the return of Christ.” Although there have been missionaries in Taiwan for 70 years, no church has been established in any of the islands off Taiwan. To effectively implement the mission in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, a plan was made to start a church plant in Kinmen.
Plan:
Why did Kinmen become our first church to be established on an outer island? While evaluating various possibilities in Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, we found that there are already three Adventist families working and living on Kinmen. They will be an important resource as seeds of the gospel. Therefore, the plan was submitted to the TWC president’s office and the idea of establishing a Kinmen Church was proposed. Instead of acting cautiously when starting a church, there needs to be more dependence on the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God, when the TWC president heard about this plan, he gave his full support. A preparatory committee was set up to discuss various possibilities for the implementation of the plan.
Implementation:
On Nov. 23, 2022, set foot on the land of Kinmen for the first time. The only transportation between Taiwan and Kinmen are planes and ships. Therefore, most of the process was through online discussions with the church members in Kinmen to integrate the resources of Taiwan and Kinmen for promotion of the church plant. A spiritual prayer-line group was established on Feb. 22, 2023, to increase strength and cohesion among believers through spiritual practice and prayer.
Appreciation:
After four site surveys, seven months of online prayer and spiritual practice, countless online ministry discussions and physical meetings in Taiwan and Kinmen, there was an appreciation service on October 14, 2023. All of this is God’s guidance and grace. Glory to God! Amen!
