The Taiwan Emerge Youth Conference made its debut in July 2006, boasting a three-day affair that saw over 10,000 youth converging at the National Taiwan University (NTU) indoor stadium. More than 300 ministry helpers and leaders from Singapore also flew up to be part of this historic event.

The highly-anticipated event lasted from July 13-15, 2006 and included powerful preaching sessions as well as a substantial variety of competitions, not unlike those found in the Singapore version. Energy ran at an all-time high as thousands of delegates came together and experienced a life-changing encounter with God.

Recognized as the largest youth event in Taiwan, the churches were divided into five clusters representing their geographical boundaries—North, South, East, West and Central. Thereafter, each district sent their contestants to compete in various competitions like Talentime, Extreme Sports, Word Power, Preaching Challenge and the flamboyant Parade of Cities.



Apart from that, Kong Hee shared the Word of God in every teaching session and challenged the youth to serve the purposes of God in their generation. At the same time, the delegates were also treated to a visual spectacle of stage performances and competitions that corresponded to the youthful vigor of the Emerge theme.

EARLY PREPARATION

With preparations beginning as early as July 2005, the collaborative effort between the 150 Taiwanese churches and the Singapore Emerge committee contributed to the immense overall success of the event.

Every few months for nearly a year, a team of Emerge committee members from Singapore flew up to the five districts in Taiwan to conduct the preliminaries, quarterfinals and semifinals of the different competitions. The finalists then moved on to compete against other district champions in the final round which was held during the main event in Taipei itself.

The unwavering dedication and commitment shown by the participating churches in Taiwan made the Taiwan Emerge Conference all the more significant, especially New Life Church which worked very closely with CHC. It was also the main organizing center for administration, logistics and various other event-related procedures.

Patterned very closely after the Singapore Emerge Conference (which just had its fourth run in June 2006), the Taiwan Emerge Conference became a clarion call for youth in Taiwan to make a difference in their city and campuses. Churches united in one concerted effort to work together for the benefit of one and all. The youth from different churches also joined hands to take part in the district events in a show of strong solidarity and worked toward clinching the overall cluster champion trophy.

PLEASANT SURPRISES

In the week leading to the conference, news spread of an impending typhoon which threatened the Taiwan Emerge Conference to come to a standstill. News of floods in other parts of Taiwan were reported on the daily media, and prayer groups were activated in full force, both in Taiwan and Singapore.

In Taipei, the typhoon miraculously weakened into a tropical storm and eventually became nothing more than intermittent drizzles at most times. The wet weather did not put a damper on the scheduled meetings and the crowds still gathered outside the stadium each morning and evening way before the sessions began.

Unknown to the delegates, the organizers had invited several well known entertainers from the music industry to make special appearances during the conference. Homegrown Taiwanese singer Liu Geng Hong took to the stage and gave a heartfelt rendition of one of his songs entitled "Rainbow Heaven" from his first album. (Read more about this artiste in an exclusive interview he had with Harvest Times on page 84.) Another star appearance was Huang Yi Da, a Singaporean singer who charmed the audience with his special performance.

BRINGING CHANGE FROM INSIDE OUT

Kong Hee from CHC Singapore brought a powerful word in season to the attending delegates. He preached strongly on the need to have strong campus ministries and also stressed the importance of reaching the young people in this generation. He shared from the story of Daniel and his meteoric rise to become one of the top influential leaders of his generation—in the pagan city of ancient Babylon.

The core of the message was how Daniel was able to blend into the culture of his day without conforming to those standards. Neither did he withdraw himself from them and retreat into a life of reclusive activity. Instead, he engaged the culture of his world and remained holy and faithful before God. Through his powerful testimony, Daniel effected a powerful change in his generation which ultimately led to the king of Babylon proclaiming his belief in God.

These messages bore deep into the hearts of the people as Kong continued to expound on the messages and preached that "the message may be sacred, but the packaging is not!" He related the message to the youth, and reinforced the teaching that, in order to be "in the world, but not of the world," and "the salt and light of the earth," Christians must learn how to stay holy and grow in an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, while being at the forefront in their industry.

TAIWAN EMERGES STRONGER!

As the last session drew to a close, the whole arena began to resonate with a loud roar of prayer as several people were called on stage to represent different areas in the various fields. It was a time for everyone to reflect on everything that God had done in their lives that week.

One of the delegates, Pauline Yu, expressed her excitement in the wake of the conference, "We have been extremely blessed by Emerge, and we are especially thankful to Kong Hee and the City Harvest Church team—thank you for all the love and support you have shown to us in Taiwan. Our lives have changed and each one of us has a greater desire and determination to walk the destiny that God has called us to!"

In the words of Rev. Abraham Ku from New Life Church, Taipei, he shared, "I believe this is only the beginning (of a bigger revival in Taiwan), and this breakthrough does not have to stop. After this conference, we have an even greater vision to reach schools because we want to win this generation of youth for Jesus Christ." HT



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