Home
SARS Disease Having Impact on Taiwan Ministries
TAIPEI, TAIWAN (May 16, 2003) - Although the mysterious Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) has been most pronounced in China, other countries with an
Evangelical Covenant Church presence are also feeling the impact of this
disease.
David and Judy Dolan, coordinators for Chinese Ministry with the Department
of World Mission, are requesting prayer on behalf of Covenant churches in
Taiwan. While none of the people attending Covenant congregations have been
affected by SARS, attendance has been lower in recent weeks. The Neihu
Church, which had been holding a worship service in a nearby library, was
informed they could no longer use the facility until the SARS danger has
passed. And a summer outreach program coordinated by Covenant churches is
not receiving the needed level of support because some of the English
teachers from the United States who were scheduled to provide volunteer
help have cancelled trips due to concerns over the SARS situation.
The Dolans returned to the United States April 16 after having been in
Taiwan for a time. At that point, SARS was not perceived as much of a
problem in Taiwan. "Things have changed now, however," the Dolans recently
wrote in a message to supporters. "And Taiwan is now listed as a country
where the SARS outbreak is spreading in unknown ways. Doctors cannot say
how six of the 200-plus people with SARS became infected. So far, 27 people
in Taiwan have died."
The Dolans recently contacted the Dwight family, longtime missionaries in
Taiwan, and they report all are well. Morrison Academy in Taichung, where
Don Dwight serves as a teacher, has had no documented SARS cases, but the
school has begun taking the temperatures of students as they arrive at
school. Taipei American School has closed for the remainder of the school
year and many other public activities throughout the island have been
cancelled in order to control the spread of disease.
Pastor Nathen Chang of the Hsin Tien Covenant Church reflected on the
ministry impact of the SARS situation. "This disease has impacted the
church, but we are working hard to bring a positive outcome to a difficult
situation because we know 'that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, and who have been called according to his purpose.'
Please pray for us. There is not much peace in Taiwan right now and we
Christians are the one voice on the island that can share what TRUE
security really is."
The Chicago Tribune reported recently that more than 200 SARS cases
and
31 deaths had been reported in Taiwan. It now has the third worst outbreak,
just behind Mainland China and Hong Kong, and it could get worse, experts
suggest. More than 250 staff members at National Taiwan University Hospital
have been quarantined, as have more than 1,000 patients. Another hospital
had 100 staffers quarantined after 10 members of the medical staff
exhibited SARS symptoms.
Dolan added that people from Covenant churches also reside in China's
Beijing and Gansu provinces. He asked that Covenanters pray for wisdom
among Chinese leaders as they assess the illness and required responses in
these areas.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
