Main languages:
Mandarin Chinese, Amoy (Ho-lo), Hakka and 10 ethnic tribal languages

Main religions:
Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion, Christianity (5%)

Government:
In March 2000 Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Chen Shui-Bian won the presidential election, ending 50 years of nationalist Kuomintang Party (KMT) rule. Relationship with mainland China remains delicate.

National and community concerns:
• Re-entry to membership of the United Nations.
• Recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state and an end to international isolation.
• Relations with China (1996 presidential elections took place amidst military threats).
• Widening gap between rich and poor and pay disparities between men and women.
• Child prostitution (an estimated 60,000-200,000 children involved).
• Drug trafficking using Taiwan as a safe haven.
• Taiwan has the highest divorce rate in Asia (1 in 5).
• Air, water and land pollution is severe.

Church priorities and programmes:
• Fishermen's Service Centre.
• Counselling, research, education and advocacy for aborigines and others exploited by fishing companies.
• Aboriginal Community Development Centre: establishing community development projects among aboriginal tribes in Taiwan.
• Taipei Women's Development Centre: crisis centre for women, providing counselling, job training and self-reliance development.
• Rainbow Project: research, preventative education, rescue and rehabilitation for young aboriginal girls trapped in prostitution.
• Disabled People's Concern Centre: research into disability issues, education and advocacy for those with a disability.
• The PCT also maintains a number of medical and educational institutions such as Taiwan Church Press, several theological colleges, schools, universities and hospitals.
• To improve believers' understanding of the Scriptures (Reading the Bible with New Eyes campaign) and renewal of worship.
• Increase believers' involvement in community concerns.

Members/Congregations:
220,000/1,220

Women's representation in church:
• The Women's Work Committee is well established in publishing activities.
• Writers' training workshops, fundraising for emergency appeals, women's awareness building.
• Theological education, study scholarships and leadership training of women.
• Networking with women in other Asian countries.

Youth activities:
• The PCT sponsors 60 Christian study groups in universities and churches.
• Opportunities for leadership training, learning aboriginal culture, teaching and two camps a year for bible study and recreation.
• The New Messenger youth magazine, published for over 20 years, has a circulation of 2,500.

Missionaries sent and received through CWM:
• Sapvengi and Rev Zaidarhzauva, social and pastoral work, from the Presbyterian Church of India.
• Carys Humphreys, administration, from the Presbyterian Church of Wales.
• An annual scholarship programme on theological formation has been arranged by CWM/PCT for six ministers/theological students at Tainan Theological College and Seminary.

For more information:
Rev William J K Lo, general secretary, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, No 3, Lane 269, Roosevelt Road, Sec 3, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
Tel: +886 2 2362 5282  Fax: +886 2 2362 8096  Email: pct@mail.pct.org.tw

website:
www.pct.org.tw (Presbyterian Church in Taiwan)

Prayer requests:
• For guidance and wisdom as the PCT and CWM’s Pacific partners develop relations.
• For the staff of the rehabilitation centres established following the 1999 earthquake.
• For PCT congregations to respond to the increasing number of suicides.
• For stronger youth and campus ministries.
• For the aborigine ministry in urban communities.
• For justice, peace and security between Taiwan and China.