Taiwan Community Service Responds to SARS

When the recent outbreak of SARS hit Taiwan, the Church asked itself what it could do to help. Besides outlining clear measures for local churches to follow in fighting SARS, Community Service leadership contacted US-based Adventist health-care facilities to enlist their help in donating much needed medical equipment. At a time when isolation gowns were in short supply on the island, the church was able to provide 15,000 gowns to hospitals and government centers.

Bob Folkenberg, Jr. presents banners and donations to the central government's foreign affairs office.

The generous gifts were made possible by a number of American hospitals, including Loma Linda Medical Center, Florida Hospital, Kettering Medical Center and Glendale Adventist Hospital. In all 15,000 isolation gowns were donated, 640 N95 masks, 200 tympanic thermometers, 366 special isolation jump suits, 4,000 surgical masks and 288 special face shields. In addition to these the Chinese Union Mission donated 10,000 face masks for distribution to church members throughout the Mission.

Isolated and fighting a silent and invisible killer, the church felt the energizing brotherly love of sisters and brothers around the world. They no longer felt alone. They were part of a family that was praying for them. In fact, Taiwan Mission's Adventist College Preparatory School contacted Southern Adventist University and Union College and they both responded with banners signed by over 500 students which read - "Go Taiwan, Fight SARS." This was encouraging to the church as well as the people of Taiwan.

Bobby Christiansen (ACPC Manager) and Ann Christiansen (Board member of Taiwan Adventist Community Service Board), Mayor of Taichung, Bob Folkenberg, Jr (from right)

In a formal and moving ceremony, the Taiwan Mission president, Bob Folkenberg, Jr. presented the banners and donations to the central government's foreign affairs office. In another meeting, Folkenberg met with the mayor of Taichung, Taiwan's third largest city, and presented the city with a donation of 4,000 gowns. Both of these events received wide local publicity in newspapers and the former on television.

We praise the Lord that despite living through the sadness and fear of SARS, the church in Taiwan was able link arms with brothers and sisters in far-off lands and become the hands and feet of Jesus in meeting the pressing needs of the community.

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Bob Folkenberg, Jr., President of Taiwan Mission