Pray with Taiwan, December 14, 2025
Lectionary Selection: Matthew 11: 2-11
Prayers for Taiwan
Dear God, we give thanks for the congregations and institutions of our partner in Taiwan, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, and for the communities where people gather to care for one another in times of joy and in seasons of hardship. We thank you for the courage shown amid typhoons, earthquakes, and uncertainty, and for all who labor to bring comfort, repair, and hope.
We lift up the pastors, elders, and members of the PCT, especially those in Hualien and other regions severely impacted by disasters. Strengthen their ministries of presence, healing, and rebuilding. Bless the students and teachers of Yushan Theological Seminary and the Indigenous communities who bear heavy burdens.
May your Spirit deepen our partnership, that together we may embody compassion, justice, and resilience.
We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Mission Moment from Indonesia
Taiwan has endured repeated natural disasters this year. Typhoon Fung-wong displaced thousands in early November, bringing record flooding to Yilan and Hualien only weeks after Super Typhoon Ragasa claimed 18 lives. Facing a warming Pacific and its position along the Ring of Fire, Taiwan lives with the twin vulnerabilities of powerful storms and frequent seismic activity. In April 2024, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck near Hualien—the island’s strongest in 25 years—causing widespread damage, multiple deaths, and leaving many communities isolated.
Amid these crises, our partners in the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) have been both victims and first responders. Rev. William Lin, Programme Secretary for Church and Society, quickly traveled to Hualien to listen to affected pastors and families, including Indigenous communities who suffered tragic losses. Several churches and village centers were damaged, and Yushan Theological Seminary in the mountains sustained serious structural cracks, though faculty and students remained safe.
Yet Taiwan’s vulnerability is not only environmental. Ongoing geopolitical pressure and diplomatic isolation heighten the island’s sense of precarity. In this context, the long-standing ecumenical relationship between the UCC, the Disciples, and the PCT is an avenue for accompaniment and solidarity. In late 2024 Global Ministries co-Executive Rev. Sharon Prestemon visited the PCT with the East Asia and Pacific Global Relations Minister to express our commitment to walk with the people of Taiwan amid its many challenges.
Prayer and Mission Moment written by Derek Duncan Global Relations Minister for East Asia and the Pacific Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ
Mission Partners in Taiwan
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