Dear ,

Last week we finished our annual Fall University Outreach. We were joined by three great teams from North Carolina and Washington State. Over five days we connected personally with somewhere between 700 and 800 students - real conversations with the Gospel at the heart.

Our theme for the week was identity and value, and one question opened door after door: “If a computer can do the work you’ve trained your whole life to do, what is your actual value? Do you have worth simply because you exist?”

For many students who have built their identity on performance, that question lands hard. Through it, we were able to show them they have an inherent worth because of who they are, not because of what they do.

120 Students at the Gospel Party

On Friday night we held our gospel outreach party, and about 120 of those students came - a phenomenal turnout. (The picture above is from the event) We broke into groups, everyone got to share, we played some games, and then Franz, our resident church planter and I shared a short Gospel message.

A Demonstrable Change

I have to tell you this part. I had asked someone else to give the message that night in Mandarin while I gave it in English, and I’d written it out beforehand. At the last minute, that person had to back out. Franz had come simply to meet the students and spend time with them - but I called him over and said, “This is your moment - You’re on.”

A year ago, he would have frozen. Now he was ready and able. Personally, I wasn’t happy with how I’d ended my own message and because Franz is closer to these students’ age I asked him to handle bringing the message to a close.

It was remarkable. You could see he was trusting the Holy Spirit and walking by faith. He stepped out from behind the stand where our notes were, got right in front of the students, and spoke straight to their hearts. I was so proud of him. The investment you have made - through your giving and your prayers - in Franz and his family is coming to fruition.

A Marriage Restored

There’s one more thing Franz told me that night. He said their season of marriage counseling was finished. I braced myself - I half expected him to ask for more time, to say things weren’t fixed yet. Instead he said, “We’re doing great. Thank you for walking us out of the situation we were in. We have the tools now to love each other, to love our son, and to keep growing together.”

Looking Toward a New Church

God is doing something incredible. Franz is working through the materials he gathered during his time in the States with Wenlun, our Taiwanese pastor of Hope Fellowship, and I’ll begin a more structured coaching with him over the next few weeks - sharpening the edges, helping him think through what a church plant in our city could actually look like.

Thank you for your care, your prayers, and your faithful giving. Crista and I could not do this without you - you are on this team with us.

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With gratitude from Taichung,
Todd & Crista Blackhurst
Mission Taiwan

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