Today at church a family was baptized and a woman shared her testimony. I've realized that the purpose of this blog is not to write my own story, but the stories of the people I meet-- the story of Taiwanese Christians. It's amazing how much persecution they go through in a free country just to call themselves Christians. I am honored to be among such people. It reminds me of Hebrews 11:32-40, part of the "by faith" chapter; after it talks about the patriarchs, it describes a countless number of believers that overcame the world despite persecution:
"32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
A note from my Concordia Study Bible says, "not all the heroes of faith experienced immediate triumph over their circumstances, but all were blessed by God.... the fulfillment for them, as for us, is in Christ who is 'the resurrection and the life'."
I am waiting to ask for permission to share more specific stories. Until then, for those of you that have not yet seen this video, it's a little taste of the school and the team. It's funny to remember watching this video before I came to Taiwan; I didn't have a clue of what it would be like here. Seeing this now makes me smile because I know the team members and places; even the bell that starts the video, I wake up to it every day! Hope you enjoy. :)
"32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
A note from my Concordia Study Bible says, "not all the heroes of faith experienced immediate triumph over their circumstances, but all were blessed by God.... the fulfillment for them, as for us, is in Christ who is 'the resurrection and the life'."
I am waiting to ask for permission to share more specific stories. Until then, for those of you that have not yet seen this video, it's a little taste of the school and the team. It's funny to remember watching this video before I came to Taiwan; I didn't have a clue of what it would be like here. Seeing this now makes me smile because I know the team members and places; even the bell that starts the video, I wake up to it every day! Hope you enjoy. :)
Blessed Sunday!
In Christ,
Anna
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