More about our Taiwan ministry

We arrived in Taiwan on August 2,1970, our 8th anniversary. In September we began our study of Mandarin Chinese. Since my job description included music promotion, I began visiting various churches to determine how I would begin my ministry, While adding to my theology studies at New Orleans Baptist Seminary in preparation for missionary appointment we met a church musician from Taiwan named Benjamin Kuo. Mr Kuo directed the music at Ren Ai church in Taipei, and he requested that I consider assisting a young student there who was directing the choir.

I agreed, but resisted the temptation to direct the choir myself. Instead I only consented to help with rehearsals as the choir was preparing a Christmas cantata. Little did I know that the students in the choir and I would have a future working relationship that has lasted a lifetime.

Some of the students were members of a singing group called the Christian Arts Fellowship, an organization led by Rev Lin Jr Ping. Before long, Rev Lin asked me to direct their choir in concerts around the island, It was a blessed experience as I was able to practice my Chinese while enjoyed leading a very good performing group. Unfortunately the night before our premier performance in Taipei I began experiencing severe chest pains and it was determined that I had had a mild heart attack. Several days were spent in the hospital where the diagnosis was at least one blocked artery. I was given a strict diet in consultation with the staff at the SDA hospital, and began an extended rehab at the Mission's camp site on Yangmingshan (commonly called Grass Mountain,) This story will be shared in depth on a future post in my blog which is titled "Paths." Look for it here https://mylegacy.thelites.us/paths