SQJ Taipei

I’m not sure how this will go… I’d like to give you a bit of a review of each of the seminars and bands we saw. I’ll split up the seminars and bands into 2 posts. The only thing I can really promise you is that you’ll get a ton of links in these posts. I’m going to try to list all the bands we saw and the seminars we attended and make a few comments about each. Time is precious and I’m sure I will not have time to give a thorough review for each event… but I’ll at least make a comment and give you some links where you can get more info on your own time.

On Thursday morning we met our camping neighbors, Patty and Jeff, and they encouraged us to attend some of the seminars instead of just listen to the bands. We attended 8 hours of seminars… 2 hours Thursday and 3 each on Friday and Saturday.

John W. Morehead - The West and the Rest: Where Does Their Rage Come From?
We found this in the program and I was drawn to it because of my experience living overseas. I don’t claim to understand all the cultural implications surrounding current world events, but my time in Taiwan has opened my eyes to the impact that cultural viewpoints can have on all of the issues. In this seminar, Morehead helped the audience begin to recognize their own cultural baggage by taking us through a couple examples of highly sensitive and controversial cultural issues. I was impressed with the way he dealt with the angry responses from some of the participants. Once he had established the fact that we all bring some cultural bias to the discussion table… we were ready for his teaching based on current events. This was probably one of the most helpful seminars I have ever attended. One of the biggest issues we struggle with as missionaries in Taiwan is the 3 part question, “Where do we attack the culture (because of blatant sin) and where do we engage the culture (because some aspect of the culture seems redemptive) and where do we accept the culture (because it brings glory to God)?”

I’ve added Morehead’s Blog to my links and if you are interested in the missiological issues brought about by culture and/or the Emerging Church and/or spirituality in pop culture… you’ll want to bookmark it and read it, too.

Morehead’s Speaker Bio

Morehead’s Blog - MoreheadsMusings

Gretchen Passantino Coburn - Why Apologetics Doesn’t Work
I recognized her name from her appearances on Hank Hanegraaff’s Bible Answer Man radio broadcasts… which have often enjoyed listening to on the internet from Taiwan. She, along with her late husband Bob, started the apologetics ministry “Answers in Action” and they have been very visible in the apologetics realm. So… the topic surprised me. Why Apologetics Doesn’t Work???!!! As she mentioned… when she first gave a seminar on this topic at her local church… many in the crowd only showed up because they thought she was going to retire! She isn’t retiring, but is using this opportunity to share more about what she has learned are the limits of apologetics. As she has learned more about herself and how apologetics is used and received… she has concluded that the relationships are always the most important thing. It will pave the way for apologetics to help make a person more receptive to the gospel, which is what will save people… apologetics will not save people. It was cool to hear from one of my “heroes” speak in person.

Gretchen Passantino Coburn’s Speaker Bio

Answers in Action Website

WHAT WE DIDN’T HAVE TIME FOR…

John Smid - Don’t Be Afraid To Ask…Or Tell! The Secret of Homosexuality Must Be Explored
The church must find a way to come alongside homosexuals and provide meaningful help. With a close friend in Taiwan who has AIDS… I’m not interested in popular phrases or in theory. I want to know what we can do and how we should do it.

John Smid’s Speaker Bio

Love In Action Website

I’ll get the music wrapup posted when I have time… soon I hope!