| The growth of Taiwan Presbyterian Church, the church that assumes the responsibility of caring for and saving 19 million people from the realm of darkness, is the primary focus of this dissertation. Today the church has a great task as only 3% of the Taiwanese population are Christians. As a token on my concern for the future of the churches in Taiwan, I intend to compile the church growth history in Taiwan, consequently searching some principles that will enhance its future revival.; This dissertation gives a historical account of the Presbyterian church growth. It calls attention to the labor and tears of the Christian pioneers, the spirit of the early missionary churches, and the process of growing the seed of Christianity in Taiwan. From the lessons we learn from them, plus the examples from the early churches of Acts--how the disciples used their faith to promote church growth, we learn the factors in promoting church growth.; We will also see that the church in Taiwan has has the most tremendous growth when Christianity is put in the context of the Taiwanese culture. This reminds us the importance of focusing on the vision rather than methodology. As a result, it is important to look at the reason for church growth. The dissertation starts with a close outlook on the Ministry of Christ being the root of all church growth. It is from knowing the ministry of Jesus that we can then determine the theology to be used.; I love the church in my homeland, and I long to see her grow more and more. I look forward to seeing the New Life of the resurrected Christ being lived out through her. That is why I want to gather insights from the Bible, from what I've learned, experienced, from the experience of the great saints in the past, and the principles from the first century churches. With these insights came ideas for church growth strategies that are suitable within the context of the Taiwanese culture.; It is my prayer that this dissertation be of good use for the churches in my homeland. |
