From the Desk of Pastor Kim

Is worship on Sundays an activity that individuals participate in, or is it something that everyone participates in together (corporate worship)? Is Sunday worship a time for individuals to come before the Lord, laying down their burdens, confessing their sins, and listening to the sermon to hear God's word for that individual? Or is it a time for the congregation to come before the Lord together, laying down the needs of our church and our city, confessing the sins of our church and its need for Jesus, and hearing and responding to the preaching of God's Word as a community?

The simple answer is…yes. It is a time for both individual and corporate worship. It may be easier to understand why individual worship is important, especially in our individualistic, urban setting. It may be more difficult to understand the importance of corporate worship. David Mathis from John Piper’s Desiring God website writes about five benefits (though not limited to these five) of corporate worship. They are:

1.   the experience of awakening

2.   the assurance that we receive in believing in the same gospel

3.   the advance that we experience in sanctification while worshiping

4.   the practice of accepting another's leading

5.   the accentuated joy of worshipping the Lord together

I invite you to take a look at the full article here.

In closing, let us consider this passage from the Letter to the Hebrews:

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,  and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

                                                                                                                                                Hebrews 10:19-25 ESV

5 Questions with...Pranata Sanjaya

1. How did you first get involved with Friendship Presbyterian?  I came to Taiwan to pursue a master’s degree at National Taiwan University of Science & Technology. I am from Indonesia, and while I was looking for a church in Taipei, one of my friends told me about FPC. Actually, I was quite surprised to find out that there were so many Indonesians there! After that, I started to become a regular attendee and also serve as a member of the worship team.  

2. What do you do Monday through Saturday?  Monday through Friday, I work as an Integrated Circuit (IC) designer (it is the position of engineer, but somehow it is called “designer” for this) in a semiconductor company located in Hsinchu Science Park. Saturdays may vary, but, mostly, I just take a rest after a full week of work.

3. What is something people might be surprised to know about you?  I am not sure about this, but most people I met here never think I am Indonesian. This becomes much more interesting because even other Indonesians talk to me using Chinese or English. And this has happened not only once or twice, but quite often.

4. What do you find most challenging about being a Christian today?  I think the most challenging and concerning thing is the rapid growth of non-gospel-centered churches around us that make people see Christianity in a wrong way. In my opinion, this is not good for either believers or non-believers. That is why I strongly believe that a church plays an important role in providing the right teaching and community for the growth of its members.

5. What is one of your favorite books of the Bible?  The Psalms, because it contains a lot of prayers and praise.

5 Questions with...Jessica Stiefel

1. How did you first get involved with Friendship Presbyterian?  I moved to Taiwan in the fall of 2016 from Portland, Oregon for a work opportunity. At the time, I was living in Taoyuan and had been searching for an English church near me without much luck. Eventually, I found Friendship Presbyterian through a Google search online and attended the next Sunday. As a newcomer, I found everyone was very welcoming and encouraging, so I continued to come back! I first started attending Friendship in October of 2017.

2. What do you do Monday through Saturday?  I work as a kindergarten teacher at an English school. I am at school every weekday from 9-5 then continue teaching afterwards with private students. When I have free time during the evenings, I enjoy being active. I go to the gym, play sports, or do yoga. On the first Saturday of every month, I volunteer with a Christian ministry that prepares and serves meals to the needy. I enjoy decompressing on the weekends by relaxing at Daan park, reading at a cafe, or going for a meal with friends. 

3. What is something people might be surprised to know about you?  People are usually surprised to hear about my move to Taiwan. I chose to move here on a leap of faith without ever having been to Asia, without knowing anyone here (let alone anyone that had ever been here), and without knowing the language. There were several unknowns, but I felt that God was leading me abroad. I had the opportunity to travel more and work with children which are two of my biggest passions in life. After almost three years here, I still feel that Taiwan has been nothing but a blessing in my life. 

4. What do you find most challenging about being a Christian today?  I feel that many people have a negative perspective of Christianity and its followers, which can be challenging to face at times. I feel that the exclusivism of Christianity and the fact that Christians see their way as the only way makes others feel judged or unworthy. I do not want people to feel judged by me because of my beliefs. 

5. What is one of your favorite books of the Bible?  I have found a lot of guidance in how to live my life as a Christian from the book of James. I enjoy its many quotable passages and how they are relevant to everyday life.