Taiwan is called the "Republic of China" by some, but not by others. The Taiwanese are caught in a national identity crisis as they live in the looming shadow of China. Varied people groups are represented by three historical waves: 1) the “original residents,” ethnically similar to the American Indians, 2) the native Taiwanese who emigrated from China, and 3) the “strangers” - people politically estranged from China. The political and ethnic embroilments have been quite influential in the shaping of this little "nation." On the religious front, only 3% of the population claims to be Christian, with the remaining 97% practicing an eclectic mix of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.
CRM’s work in Taiwan has resulted in a recent church plant. The nascent "Pearl in Taipei" (which used to be commonly called "The PIT" for short) intentionally wordplays its name for the reason that within each person's weakness (a pit), Jesus is the one who empowers individual to be strong (a pearl).
The initial strategy was to target artists and entertainment figures, but God has led the ministry down another path. The desire to make an impact in the entertainment industry is still there, as it is one of its pathways into the heart of Taiwan.
The next generation of potential leaders is experiencing a phenomenon of brokenness that needs to be addressed before they can find their "pearl" identity and destiny in Christ. Hence CRM's vision and mission in Taiwan is to "bring healing for discipleship to the nation(s)." The plural form here is purposeful because the dream of church planting is not merely throughout Taiwan, but also beyond this jelly-bean island to all of Asia, with an emphasis on the younger, emerging generation.
