咱決意相疼

Title: 咱決意相疼 (Determination to Love One Another)

(John 15: 12-14, 13:34)

講道者：賴俊明牧師

Speaker: Rev. David Lai

January 29, 2017

(I) Introduction:

1. In 2010, I was 70 year old and retired in Taiwan, and was invited by Osaka Chinese Presbyterian Church to be their pastor for three years. When I was in Japan, one day I watched one of NHK TV show. This show selected three most affectionate couples from entire Japan. They were interviewed and asked one question, which was the most happy, meaningful, and fast way to travel from Tokyo to Osaka. The answers were……., respectively.

2. One month after this show, there were almost one hundred best selling books named “Good companion go hand in hand” were published.

3. When I was pastor at Siang-Lian Presbyterian church. I named Hymn #317 “We determine to love each other” as church anthem.

(II) Introduction of Hymn #317: Margaret Gauld (Mrs. Wu Ma-li 1867-1960, 48 year in Taiwan).

1. She was called the mother of choirs in the northern and southern Taiwan.

2. The famous Hymn’s composer Pastor Lok shian-chuen and Professor Chen shi-chi were taught by her. And  Professor Shiao tai-jan was influenced by her to become one of the top composers in the modern Taiwanese history.

3. Hymn “O come let us sing, sing and praise Jehovah” was introduced by her and became one of the most popular hymns in the Taiwanese Presbytery Church.

4.  She lived in Taiwan for 48 years, became a true Taiwanese. In her latter years she went back to Canada and passed away there at the age of 94.

(III) Starting from Dr. George Mackay, the first missionary from Canada

1. In 1872, Dr. Mackay came to Taiwan and married a Taiwanese girl name Chang Tsong, latter changed name to Chang Tsong-Ming.

2. In 1886, he went back to Oxford county, Canada. He promoted and reported missionary work in Taiwan, and called believers to go to Taiwan for missionary. One high school student (Mr. William Gauld) decided to go to Taiwan for minister.  But his brother advised him to complete the necessary study in Canada first. Therefore, he studied and graduated from the University of Toronto, and the Knox Seminary.  Then, married a girl (Margaret Mellis) who graduated from the University of Toronto, majored in music. One month after their wedding, they took the cross continental train, and steamship to Taiwan.

(IV) The contribution of William Wu (Gauld) and Margaret Wu (Gauld)

1. Dr. Mackay is an evangelical minister and Mr. and Mrs. Wu are the ministers for church’s organization, development and education

2. Without Mr. and Mrs. Wu, there won’t be any of the followings : Mackay Memorial Hospital which located at Zhong-shan north road, College of Nursing, Siang-Lian church in Taipei, Taiwan Theological College and Seven Star Presbyterian Church in Taipei.

3. However, the biggest contribution of Mr. and Mrs. Wu is to move the mission center from Tamsui to Taipei. Then they were criticized and opposed by many people, because they selected Siang-Lian as the center for Taipei mission in stead of prosperous Ban-ka and Toa-tui-sia.

4. Among opposite voice, some people even wanted to chase them back to Canada.

5. Fortunately, his (Mr.Wu) intelligent and faith wife Margaret wrote a letter to him. After he read her letter, he cried and advised his wife to compose it as a Hymn. This is how Hymn #317 was produced.

(V) Conclusion:

1. In the journey of our life, the most commendable thing is that if someone gives a helping hand and enables us to stand up again when we are in difficulty and hardship.

2. A church’s thriving doesn’t depend on how many members in the church and how beautiful the church is, it is determined on the members of church who care each other and determine to love each other.