Looking Back, Looking Forward

A Letter from Jonathan and Emily Seitz, serving in Taiwan

Fall 2021

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Dear friends,

In Taiwan, Christmas is a holiday for Christians, but honestly, even for Christians, it is celebrated mainly by attending a special worship service, along with perhaps an outreach event and some decorating. As an international holiday, there are often some public Christmas trees, music and decorations. Still, it is a lot quieter. I’m grateful to skip Black Friday sales and holiday stress but sometimes miss the significance of Christmas on the calendar. This year there was originally a retreat proposed for the Presbyterian seminary teachers on December 24-25, which I thought was funny. Even in church life, it is still primarily a work season.

Ending the year. Taiwanese churches do sometimes have the tradition of a “year-crossing service” held on the night of December 31. In Reformed churches, the end of the year has often been a time to take stock and evaluate the past year. This year our letters have treated a variety of topics: our deep appreciation for the church in Taiwan, a theology of friendship, and the importance of youth in the church. Quarterly newsletters are often a chance for us to lift up a theme in the mission of the church, but we’re also grateful for the “year-crossing” that lets us reflect back a bit.

Jonathan poses with Taiwan Seminary students on a field trip.

COVID Commiseration. Our two worlds are often out of sync. Taiwan began fighting COVID before the U.S., then things were fairly normal here for almost a year, but cases started to spread over the summer, and we had a hard lockdown. Now we are in the process of vaccinating the country (Emily and I both received second shots in November). It’s surely been a year for the history books. We are grateful for new technologies that have let us talk to congregations, attend PC(USA) trainings, and check-in with family. We’re hopeful that 2022 will bring an improved world.

Ministry Opportunities. This year brought new ministry opportunities. Emily took on a large part of some language courses for theological students. I attended the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan’s (PCT) annual general assembly, spoke at one of its mission conferences, and preached some. I have a core set of courses I teach at the seminary but am also part of other projects. This year I published a chapter on the PCT’s response to the White Terror period and an article about Taiwanese Christian demographics. I’ve also been grateful to get to know some scholars in Hong Kong. We’re really grateful for the church here and the way it has lived out its faith.

Family changes. In August, the twins followed Sam to the school he attends. Aside from a year in the States, this is the first time all three kids have attended the same school, and they are all doing well.

Our first 2022 Calendar has arrived.

Like everyone, we’ve lost family and missed the chance to be part of weddings, funerals, graduations and other milestones. Emily lost an uncle, and I lost an aunt. At our church, we’re hoping to do a small “blue Christmas” event to remember those who passed this year, as so many of us are away from home.

What comes next. We’re planning to return to the U.S. for much of summer 2022, after three years here. We will travel through the Midwest and South and perhaps other locations and hope to visit churches and presbyteries. Our calendar fills up fast, but we are hoping to visit as many of you as possible.

As we close out 2021, how are you taking stock of the year? What milestones have marked this year for you? How will ministry and mission change in 2022? What hopes do you carry forward with you?

With Advent Hope, Peace, Joy and Love,

The Seitz family

Please read the following letter from Sara P. Lisherness, the interim director of World Mission:

Dear partners in God’s mission,

I don’t know about you, but daily my heart grows heavier. News about the pandemic, wars, wildfires, gun violence, racism, earthquakes and hurricanes cloud my vision. It’s hard to see hope; our world is in a fog. Yet we trust that God’s light and love transcend the brokenness of this time.

God is at work transforming the world, and you, through your prayers, partnership and encouragement, are helping us share this good news. Thank you for your faithful and gracious support of our mission personnel.

How can we see through the fog? What will the church be after the pandemic? Could it be that God is doing “a new thing” and is inviting us to perceive it? Through all the uncertainty we know that God’s steadfast love and care for all creation will prevail and that God’s Spirit is at work in each of us.

We all have an integral part to play in fulfilling God’s mission. As we seek to grow together in faithfulness there are three important steps I invite you to take in supporting our shared commitments to God’s mission:
Give – Consider making a year-end financial contribution for the sending and support of our mission personnel. Your support helps mission personnel accompany global partners as together they share the light of God’s love and justice around the world. Invite your session to include support for mission personnel in its annual budget planning.
Act – Visit The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study to delve deeper into the work God is doing through the PC(USA) and its partners in ministry around the globe: pcusa.org/missionyearbook.
Pray – Include our mission personnel, our global partners, and our common commitments to share God’s grace, love, mercy and justice in your daily prayers.

Thank you for your faithfulness to God’s mission through the Presbyterian Church. It is my prayer that you will continue to support this work with your prayers, partnership, and financial gifts in the coming year. We hope you will join us and our partners in shining a beacon of hope throughout the world.

In the light of hope,

Sara P. Lisherness, Interim Director
World Mission
Presbyterian Mission Agency
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

To give please visit https://bit.ly/PCUSAmission

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16