A strategy in leadership training to equip overseas contract workers (OCW) employed in Taiwan (China)

The purpose of this Focus Paper is to assist the Church in Taiwan, in the development of their missions program focusing on the leadership training among the foreign laborers employed in Taiwan, to become Tentmaking missionaries.; Semi-government and private companies in important development projects in Taiwan legally employ more than a quarter of a million foreign blue-collar workers since the 1990s. The majority of these workers come from the far comers of Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Myanmar where they are facing economic recession, political turmoil, and scarcity of jobs.; Meanwhile, the general trend of the Church in Taiwan is still very monocultural and traditionally bound. Yet, they have the burden to reach these foreign guests with the gospel. Many of the local Chinese churches do not know how to use this opportunity for God's Kingdom interests. This paper offers a strategy for the ministry to the foreign workers. Such a program will result in sending trained leaders back to their country of origin and as tentmaking missionaries, to the restricted access areas where professional missionaries are prohibited to enter.; This paper will contain three major sections. The first section of the paper will address issues of context. This will be a general overview of the OCWs in their unique situation, making cultural adjustments while earning a living. The host country and the Church in Taiwan play a vital role as they interact with the foreign workers. The existing churches in the home countries of the migrant workers and other interested groups are considered as important partners in this mission.; The second section will draw out selected biblical principles observed from the Old and the New Testament, particularly from the life and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and it will serve as the foundation for a strategy in mobilizing this crucial ministry to the OCWs.; The third section will describe the ministry strategy in leadership training of the OCWs. These are based on the biblical foundations applied to the Taiwan context. The final chapter will follow with practical and measurable goals, which will assist to serve the Church in Taiwan to look beyond themselves to develop a more responsible global vision.