AS RELATIONS GET WORSE BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN,
ASSIST MINISTRIES HAS ISSUED AN URGENT CALL FOR CHRISTIAN PEN PALS TO
BECOME INVOLVED IN "FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM" WITH TAIWAN

"Bridge of Friendship -- Taiwan" Now Launched By ASSIST Ministries

GARDEN GROVE, CA (August 31, 1999) -- As relations between China and
Taiwan, continue to hot up, ASSIST Ministries has issued an urgent
appeal for North American Christians to become involved in a "friendship

evangelism" project with new friends in Taiwan, an island in East Asia
which is the seat of government of the Republic of China.

Dan Wooding, founder and president of ASSIST Ministries based in Garden

Grove, California, says, "Relations between China and Taiwan are so
sensitive at this time, that we believe that now is the time for
Christians in America, to share the show the love of Christ with the
Taiwanse people. The need is pressing, especially as we have now heard
from many people in Taiwan, mostly students, who would love to have a
friend in North America. Most of them are studying English as a second
language."

Wooding, whose ministry has been running pen pal programs for seven
years with people all over the former Soviet Union and also Romania, now

believes is the time for Asia.

"LOVE TUCKED INSIDE AN ENVELOPE"

"We call the aim of this project 'Love Tucked Inside An Envelope,'"
said Wooding, the author of some 38 books. "This is a wonderful
opportunity for North American Christians from all ethnic backgrounds,
to become missionaries to Asia without leaving home. The idea of this
new pen pal program is to establish a friendship with someone from
Taiwan who reads and speaks English and, as part of that relationship,
be able to share their faith with them and also learn about their life
and beliefs."

Taiwan has 12 officially recognized religions, including Buddhism,
Taoism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam. Slightly more than
half the people in Taiwan profess a faith; Buddhism has the most
adherents, followed by Taoism.

Most people in Taiwan are ethnic Han Chinese and were born on the
mainland or have ancestors that were. They are divided into three groups

based on their native Chinese dialect: Taiwanese (who speak Taiwanese,
also called Min), Hakka (who speak Hakka, also called Kejia), and
Mandarin. Min, Hakka, and Mandarin all belong to the Sino-Tibetan
languages family.

"I truly believe that there are many Christians in North America who
would love to have the opportunity to help make a difference in the life

of a new friend in Taiwan," said Dan Wooding. "Now is the time to act!"

For those who would like to be involved in writing to someone in Taiwan

through "The Bridge of Friendship -- Taiwan," and would like to receive
a packet of information, they should write to: ASSIST, PO Box 2126,
Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 or call the ASSIST office at (714) 530
6598. There is a small donation requested for the linking that will
help cover the costs of administering the program.

Blessings upon you!

Iona Hoeppner
ionanet http://ionanet.com
Handmaidens http://ionanet.com/women
Jesus http://ionanet.com/jesus

He who laughs, lasts.
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