The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan is welcoming the 140th year since its mission started in Taiwan. 12 prayer booklets will be published in the year 2005 for the celebration.

These prayer booklets are about 12 different topics – the life of Christian, invoking and praying, evangelism, family, church, spiritual battle, disaster, services, country and society, and grace. Each booklet will include Bible verses, short messages, prayer, and blank spaces to take notes. The Presbyterian Church hopes that by offering deep prayers before God, churches and believers can enrich their spiritual life and also take part in the evangelism of the kingdom of God.

The first 3 booklets -- the life of Christian, invoking and praying, and evangelism, will be handed out free for believers. From now on, churches and believers can fill and send, or fax the form of demand to the council of The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan located in Taipei, and will receive the booklets soon. The Presbyterian Church also welcomes believers to donate for this program.

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan was first pioneered on June 16, 1865. Till June, 2005, there will be 140 years since the first missionary Dr. James L. Maxwell arrived in Tainan. Six years later, December 9, 1871, Rev. George Leslie Mackay, dispatched by the Presbyterian Church in Canada, arrived in Kaoxiong in Southern Taiwan. When he came to know that there was no missionary in the Northern Taiwan, in the next year, he moved northward on March 7, and pioneered the Northern Taiwan from Danshui.

After more than 100 years, today, The Presbyterian Church has grown into the biggest and oldest church in Taiwan. It has 1,218 churches, more than 2.2 million believers, 3 theological seminaries, 1 Bible school, 2 universities, 3 hospitals and 6 social service centers. On Sunday, they give services in 16 different languages.

From August 2004, a series of celebrative activities started within the churches. Overseas churches and theological organizations have also been invited to join the activities of communion and dialogue. The Presbyterian churches in Taiwan are invited to write down their history and important events. In order to celebrate, the 9th Asian Calvin Theology Proseminar will also be held in Taiwan in 2005. Theologians from Korea, Japan, Indonesia and the other Asian countries are expected to attend this conference.