As I have said many times before, Taiwan is one of the most strategic places for reaching Chinese worldwide.
The Need
With 23 million people, most of them Han Chinese, Taiwan is a mission field in itself.
To be sure, Protestant churches can be found in all major cities around the island. Christianity in Taiwan has a history of 150 years. The church is mature, with excellent seminaries, Christian publishers, and many specialized ministries, including television and social media.
Depending on how you count them, however, Christians number only between 2% and 4% of Taiwan’s total population. Most of these belong to the middle or upper classes. Less than 1% of Taiwan’s 16 million working-class people believe in Christ.
More than that, hardly any of them have even heard the gospel. Even among the educated population, there are so few Christians that you can call Taiwan an under-evangelized region.
The Opportunities
Because Taiwan enjoys complete religious freedom, Christians can worship the Lord and share their faith without any interference.
Furthermore, properly qualified foreigners can serve God in Taiwan either in secular employment or as missionaries. For example, there are plenty of openings to teach English in Taiwan.
Taiwan still needs foreign missionaries to come alongside local Christians. Serving with and under them, we can assist them in reaching out to the vast majority of the population who have had no exposure to the gospel.
For a general introduction to missionary life in Taiwan, visit the website of the Taiwan Missionary Fellowship.
Specifically, I recommend that you investigate the work of OMF International in Taiwan – the organization with which we served from 1976 to 1988. Go to Taiwan - OMF (U.S.) for more information.
The Time is NOW!
Since 1950, when Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist army and government retreated to Taiwan after being defeated by the Communists, the island has enjoyed de facto autonomy.
No one knows how long this situation will last, however. China has repeatedly said that it intends to “recover” Taiwan and “re-unite” it with the mainland. Increasingly, China has excluded Taiwan from participation in international organizations, such as WHO.
More ominously, Beijing has insisted that Taiwan’s political separation from China cannot continue. To underscore these warnings, China has been sending warplanes into the airspace claimed by Taiwan. Its ships have circled the island. Thousands of missiles are aimed at Taiwan’s defenses and infrastructure.
The current government of Taiwan has become more and more adamant that Taiwan will go its own way. In recent years, other nations have expressed support, including the United State and Japan. All this enrages Beijing. Some fear that war could break out. Others say that China’s options for subduing Taiwan go beyond the use of force. Anything can happen.
Our Part
Two couples associated with us are serving in Taiwan. Both of the men have strategic teaching positions. A former member of Chinese Christian Fellowship at UVA and her husband are serving with OMF in Taiwan.
We maintain contact with our many friends in Taiwan. Several of my books are published there, with two more on the way.
Please pray that God will bring many Taiwanese to himself, strengthen the Christians there to serve as witnesses of Christ, and send more workers into the harvest (Matthew 9:38).