Thews_Taiwan_Sep2020.pdf

What Do You Believe About God?
(a.k.a. – Two Votes for Alien)

Concordia Middle School began the fall 2020 semester on September 1, after three weeks of August summer school. This year, I’m teaching 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, and 11^th grade students Bible and English classes. While introducing Bible class, we ask the kids “What do you believe about God?” Turns out, many of them are looking for Him, whether they know it or not. The following are thoughts from 8^th and 9^th grade students. Please forgive syntax and grammar errors, English is a second language for the students. 

Rejection

• “I believe the gods like Matzu. I also believe the Taiwan’s tradition gods. And the Bible story just a story for me, that I reject it.”
• “I don’t believe in God. I think God isn’t real.”

Doubt/Confusion

• “I think God will really help me if I need him, but I am not very believe in God because I never know if he is there. Perhaps one day I will know.”
• “I am not a Christian, but I think there is really a God in the sky. I don’t know the truth.”
• “Many years ago, I used to believe in Jesus, a very short time. I tried to believe in many gods, like Greek gods after I read Percy Jackson. Now I don’t believe in any god. A program said maybe Jesus is an alien.”
• “I believe ‘God’ is an alien because it was so hard that normal person could do so many amazing things, like turn water into wine. It can’t happen until now. So, God must be an alien.”

Curiosity

• “God is very good, because God will help people. I am not a Christian, but I think God is nice.”
•  “I’m not believe in God, but I think there are many things in bible is true, just like Jesus was died on the cross. I would read bible when I was tired or sad, the story would encourage me.”
• “I kind of believe in God . . . my family do not. I never went to a church, so I can’t say I’m a Christian. However, when I met something sad or hopeless, sometimes I pray to God. (It does work!)” 

Trust/Faith

• “I think he’s a great friend of mine, he gave me a lot of gifts. Sometimes he is like a father, or mentor, telling me what is right.”
• “I believe about God. I believe God die on the cross for peace, and I believe God love us.”
• “I like to go to church on Sunday, because I love God. I think God love everyone. His son, Jesus, died for our sin. That is why I think God love us.” 

Students are searching for God in popular literature and the internet, finding information that is often contrary to the Bible. We’re working to refute common misconceptions, as well as some startling revelations. Statements concerning an alien origin for Jesus were new this year, curiously replacing  “magic” and Harry Potter references we often see. Are these responses wild or outrageous? Not at all. These four categories are actually similar to responses I saw in Lutheran schools in the United States. Sharing the Gospel in Bible class allows us to address doubts, confusion, and curiosities about God’s love and His promise of salvation.  Please pray for the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of these dear students. 

COVID Update
(a.k.a. – How’s the School Year Going?)

COVID-19 continues to impact our daily lives in Taiwan, including what’s happening at school. Thankfully, our school year has started with 100% in-person classes. Praise be to God! We’ve maintained many procedures from last year such as cleaning protocols, regular temperature monitoring, and wearing masks or socially distancing during classes. One major difference for the foreign teachers at CMS this year is changes to our staff. 

Last year we operated a full capacity schedule with 11 foreign teachers instructing Bible and English classes for students in both Concordia Middle School and Concordia English Language Academy (an after-school English enrichment program for elementary students). At the end of the last school year, four foreign teachers departed Taiwan to pursue their next life chapter – marriage, seminary, or a new job in the mission field. 

This year, we’re maintaining our usual schedule, but with a few less teachers. Two candidates have signed on to join us, but bringing them into the country during a global pandemic has proven challenging. Their paperwork has had some changes and re-starts, but we remain optimistic that they will secure the necessary documentation and join us shortly. In the meantime, responsibilities have been divided among the remaining teachers. What does that look like? For the CMS teachers, we have roughly 130 additional students apiece, making a sizable increase in our workload. Six weeks into the semester, we’re eager to see our new hires. Please pray for the safe arrival of our new teachers as well as strength for our current staff as we continue to share the Gospel and strive to meet the needs of our students and co-workers. 

Please Pray For:

• The Holy Spirit to open the hearts of our dear students as they hear the Gospel message
• A healthy and safe arrival for our 2 new teachers 
• Strength and encouragement for current CMS and CELA teachers as we manage additional responsibilities

Give Thanks For: 

• A plentiful rainy season to replenish reservoir holdings for Chiayi City
   
• Continued health and safety of students and staff at Concordia Middle School and Concordia English Language Academy

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40718 Highway E 16
Mapleton, IA 51034
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