dc.description.abstract | The theme of this thesis research focuses on the spread and development of Taiwan Presbyterian Church in Hsin-Hua area in Tainan, with Hsin-Hua Church in Tainan as the main research subject. For starters, the discussion aims at the natural and human environment in Hsin-Hua area as well as the historical development and the operation of the organization of Hsin-Hua Church, which was originally rejected and destroyed by the local people, but gradually was able to be re-established, converted into the affiliated chapel of the surrouding churches, and finally accomplished with having its own structure. It has even taken the leading role nowadays in not only Hsin-Hua area but also its neighboring regions.
Secondly, the discussion is shifted to the analysis of its expansion and the management in the local area of Hsin-Hua Church, and focuses on how the pastors managed the church and how they contributed to the local area. The overall efforts made by the pastors and fellow Christians in the development of the church and the local area have indeed made Hsin-Hua Church a long-standing church, with the lead of the ministry of different pastoral styles, including Fan Dai, Hua-Yi Liu, Sen-Bi Wu, Bing-Tien Tsai, and the present Reverend Li-Fu Chang. Moreover, the influential seniors in the church together with the laity also greatly contributed to the success, inclusive of Zhou-Yao Li, Li Huang, the Zhuos in the early stage, Tai-Ping Li, Hwai-Hsing Wang, the Liangs in the middle stage, and Wu-Yi Liang, Wen-Rong Kang, Jin-Hu Li in the late stage, to name just a few.
The gradual progress in the past century of Hsin-Hua Church mentioned above also reveals the inseparable relation between Hsin-Hua Church and the historical and cultural development in Hsin-Hua area. Under the circumstances of the elevation of social and economic status of the fellow Christians, Hsin-Hua Church has made such a great use of its geographical advantages that it successfully had many fellows join their group from the surrounding Plain churches. It has also grasped the tendency of economic development in Taiwan and set up some industrial factories since early stages. Furthermore, with the great efforts of the pastors and fellow Christians, the scope of the church has been enlarged and advanced to be more than just a temporary gathering venue.
This thesis carefully examines a few Christian clans which have greater influences on Hsin-Hua Church, such as the Lis in Peng-hu, the Zhuos, the Huangs, the Lis in Gang-Zi-Lin, the Kangs, and the Liang-Daos, in an effort to find out what the characteristics of the initial followers and the subsequent changes are, how those features may affect Hsin-Hua Church and the local areas, and whether these traits will be suitably applied to the modern society and be hepful for the church′s further elaboration and development in the future. It is hoped that some possible solutions can be found for the pastors and seniors in the church when they are faced with the problems of declining birth rate and aging societies. This way, Hsin-Hua Church may be able to withstand the impact and challenges from the outside world and march into its next century.
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