Three New Deacons for the Taiwan Episcopal Church!
YES! Three new deacons for the Taiwan Episcopal Church!
Congratulations to Rev. Christina Hsiao-Yen Hai 海小燕 (above centre), Rev. Claire Chia-Lin Wang 王佳琳 (above right) and Rev. Alex Hsin-Tai Tso 左心泰 (above left), all ordained deacon by the Rt. Rev. Lennon Yuan-Rung Chang, Bishop of Taiwan, at St. John’s Cathedral, Taipei on Monday, July 22, 2024 (Feast of St. Mary Magdalene). Thanks be to Almighty God!
Over 220 people from all over Taiwan gathered to join this special occasion, including clergy and church members from all our Taiwan Episcopal Churches and lots of family and friends. These photos were taken as everyone gathered, ready for the service to start at 7:00 pm….
The service was livestreamed and can be watched here…
Photos from the ordination service…
Choirs came from all the 3 deacons’ home churches ~ and oh, it was such wonderful singing! This is Vox Cæciliae from the young adults group at St. John’s Cathedral…
Advent Church Choir…
and St. James’ Church Choir…
During his sermon, Bishop Chang talked about Mary Magdalene and her witness, also the role of a deacon, and then he invited those to be ordained to stand up in turn, and he introduced and encouraged them in their ministry. Our three new deacons have all written articles for previous Friendship Magazines to introduce themselves ~ the following information is summarized from those articles and from Bishop Chang’s sermon….
Christina Hsiao-Yen Hai 海小燕 was the first to be introduced (see photos of her and her family below). She writes, “My name is Hsiao-yen Hai; my surname ‘Hai’ means ‘sea’ and ‘Hsiao-Yen’ means ‘little swallow’. You can imagine a little bird flying over mountains and seas to her destiny, with the love of God like the wind beneath her wings. That is my life portrayal!
I was born in Taipei in 1962, as the first daughter of my parents, who had both come (separately) from mainland China to Taiwan in 1949. I have a younger brother and two twin sisters. We were a small family with no other relatives around in my childhood, but when I was about 10 years old, I learned that I have 2 elder brothers and an elder sister from my mom’s first marriage. Life was not easy for us when we were young because of my mom’s mental illness. Then my younger brother had a major car accident at age 18, which resulted in a cerebral hemorrhage. It was a time when God’s mercy came down on our family as my father called on His name to rescue his only son, and if my brother lived, he promised he would take us all to the church. God answered my father’s prayer, and we were all baptized into Christ on the same day that year, in 1981. In 1987, 38 years after leaving mainland China, my father was able to make his first trip back home to visit his mother and relatives in Xian. I was able to go with him, and it was on that trip that I came to know that my father was born into a Muslim family. At that time, I really didn’t appreciate how hard it was for a Muslim to become a Christian. But all things are possible with our God.
God has not only chosen me and my family to belong to Him, but He also brought me to my husband, Paul Peir-An Jeng, a fourth-generation Christian from Tamsui; we have two sons. His great-grandfather was one of the first ordained pastors trained by Dr. George L. Mackay (the first Presbyterian missionary to northern Taiwan, Mackay arrived in Tamsui in 1872 and served there until he died in 1901). Our involvement with the Taiwan Episcopal Church started through my sister, Ching-Ching who married Tim Tien-You Pan, son of Episcopal priest, Rev. Henry Pan. Tim is now Dean of Trinity School for Christian Ministry TSCM. He suggested I could work at St. John’s University, which I did, first in the chaplaincy office and then with the university president; I also studied part-time at the China Evangelical Seminary (CES) and joined in services and activities at Advent Church. In 2011, I decided to leave my job because my aging parents and parents-in-law were all in need of care, and I am really thankful for the time to be their comfort, and praise God for His loving kindness to us. They have all since passed away, but then my husband Paul was diagnosed with kidney cancer that had spread to his lungs and bones. Many of our church friends heard him sharing about how the peace of God touched and dwelt in his heart, and why he has no fear of facing severe illness and an unknown future.” Throughout this, encouraged by Bishop Lennon Chang, Christina studied with TCSM, serving at Advent Church, where she will continue. Bishop Chang talked abut Christina’s gift and compassion in caring for the poorest of the poor and those in real need of help, and how she will continue to do so.
Then Bishop Chang introduced Claire Chia-Lin Wang 王佳琳, who writes, “Dating back to the 1870s, my great-great-grandfather was born into a family of Chinese folk beliefs. He grew to be a businessman and also a spirit medium. One day, his brother-in-law invited him to a sermon, delivered by a student of Dr. George L. Mackay. As a result, he decided to bring his entire family to church and they became Christians. He started sharing his Christian faith with people he knew and even devoted himself to church construction. He said, “I have finally found the true God. In Jesus Christ, people can always live in true peace.” So, I am a fifth-generation Christian. Our family story shows the blessings of God. And because of my great-great-grandfather, I have always been eager to know how God changes lives and realize that the action of love from heaven could truly inspire people.
I was born in 1990 and grew up in Taichung, and in 2012, my family and I moved house near to St. James’ Church, where I had spent a year in the kindergarten as a child. We started to worship at St. James’ English service so that I could improve my English. Later I worked as an English teacher and also helped with the St. James’ Youth Group. As I observed, learned, and grew to become an Episcopalian, I found that the beauty in liturgy truly brings peace. My aunt and her family are members of Advent Church, Tamsui and I met the then-rector (now bishop), Rev. Lennon Yuan-Rung Chang, when he presided at my grandfather’s funeral. Later he invited me to join a 10-day mission trip to Myanmar. During the trip, we served at a Chinese church, visited elders and the sick, and had activities for children and teenagers, and it was there that I started to seriously consider whether God was calling me to serve him as a priest. Eventually, with the encouragement and support of Rev. Lily Chang, St. James’ Church, and my family, I applied to the diocese and started a year’s internship. In 2019, just a month before my internship, I joined a second mission trip, this time to the Diocese of West Malaysia, invited by Archbishop Ng Moon Hing and led by then Bishop-elect Rev. Lennon Chang.”
Claire’s internship was at St. Peters’ Church, Chiayi and then at Good Shepherd Church, Taipei; she then moved on to being a seminarian, but her year of theological study at Ming-Hua Theological College, Hong Kong was interrupted by the pandemic, and like many students, she had to study largely online. Through scholarships provided by the US Episcopal Church, Claire moved to Virginia Theological Seminary in the USA and graduated with an MDiv this past summer. In his sermon, Bishop Chang encouraged her not to worry about her relatively young age and to not be afraid! A large group came from St. James’ Church, Taichung to support her and her family, and also Alex, as he was first recommended for ordination training by St. James. After her ordination, Claire will start her curacy at St. John’s Cathedral, Taipei on August 1.
Finally, Bishop Chang introduced Alex Hsin-Tai Tso 左心泰, who is the General Secretary of the Campus Evangelical Fellowship 校園福音團契 in Taiwan, and talked about his calling and commitment to work with students. Alex was supported by a large group of over 40 of his friends and colleagues at the ordination service. He introduces himself as follows: “I was born in 1975 and raised in Taipei. My father worked for the army while my mother took care of me and my two brothers. My family did not have any religious affiliation. In December 1989, my family sent me to Canada to study. Shortly after I moved to Vancouver, a Christian reached out to me and introduced me to a Chinese church. I was baptized a year later, and after about two years, I felt God calling me into full-time ministry. I spent the next 13 years in the same church, where I was discipled and learned to work with other peers. After I completed my bachelor’s studies at Simon Fraser University, I applied for Regent College and completed a Master of Christian Studies in Marketplace Ministry in 2003. Right after my graduation, I returned to Taiwan to work in secular jobs. First, I taught English in Yilan. Then I moved to Taipei and worked with a company for 18 months. In mid-2005, I returned to the field of full-time ministry and became a staff member for Campus Evangelical Fellowship. I moved to the Episcopal Church in 2017 when my family was transferred to Taichung to work with students there, and I joined St. James’ Church. I was drawn by liturgical worship. The inclusivity of the Episcopalians appealed to me, probably because students are more likely to be more progressive. Another reason why I was attracted by the Episcopal Church is that I studied in Regent College for my master’s degree, which has a close relationship with the Anglican Church, and even provides a special program for Anglican study.
I have been working in student ministry for almost 20 years, meeting up with students every week. I also partner with some university students to hold meetings for Christians from the same high school. The goal is to raise up Christian students so that they can become a better witness for Christ on campus. I also pray that students from the school club will come to know Christ. I mingle with students, and I organize activities for students from different schools. My wife is also on staff for student ministry. Sometimes I think our two young daughters are also on staff because we take them to so many student meetings or camps. After my ordination, I will serve in self-supporting non-stipendiary ministry, continuing as General Secretary of Campus Evangelical Fellowship.”
The St. John’s Cathedral Group Photo…
We were also honoured to welcome Rev. Canon Dr LAM Chun Wai 林振偉法政牧師 from HKSKH St. Peter’s Church, North Point, Hong Kong, who is visiting Taiwan with a group from his church – some of them were at the service, along with others, so this is the Hong Kong group photo…
We also welcomed the Cooper family from the UK, including Rev. Robert Cooper and his daughter Katherine – she’s been here for a few weeks on a church-planting placement in Hsinchu, and has become good friends with newly-ordained Claire and many others. Robert presented Claire with a piece of his own calligraphy….
And finally this is the group from the mission at Hsinchu ….
Ah, it was such a great occasion! Congratulations to Christina, Claire and Alex, to Advent Church, St. James’ Church and St. John’s Cathedral and to all in the Diocese of Taiwan ~ and thanks be to Almighty God! ❤️
