By Isolde Doubell
History
Taiwan is a large island and several small islands off the coast of China. It was originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples and had no central government until the 1600s. The Dutch colonised it for about 40 years, followed by a short period of independence, after which China ruled Taiwan for around 200 years. After the First Sino-Japanese War, Taiwan was handed to Japan, which governed it until 1945. Following World War II, it was returned to Chinese Nationalist control. In 1949, after losing the Chinese Civil War against the Communists, the Nationalist government fled to Taiwan with about 1.2 million people. Today, Taiwan is a democratic society with its own identity. It is also a global leader in high-tech manufacturing, especially semiconductors. China still claims Taiwan under the One China Policy and often conducts military exercises near the island. This creates ongoing tension and uncertainty about Taiwan’s future.
Indigenous Christians
Taiwan is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with 23 million people living in an area about the size of the Netherlands. It is open to all religions. According to the Joshua Project, more than 60% of Taiwanese people adhere to ethnic religions, 27% are Buddhists, and 6.4% are Christians, of which 3.3% is Evangelical. Many Indigenous people are Christian, with some groups, such as the Bunun, having a Christian population as high as 75%.
In 1946, there were no Christians among the Bunun in Taiwan. By 1969, however, converts numbered more than 12,000. Today, the Presbyterians alone have almost 15,000 Bunun believers in 76 churches. Hu Wen-chih, a Taiwanese missionary, was used by God to win many Bunun to Christ, and he also translated the New Testament into Bunun in 1973. The Bunun church in Taiwan has even sent missionaries to Japan and Borneo.
“Silent Revival”
Christianity has grown significantly in the last 15 years in Taiwan, and the Church has become strong and mature, especially in the cities. However, the number of Christians is very low in rural areas and amongst the working class, which makes up about 60% of the population.
The Taiwanese Church has been deeply shaped by early missionaries. Dr James Laidlaw Maxwell helped establish Taiwan’s first Western-style hospital in Tainan in the south, while the Canadian, George Leslie Mackay, planted over 60 churches and taught himself dentistry to treat infections, building trust that opened the way for the Gospel in the north. Presbyterian mission work has had a lasting influence on Taiwan’s education, healthcare, democracy, and human rights.
A friend of INcontext who led a church in northern Taiwan for 12 years says, “Today those Presbyterian roots remain a foundational pillar in the Taiwanese Christian environment. When our team arrived from South Africa in 2010, the Christian population in Taiwan was hovering around 3–4%, where it had stagnated for many years. New growth, sometimes called a ‘silent revival’, started around 2010, and the number of Christians has almost doubled. This revival is characterised by a surge in evangelical and charismatic movements among university students. “
“What I find very encouraging,” he says, “is that different denominations in Taiwan really co-exist in unity. There is no jealousy or infighting. The conservative and charismatic traditions have found a way to complement one another. Traditional churches bring a sense of holiness, discipline, and consistency, while the newer charismatic movements add energy, openness to the Spirit, healing, and lively worship. A ministry like Asia for Jesus has done tremendous work in bringing churches in Taiwan together under one mission.”
He adds that the Church in Taiwan carries great influence. Many believers are represented in the middle and upper classes, with a presence in government and business, supported by movements such as the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship. Prayer often takes the form of peaceful protest, with thousands gathering in public squares when proposed legislation conflicts with Christian values. They also stand together and pray. These prayer protests are reinforced by 24/7 prayer centres in Taipei and Kaohsiung.
“Conversion, however, comes at a cultural cost. Deeply rooted Taoist traditions place obligations on the eldest son to perform rituals for deceased parents. Choosing Christ can be seen as rejecting family heritage. This is significant. We once prayed for a teashop owner who was miraculously healed as a result. He was so excited and just wanted to tell everybody, until he realised that following Jesus meant to acknowledge Him as the only way. He just couldn’t make that choice. However, those who do accept Jesus have worked through those issues and are remarkably firm and ‘on fire’ for their faith.”
Outward-looking Churches
According to our pastor friend, Taiwan today is not only a mission field but also a sending base. From the international Church founded by Filipino factory workers in their dormitories thirty years ago, who are now sending teams back to plant churches in the Philippines, to outreach efforts by Asia for Jesus in Japan, Laos, and Cambodia, the Taiwanese church is outward-looking and dynamic. “It is a vibrant, healthy, and unified movement, and they trust God for great things both across the island and throughout the world.”
Prayer Movements
Another friend of INcontext, who is a Taiwanese missionary, highlights the prayer movements that have impacted society in Taiwan. “One significant prayer movement started with so-called ‘prayer altars’ that John Muline, a preacher from Uganda, encouraged Christians to start around 2005. Prayer groups gathered in their homes, workplaces, and even community centres, and we saw remarkable results flowing from that movement. People’s hearts softened, and the Holy Spirit moved.”
The CBN network reported on thousands of Taiwanese Christians who started the Revival Prayer Group Movement in 2023 to pray for the country under the threat of China’s military exercises in the Taiwan Strait. According to our pastor friend there are more than one ministry focused on 24/7 prayer networks. There are even prayer movements for children, and local churches also often have prayer events. The Church in Taiwan has momentum at the moment.
Please join us in prayer for Taiwan:
- Taiwan functions as an independent state but is claimed by China as one of its provinces. China’s increasingly aggressive tone has been a source of anxiety in Taiwan. Pray that violence would be averted, and that peace would prevail.
- Although the Church in urban areas is doing well, rural areas have often remained spiritually dry and unreached. Many elderly people in rural areas are lonely and poor. May the Church in rural areas have wisdom and fresh faith for growth there as well.
- There are more than one million migrant workers who live and work in Taiwan, often isolated from mainstream society and without access to the Gospel. May they also get to know Jesus, the One who brings salvation.
- Taiwan has several highly acclaimed universities that attract many foreign students. More than 100,000 international students from across Asia and beyond come to the universities. May they get to know Jesus in Taiwan.
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