Taiwanese Youth attend Bible Conference in Tennessee

	January 17 though the 20, the youth of the Taiwanese Presbyterian Church 
attended the Strength to Stand Bible Conference.  The Conference was held 
in beautiful Pigeon Forge Tennessee, home of country singer Dolly Parton.
This was the second year that the group attended the conference.  Each 
year, students from the east and south and midwest converge on the Smokey 
Mountains to hear world renown speakers and Christian bands.  Approximately 
8,000 students attended this years conference.

	This years speakers were Rev. Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow creek church in 
Chicago.  Dr. Scott Dawson, Dave Edwards, Kevin Derryberry, and Jay Strack, 
chaplain to the NFL football teams.   Grammy award winning band D.C. Talk 
entertained as teens jumped, screamed and squealed.

	This year the topic was Leadership.  Each speaker challenged the youth to 
look at the world with different eyes and a passion to see others in a new 
way. Cliques and excluding people from social circles and the consequences 
of those actions can have lasting affects of a person's life years down the 
road.  One example was the students from Columbine High School, another was 
that of Brian Warner, who is the singer, Marilyn Manson today. Those two 
examples, remind us that events can and do affect us deeply. They have 
impacted society in a negative way.

	Bill Hybells, told of the bravery and committed life of Dr. Martin Luther 
King.  He endured hated, ridicle, violence and yet he has impacted the 
world in a positive way.  Students were challenged by the stirring message.

	At the conference,each student was encouraged to pay attention to the 
kids who have no one to sit with in the lunch room,  the ones without 
friends.  Students were challenged to brave the ridicule of others and step 
out and share God's love with others.  Be a Leader.

	It is a difficult thing to grow up in today's world.  It can be very 
lonely.  Christians can make a difference.  We can be brave to wage the 
battle of loving others.  No one should be untouched by Christ's love.  No 
co-worker, school mate, or neighbor should ever say, I have not heard about 
Christ and His love for me.  And so,,, the youth plan to take action, this 
year to do that very thing.  May their efforts be mightily blessed.