Greetings from Taipei, Taiwan! 

While serving with Cru in Ann Arbor, we saw God do many wonderful things among the international student population at the University of Michigan. Students trusted Christ as their savior, and believing students grew in their knowledge of God and gained a greater vision to reach their peers with the Good News of Christ.  

Although Ann Arbor had been a terrific home for us, while living there, the Lord gave us a growing sense that the He was calling us to move to Taiwan. He had first laid it on my (Brandon’s) heart in 2011 when I visited Taiwan—that Jane and I would someday move to Taiwan to reach many for Christ. 

In autumn 2017 we began talking to Cru ministry leaders about the opportunity to go to Taiwan for a short term (2 - 3 year) international assignment and started the application process. In March of 2018, we received official approval within Cru to serve in the Student Led Movement (SLM) ministry in Taipei. Along the way, God graciously guarded our hearts with His peace and gave us unmistakable confirmation that relocating to Taiwan was indeed His will. 

In July of 2018 we safely made it to Taiwan and started setting up our new home.    Taipei is a bustling city of nearly 3 million people and contains some of the most densely populated districts in the world. It is a city of tensions—with plenty of modern attractions and infrastructure yet rich in traditional Asian culture. As a country, Taiwan is greatly in need of the saving work of Christ—sadly, fewer than 5% of the Taiwanese population are Christians. What’s more, Taiwan is steeped in a folk-culture of ancestor worship—to many people, saying Yes to Christ means turning their back on their ancestors who they believe are depending on them (with burnt offerings, etc.) to sustain them in their afterlife.    

As a part of the SLM - Taipei Base Team, we help build spiritual movements in one of the five key universities under the scope of the team by winning, building and sending student leaders to reach their campus and beyond. Among the five universities, there are approximately 100,000 graduate and undergraduate students, many of whom come from other cities in Taiwan.   These schools are also among the universities that have the highest international student attendance, many coming from countries hostile to the Gospel. 

Like the students in Ann Arbor, students in Taipei are highly motivated to succeed—yet are hungry for Christ’s forgiveness. Our vision is to see God help us bring “the gospel to every student, a movement onto every campus, and leaders to every nation.”    

We are thankful for you and for your prayers over our family, our ministry in Taiwan, and the many students who need to hear the Good News of Christ.  

Brandon and Jane