My Story

In 2017, I served eight months as a missionary in Taiwan. During this time, I fell in love with the country, the culture, and the people. God deepened my desire to share the Gospel with the lost and to serve the church. Upon returning from this eight-month service, I completed my undergraduate degree and obtained my Master of Divinity. During the next five years, God grew me in a multitude of ways. I started working at First Baptist Church Durham, began serving the college ministry there, took part in outreach, and started discipling younger guys. All these experiences were invaluable and ones I would not change. As time progressed, my focus gradually shifted from long-term missions, although the call to missions remained ever-present in my mind. I resolved to further my theological education by pursuing a Master of Theology (ThM). During this period, I found immense fulfillment in serving the Lord and engaging in the ministry at First Baptist Church Durham. Despite my contentment, the desire to return to the mission field persisted. This underlying call to missions remained strong and unwavering, continually reminding me of my commitment to serve the Lord in this unique capacity. 

I visited Taiwan briefly in 2019 to reconnect with friends, and I loved being back. Due to Covid, work, and school, I was unable to return to Taiwan until 2023. It is challenging to articulate the profound experience of being back in Taiwan, engaging in ministry once more. Every gift I possess, every desire within me, and all the lessons God has taught me over the past four years seemed to align perfectly. My October 2023 trip felt revitalizing for my soul. Being back in Taiwan, doing ministry, and engaging in a passion of mine was invigorating. This sense of thriving in the culture was affirmed by several Elders from my church who were on the trip. During this time, I felt a noticeable difference in myself, and others observed it as well. Additionally, something else arose in my heart during this period.

The short-term trip that I was on only lasted 10 days, and then the team would return home, but I stayed in Tiawan for four extra days to visit friends and to spend time with the church. During these four days I had meetings with around 10 different students. Some meetings were with believers who needed encouragement, some with non-Christians people. During one of these meetings, I sat across from a student I had known since my first time in Taiwan. We were eating dinner. During this meal, I began to share the Gospel. This student is not yet a Christian, but it was during this conversation that God opened my eyes. It was as I walked around the city of Taipei late at night that God shattered my heart once again for these people, and from that, a deep conviction and motivation to reach the Taiwanese took root.

My heart melted for the Taiwanese people, broke knowing that most of the students I met with are living apart from Christ. That most of the new friends I met with are going to spend eternity separated from God. In my heart at that moment, the plan to come back to Taiwan long term began

There are many more conversations and meetings that led me to the point I am at today in writing this, but this brief description is to convey my life’s mission, and Connect Taiwan’s mission. I want to reach the loss of Taiwan, I want to help build up the church of Taiwan, I want to see one day Taiwan send missionary out to the world. I want to see God’s plan for Taiwan unfold, and I want to take part in any way that He lets me. This is how Connect Taiwan was born. From my conviction to reach these people, and the God given mandate to all believers to reach the lost.