George Leslie MacKay as a Pioneer of Sustainable Taiwanese Christian Society
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| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | The aim of the paper is to analyze George Leslie MacKay’s missionary methods as well as to observe how one particular group within Taiwan built its capability of supporting itself thanks to interesting interaction with a foreign agent. The first missionary efforts took place through modernization, education, as well as through modern western medicine. Patients in a missionary hospital were often visited by missionaries, who were both – pastors and physicians. Western modern medicine was often more efficacious compared to the local medicine and proper medical treatment could lead to abandoning the local cult. MacKay was one of those missionaries who used the means of medical care for spreading Christian faith. However, his contribution was much more important since he introduced western medical techniques to his trainees. According to MacKay, the successful mission and sustainable Taiwanese Christian church must have been based on the native leaders with an adequate training. In the paper, I explain how MacKay delegated power to local ministry and trained Taiwanese people in western medicine to support his own missionary ambitions, but at the same time thanks to this effort he became a pioneer of sustainable Taiwanese Christian church. For the purpose of the paper MacKay’s missionary work is not just analyzed as separated phenomenon. Rather, it’s analyzed in comparison to work of British Presbyterian mission in southern Taiwan. Another goal of the paper is to extend current knowledge about George Leslie MacKay and Presbyterian mission. The paper also extend knowledge about Christian mission in Asia and Christian mission as such. |
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