I Have Heard About Your Faith

Today, the first Friday in March is, as always, the World Day Of Prayer. This year the chosen country is Taiwan. 

Here is the artwork for the theme "I have heard of your faith" The artist, Hui-Wen, has used several motifs that highlight Taiwan’s best-known features to express how the Christian faith brings peace and a new vision to Taiwan. The women in the painting are sitting by a stream, praying silently and looking up into the dark. Despite the uncertainty of the path ahead, they know that the salvation of Christ has come.

Two endangered species are featured: the Mikado pheasant and the Black-faced Spoonbill, which are both of unique significance to the Taiwanese people. The Mikado pheasant is regarded as one of Taiwan’s national birds. The Spoonbill migrates thousands of miles to spend the winter in Taiwan. Their distinctiveness symbolizes a characteristic of the  people—confidence and perseverance in times of difficulty. The green grass and Phalaenopsisorchids stand out against the dark background. Taiwan has a worldwide reputation as the “Kingdom of Orchids.” This beautiful island is known by its rich natural resources. Green grass represents the Taiwanese as simple, confident, strong and under God’s care.

The service has been planned by Christian women of Taiwan. They remind us of the urgency to protect the environment and have a nuclear-free homeland; to be aware of the gender stereotypes women face when defying the traditional role in the workplace or in the family, and to care for the healing of the victims of verbal and sexual abuses. It also brings to light the hidden struggle of the essential workers during the pandemic who had to balance between work and family in a vulnerable economic situation. The sisters thank God for the natural resources of the island and pray for wisdom in face of the ​​political isolation of Taiwan in the international community.

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