For Immediate Release

FOLLOWING LATEST THREAT FROM CHINA TO ATTACK TAIWAN, ASSIST MINISTRIES HAS ISSUED AN URGENT CALL FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIAN PEN PALS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN "FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM" WITH NEW FRIENDS IN TAIWAN" Bridge of Friendship -- Taiwan" Now Launched

GARDEN GROVE, CA. (March 6, 2000) - Following the latest threat from a politically influential Chinese general who has warned that China would attack Taiwan if the island moved toward independence, international journalist Dan Wooding has urged American Christians to become involved in "friendship evangelism" with new friends in Taiwan. 

"The threats against Taiwan continue and I believe now is the time for us to show the love of Christ to the people of this threatened island and also share the message of Christ with them," said Wooding, who is also the founder and international director of ASSIST Ministries based in Garden Grove, California.

Wooding said that the latest threat came from Gen. Zhang Wannian who, while speaking to military delegates at the national legislature's annual session, stated that Taiwanese separatists and unspecified foreign forces -- a indirect reference to the United States -- were trying to deceive Taiwan's people. 

"Zhang repeated China's new threat, that was formally made policy last month, to attack Taiwan if the island indefinitely put off negotiations on unification," said Wooding. "This policy was meant to tell the candidates in Taiwan's March 18 election that Beijing would not let the 51-year separation between the island and mainland continue."

According to Associated Press, "None of the candidates supports unification on Beijing's terms, and one candidate, leading in some polls, has previously called for formal independence.

Zhang, a member of the ruling Communist Party's Politburo and the party commission that oversees the military, also said, "Taiwan independence means war. Separatism means no peace."

Dan Wooding went on to say, "The need is pressing for us to show the love of Christ at this time to the Taiwanese people who, after the devastating earthquake that hit them last year, are now facing these latest worrying threats from China.

Speaking of Bridge of Friendship - Taiwan, he said, "Over the past few months we have now heard from many people in Taiwan, mostly students, who would love to have a friend in America. Most of them are studying English as a second language. Now is the time to share with them a message of comfort and hope."

ASSIST Ministries has been running various pen pal programs from its Southern California base, for seven years with people all over the former Soviet Union and also Romania, now believes is the time for Asia.

"LOVE TUCKED INSIDE AN ENVELOPE"

"We call the aim of this project 'Love Tucked Inside An Envelope,'" said Wooding, who is also a journalist and author. "This is a wonderful opportunity for American Christians from all ethnic backgrounds, to become missionaries to Asia without leaving home. The idea of this new pen pal program is to establish a friendship with someone from Taiwan who reads and speaks English and, as part of that relationship, be able to share their faith with them and also learn about their life and beliefs."

Taiwan has 12 officially recognized religions, including Buddhism, Taoism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam. Slightly more than half the people in Taiwan profess a faith; Buddhism has the most adherents, followed by Taoism.

Most people in Taiwan are ethnic Han Chinese and were born on the mainland or have ancestors that were. They are divided into three groups based on their native Chinese dialect: Taiwanese (who speak Taiwanese, also called Min), Hakka (who speak Hakka, also called Kejia), and Mandarin. Min, Hakka, and Mandarin all belong to the Sino-Tibetan languages family.

"I truly believe that there are many Christians in the United States who would love to have the opportunity to help make a difference in the life of a new friend in Taiwan and also be a living witness at this time of trauma in this nation," said Wooding. "Now is the time to act!"

For those who would like to be involved in writing to someone in Taiwan through "The Bridge of Friendship -- Taiwan," and would like to receive a packet of information, they should write to:
ASSIST Ministries
P.O. Box 2126
Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126
or call the ASSIST office at (714) 530-6598.
There is a small donation requested for the linking that will help cover the costs of administering the program.

Another very effective ministry to the persecuted church in INDONESIA, SUDAN,VIETNAM, IRAN, CHINA, CUBA, PAKISTAN and the USA. Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand are the founders of this powerful ministry, themselves imprisoned for years under the Nazis and Communist reigns of terror in Romania. Their books are a staple in our house to give perspective and insight into what is really important. The Muslim, Communist and Humanist determination to wipe out all reminders of Christ is as strong as ever, yet the church continues to grow at an astonishing rate. Become an active part of the support for our persecuted brothers and sisters.