Time of Frustration, Crisis and Perseverance
The first year we had an enrollment of about 60 students. The second year we had an enrollment of about 80 students, but during those two years they left one by one, two by two and three by three on account of the shabby school building and poor equipment. Nothing could have hurt our hearts more seriously than to see the students leave one after another. At one time, we had fewer than 20 members including teachers and students together. We had to pay exorbitant rent for the building, too. The College was on the verge of being closed permanently.
During this period of financial crisis, Dr. Chappell's health broke down. The American physician advised him to return to America, but he declined because he loved the Chinese young people so much and was concerned about their spiritual life. And so he persisted in staying in Taiwan to continue with His educational and evangelical task. Thank the Lord, by His grace and by the fellow worker's faith and perseverance, the college rode out several crises.
In 1965, the founders, using their pension and some donations, purchased a large piece of land (about 10 acres). But they were cheated because the land was really allotted for a city park. We were not allowed to build any buildings on it. Later the land was taken back by the local government at a very low price. The loss to the College was tremendous.
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The Turning Point
In 1970 the founders bought another piece of land (about 5 acres), at the present location, and built a two-and-a-half story building. At last, we had our own campus. The building was constructed with tears and pain, and the College was heavily in debt. Few people can imagine the bitterness of being persecuted foe debts.
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The Period of
Transition
The founders retired in June 1979. The second President and Dean of the College were Dr. and Mrs. Cunningham. The Cunninghams resigned in February 1980 because of political crisis in Taiwan. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with the R.O.C. At the request of the founders, and for the smooth continuance and growth of the College, Professor Herder H. Lee took office as the third President and has served in that capacity up to the present time. After the third President took office, he started to complete the other half of the third floor, column by column, wall by wall. It took two years to finish the enlargement.
The founders died successively in 1981 and 1982 at the ages of 86 and 92. They had gives their "all" to China: money, time and life. I can still remember what a simple life they lived … they couldn't bear to spend money on such things as butter and good quality, fresh apples. They died physically, but their love, their spirit of sacrifice and their deeds will remain forever.
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Period of Development
In order to fulfill the goals of the Chappells and carry out their unrealized plan, we, the fellow workers, under God's guidance and provision, by faith and fervent prayers, using money (about 4000 U.S. dollars) saved from the Chappells' Memorial Fund, together with some contributions (about 1500 U.S. dollars) started to build the Chappell Memorial Auditorium in May 1983 and completed it in May 1984. The Auditorium is designed for multi-use and can accommodate 800-900 people. At that time we had an enrollment of about 100 students (if it weren't full by now, we would have become a laughingstock). At the same time, even though we were in debt, we purchased 560 ping of land, which is now used as a tennis court and basketball and volleyball playground.
By faith, using a small sum of 1,000 U.S. dollars which the founders had bequeathed to Mr. Anonymous, together with a 10,000 U.S. dollar contribution, we started to build the "Cultural and Education Building" in June 1984 and completed it in September 1985. In the same way, through faith, prayers, action and by the abundant grace and providence of the Lord, we completed two other buildings, "Thanksgiving Hall" and "Go-Ye International Hall", within two years. The former has six stories and the latter is a five-story building.
In order to meet the continuing growth of the College, we started with strong faith to construct the multi-purpose, seven-story (eight story in height) "Chung Ho Building" (Modesty and Peace) that has been completed (September 1991). This building serves a multi-purpose function: offices, common and special classrooms, audio-visual classrooms, gospel center, radio studio, meeting room, Mac computer center, PC center, extra-curricular activity center, reception room, gym and library. Seeing the need for the accommodation o four full-time faculty and staff, an International House was completed last December (1998).
Thanks and all glory to the Lord. He not only provided for our financial needs, but also prepared generous, skilled architects and builders -- Mr. Chen Hung Chih and Mr. Pan Chung Ho -- and individual contributors who donated in time of need and emergency. Materially speaking, each building was built of bricks, cement and some other materials. But, spiritually speaking, each building was built by God's grace, faith, prayers, toil, tears, broken hearts, frustrations, contributions and sacrifices.
Music plays an important part in life. In ancient times, we Chinese people put music in second place within the educational structure and curriculum. In addition to our departments for Theology, Foreign Languages, Arts and Christian Education, the College added a Music Department in 1978 for the purpose of purifying and promoting and beautifying the quality of present-day music.
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The Purpose
for Adding Mass Communication/Applied Arts Department and Radio/TV
Broadcasting Courses
I have often heard people day that the more projects one performs, the more mistakes he makes; the less he performs, the fewer mistakes he makes. Nothing performed, he makes no mistakes. This concept seems reasonable, but it is wrong; it prevents human progress and greatly thwarts personal development. I have often thought that teaching in class benefits some; an area revival or evangelical meting benefits more. However, TV/radio broadcasting reaches still further, into almost every part of the world. In response to the urgent need of the present society, we started building (and equipping) the recording/radio studio rooms July 20, 1994 and this work was completed on October 29th the same year. The TV Studio was completed on November 12, 1998. Now we have initiated both Mass Communication and Applied Arts Departments. Besides teaching and laboratory training opportunities, we also produce some T.V./Radio broadcast programs, such as:
(1) The Go Ye English Variety Show
(2) "Words to Live By" in English
(3) Sacred music, classical music, choir, orchestra and Chinese Instrument selections
(4) Lectures on "The Good Life."
(5) Children's and young people's spiritual garden's
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Above all,
spreading of the Gospel
If possible, we hope our programs may reach Mainland China and Overseas Chinese through international broadcasting stations. This is really a difficult, heavy task; and it may not be welcome by the majority of this deteriorating, perverse generations; but we must do our best to awaken lost souls and save some people of this generation from perishing. This is my goal. I have often meditated on this challenge day and night.
I have often thought of this famous saying, "The purpose of life is to serve, not to be served." So, a "Social Worker" Department was added in August 2000 in the near future.
To fulfill this challenging goal, we do need your help, your suggestions, advice and prayer support. I am sure that a million people will benefit from our programs. It is by faith that we begin this project. The Lord has never disappointed us at Shengte. I am confident that He will not disappoint us this time. Let us praise and thank Him in advance.
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Master of Communication Arts
I. Purpose:
In keeping with our school's vision of nurturing people of higher education in the fields of Communication and Arts, it was established on July 15, 1999.
II. Explanation (Theme):
1. Shengte, having been established for over 40 years, has always focused on the principle of whole person education. Since our national education standard has been upgraded, and in order to maintain that higher education standard, we are establishing some master's level courses.
2. Following through with our education belief, we recruit not only our best undergraduates but also the best undergraduates of other schools to study at our graduate program of Master of Mass Communication and Arts. This is to provide further and deeper training to cultivate talented specialists in the fields of Mass Communication and Arts.
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Future Project-Prospect
Though we have achieved our first period project, yet we are by no means complacent. We are doing our best and stepping into the second stage of our project:
I. To set up a Gospel Service Center and Cultural-Education Service Center in the downtown area.
II. To set up a studio room for the purpose of providing some language teaching and gospel programs to the Mainland.
III. To purchase more land to build a Music Hall for promoting the quality of Christian music and the beauty of life.
IV. To purchase the closed factory building to meet the urgent need of "Community gospel, culture and social service."
Our final aim is to make the college an international institute of higher learning -- A lighthouse of truth and a center of international brotherly love. In order to promote international evangelical cooperation and cultural interflow, the college had initiated a sisterhood program with Christian Colleges and Seminaries in America, Canada, South Korea and Japan and is developing the program in other areas of the world.
Master of Youth Ministry and Youth Ministry Department
In order to actively realize the vision of Christian Ministry, we are establishing a Master of Youth Ministry and a Youth Ministry Department in September 1999. This is to equip young people who are willing to serve as a dull-time or part time minister.
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From the Heart
We are living in a world full of sin and crime. A world progressing in science and technology, but deteriorating in morality and spiritual life. In a generation like this, the world desperately needs defenders sof truth, brave solders of Christ, evangelists, leaders and statesmen who cling to the truth of decent principles, to become the true salt and light of the world. This is the task of all Christian Colleges, Universities and Seminaries. This is also the stated task, duty and mission of Shengte Christian College, of every teacher, fellow worker and student.
Dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ: It is a difficult job to establish a school, but it is much more difficult to maintain and develop it. The future development of Shengte depends on every one of you. To improve and develop this college and to make Shengte a first-rate international Christian institution of higher learning, we urgently need concern, the prayers, the suggestions, the advice and the support financially, morally, and spiritually from brothers and sisters in Christ and friends within and outside of the country.
Recalling the past, we have had unspeakable difficulties, adversities, setbacks, weakness and errors. But by His grace, God ahs transformed our weakness, errors and frustrations into blessings.
Ever since I took up the duty as the servant of the College, I too met more troubles and discouragement -- and I could not avoid making mistakes -- and was almost crushed to pieces. Many times Satan tempted me to give up; but the Great Power of Jesus urged me, pushed me to struggle on, inspiring me that every adverse thing that happens can become an opportunity to grow -- a stepping stone, not a stumbling block.
Shengte Christian College has been a faith work from the beginning. We have trusted in the Lord and He now trusts us to do our best to serve Christ, this school and the Chinese people in the years to come. By constant improvement in curriculum and training we are making Shengte a greater and greater resource not only for Christ, but also for Taiwan in the years to come.
In conclusion, let m
express my appreciation and gratitude to the friends of Shengte,
brothers and sisters in Christ, alumni and the faculty and staff for
your concern, prayers, practical help, love, cooperation and
contributions to the College. Now, under God, let us be united with
one mind and one heart to develop Shengte Christian College as a
lighthouse of Truth.
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