This year is the 30th anniversary of the NEFtw(Nurses Evagelical Fellowship of Taiwan). In response tothe rapidly changing social environment, NEFtw continuesto grow, develop and thrive following the mission of“combination of Christian faith and nursing”. Christiangroups over the last decade has begun to pay more attentionon “Career missionary”. They believe that Christianscan serve as missionaries in the workplace, spread thegospel of God, and actively educate the public the idea of“workplace equals the Gospel’s harvest ground”. NEFtwconducted the topic of workplace gospel in November19-20, 2011 in Kaohsiung: thanksgiving retreat ofNEFtw celebrated the thirtieth anniversary. The purposeof that retreat is to remind the NEFtw’s original mission,and respond to contemporary issues. Based on the historyof NEFtw, the author tried to present the NEFtw’spast events of growth, ministry expansion, and memorialevents, it is described as the following:

 

1. Development of the NEFtw

During the time when Mrs. Han served as Directorof Nursing in Taiwan, whenever she rounds on thepatients, she feels deeply that nurses needs to have agreater purpose entrusted by God to provide great nursingcare for the patient. Therefore, she united severalChristian nurses and started the Nursing FellowshipGroup. In 1982, Mrs. Han heard God’s calling and startedthe “Nurses Evangelical Fellowship of Taiwan” (herereferred to as the “NEFtw”). In 1983, Ms.Lin served asfull-time missionary staff for half a year. Besides visitingChristian nurses, she also translated and reorganized severalinternational Gospel nursing material.

In 1986 God inspired Ms. Shen to work as a fulltimemissionary staff in NEFtw (Director-General). TheCampus Evangelical Fellowship provided the educationaltraining, the office space, the resources, and assistsNEFtw in establishing Policy Executive Committee. Ms.Chao served as Chairman of the first session of PolicyExecutive Committee. During this period, Ms. Shen, theDirector-General, arranged pastors each month to havelife-witness senior nursing events in the campus fellowshipgathering, supporting each other to lay the foundationfor the NEFtw ministries.

In 1997, Ms. Peng took over as Director-Generalto continue promoting each projects of the ministries.Under the campus fellowship’s guidance and assis-

tance, NEFtw accept its variety of resources and training.NEFtw relocated to establish a new office in 2003.In 2005, we formally registered for the name, NursesEvangelical Fellowship of Taiwan (NEFtw), and currentlyhave two offices in Taipei and Kaohsiung. In2007, Ms. Peng, the Secretary-General left, Ms.Wangand Ms. Liu take the job of Acting Secretary Generaluntil today.

 

2. Past publications

The power of words is far-reaching. Monthly Informationis the NEFtw first publication, starting since 1988the content increased and became monthly publication.It switched to quarterly journal in 2007, and has sinceadded columns such as,“nursing profession” and “Christand teaching”. We hoped that nursing personnel can benefitspiritually from those publications.One of NEF’s missions is to allow nursing personnelthe chance to utilize the Gospels taught in biblein their daily work. After obtaining authorization fromNurses Christian Fellowship (NCF), translations ofBible study materials such as, “Understanding the TrueLove”, “Follow in His Steps” and “Forgiveness and Reunion”are completed.

In addition, NEFtw published “Dilemma: a NurseGuide for Making Ethical Decisions” (1992), “SpiritualCare” (1994), “Speak to My Heart” (1994), and “Theoryand Practice of Spiritual Care” (2000). NEFtw websitewent online in 2008 and allow users access to all quarterlypublications online.

 

3. A united and warm big family

Starting from a Taipei’s nurse fellowship, the CentralDistrict, Tainan, Kaohsiunh, and Eastern DistrictNEFtw were established in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1998,respectively. participants includes, nursing student,Registered Nurse, Nursing professors, nursing directorand retired nursing personnel. They were trained inNEFtw and able to bring missionary with them to theirfield. We are thankful that God prepared a home for thenurses where we shared our experiences and feelings.NEFtw regular host national retreats and it took place inWesley Grove, Hualien Carp Lake, Chongqing Farm andKaohsiung Chongqing Lake. Every May is the month ofnurses, NEFtw planned several commemorative activitiesthroughout Taiwan and every participants enjoyedthe word of God and received blessing.

 

4. Influence on the nursing profession

Early of the nursing profession is still unfamiliarwith spiritual care, NEFtw led Christian nurses andnursing students joining the Spiritual Care Study Camp.During summer vacation, they also visited Christianityhospital. In the early 1990s, NEFtw started spiritual careresearch plan. Many Christian nursing teachers startedcourses on spiritual care in college and graduate level.Also, they edited books related to teaching spiritual caresin Nursing. In recent years, the various hospitals acrossTaiwan Jointly organized seminars such as, “NursingEthics”, “Spiritual Care” and “Disaster Nursing”. Providingnurses continuing education and hope that throughChristian nursing teacher’s curriculum design, theseseminars can enable participants to hear the God whogive people spiritual satisfaction

 

5. Social participation

During the SARS epidemic in 2003, NEFtw timelylaunched the donation afford and organized groupprayers for the sufferings.

Moreover during the 921 Earthquakes, TyphoonMorakot, Eighty-eight flood, NEF sisters also contributedtremendously to the relief afford.

 

6. Supporting the domestic andforeign medical mission

Nurses are indispensable members of the medicalmissionary team. They have many opportunities toparticipate in short-term missionaries and free clinics.NEFtw now has several long-term missinaries service asmedical missinaries.

 

7. NEFtw with international practice

In 1994, Mrs Han referred NEFtw to join NursesChristian Fellowship International (NCFI). In March of2012, NEFtw will be hosting PACEA in Taipei and startinga new chapter in missionary and learning.

 

Conclusion - Reflections on thisgeneration

Just like described in Revelation, all sorts of heresyor absurd ideas was affecting people’s minds and confusingthem. In recent years more frequent natural disasters,indicates the days of God’s coming is approaching. Incelebrating the 30th anniversary of the NEFtw, let usreaffirm our beliefs, earnestly love each other, and supporteach other. When we say: “The Lord is our heritage”(Psm. 16:5), this shows that we are relying God, “Is thewine of my cup” (Psm. 16:5) is indicated that we are tomeet God.

 

Reference

Nurses Evangelical Fellowship of Taiwan (2012).Highlights of the 30th anniversary of the NEFtw. Taipei:Author.