One for the History Books - Bethel Seminary

Little did they know that their phone messages would one day land them in the pages of history.

"Our motivation was based on a simple Christian belief in the need to care for our brethren."

Bethel Seminary of the East student Eileen Chang and her husband Morgan were honored this past winter at ceremonies commemorating a new book of Taiwanese history and the Changs' role building a critical communications network while their native country endured political turmoil in the late 1970s.

Living then in New York City while Morgan studied mathematics at Columbia University, the Changs shared an intense longing with fellow countrymen scattered around the globe to keep abreast of what was happening in their homeland. "There were many expatriate Taiwanese all over the world," Eileen remembers. "Some had come to America for their education, some moved due to business, others had been smuggled out of Taiwan because of political activities. They all missed their homeland, and many were lonely and wanted to stay connected to others who shared their heritage."

So in January 1977, Morgan approached the Taiwanese Association of New York with his idea for the Voice of Taiwan, an ingenious recorded phone broadcast system by which callers could receive news and feel connected to other Taiwanese. The association not only embraced Morgan's vision, but also helped purchase equipment and provide funds for maintaining the network.

"Initially, in creating the Voice of Taiwan, it was so callers could hear a familiar voice in their mother tongue and know someone cared about them," Eileen says. "Our motivation was based on a simple Christian belief in the need to care for our brethren."

Combining news, stories, words of encouragement, and their own testimonies of faith, the Changs saw their fledgling effort in broadcasting take flight almost immediately. Escalating events in Taiwan roused a mounting hunger among their callers for more news, and the Changs were compelled to satisfy the need. Eileen cultivated contacts and continued correspondence with several key players in the thick of the struggle. "Because we were a news agency, we had to remain unbiased," Eileen explains. "Thus, regardless of whether our contacts were cultural, political, or religious associations, we stayed on friendly terms with them all." Support grew rapidly for the Voice of Taiwan; eventually, affiliate stations were established throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Brazil. "I was usually responsible for conducting the interviews, and Morgan would draft the broadcast," Eileen says. "Then it would be recorded and distributed."

Turmoil in Taiwan

Witnessing Kaohsiung
Incident hits the stands.

The influence of the Voice of Taiwan peaked in December 1979 when the historic Kaohsiung Incident unfolded in the Changs' homeland. Still living in New York, Eileen happened to be on the phone with a contact in Taiwan when pro-democracy demonstrators clashed with police. She was actually able to hear and record the sound of tear-gas bombs exploding as the demonstration descended into chaos. "In crisis situations, we could be found changing our program five times a day," Morgan says. "Back then, we were often awakened in the middle of the night by calls from Taiwan and would often be working on broadcasts until 5 a.m."

The Changs never dreamed that they might have to pay a heavy price for their assertiveness. "I didn't know what it meant to be afraid," Eileen notes, "and didn't think that we would eventually be harassed, wiretapped, followed, interrogated, and even blacklisted because of what we were doing." Ultimately, the Changs were banished from their homeland for 17 years.

But their efforts did not go unrewarded. Financial support for the Voice of Taiwan came primarily from listeners, who also demonstrated their gratitude to the Changs personally. "We were showered regularly with letters from all over the world," Morgan recalls, "and they warmed our hearts and encouraged us immensely."

After the Kaohsiung Incident, Taiwan's political climate changed, severely limiting the Changs' sources for current news. They continued to broadcast information and serve as a bridge among Taiwanese around the world, however, until 1982, when others took over responsibility for the production.

"Heroes" Welcomed Home

Now the Changs' journey has come full circle. Surviving transcripts of the Voice of Taiwan and other telecommunication programs from this tumultuous era are included in a 720-page book, Witnessing Kaohsiung Incident – Selected Tape Recordings of "Voice of Taiwan," released by the Wu San-Lien Foundation for Taiwan Historical Materials, an independent organization funded by the government-affiliated Taiwan Foundation for Democracy to preserve an independent history of the East Asian country. The publication was commemorated in Taipei, Taiwan's capital city, by the foundation on December 10, 2006, which marked the 27th anniversary of the Kaohsiung Incident. Eileen and Morgan Chang were welcomed with open arms, the only guests publicly honored.

"I often say God is good, and full of humor," Eileen wrote in the book's preface "Come Home." "It's amazing that so many years later, He inspired a group of historians to revisit the recordings and create a lasting and accurate history out of the 144 tapes from the era."

With the freedom they so cherished living in the United States, the Changs helped galvanize fellow Taiwanese into political action. But they refuse to be hailed as heroes. "I feel a small sense of honor that Morgan and I were deemed loyal and faithful enough by God to be entrusted with the preservation of a unique part of Taiwanese history," Eileen says. She quotes Micah 6:8 among the catalysts that spurred their desire to make a difference: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." For the Changs, it was about doing what they believed was right.

"God is the origin of love and justice, and God’s children should imitate their Father by devoting themselves to promoting those traits."

Why me, God?

Eileen and Morgan Chang were no strangers to disseminating news via public media before the Voice of Taiwan. Believing "God is the origin of love and justice, and that God's children should imitate their Father by devoting themselves to promoting those traits," the Changs began publishing the Taiwanese Church Monthly Chronicle in the early 1970s. Evolving into a multi-church publication called United Chronicle, the paper was aimed at strengthening the faith of overseas Taiwanese Christians through Christian articles and sermons, as well as keeping them informed about one another and what was going on in their native land. Though still students at the time, the Changs served as managing editors for the paper, often interviewing Christian family members of those experiencing political persecution in Taiwan. Most Taiwanese at the time preferred to maintain a low profile, but the Changs persevered in their attempts to relay information, "somewhat naively," Eileen admits. Eventually their publication, now called Overseas Taiwanese Christians United Press, appeared not only in all major American cities, but also Canada, Brazil, Europe, and Japan. The Changs handed it off in 1976 to be published by a network of recipient churches. A year later, they launched the Voice of Taiwan.

Today, Eileen is completing a doctor of ministry while Morgan continues a successful career of more than 25 years working in finance in New York City. The only female student (and the only Asian, she adds proudly) in the D.Min. cohort at Bethel Seminary of the East, Eileen will graduate in 2009.

Eileen's doctoral work at Bethel has become the springboard for a new adventure in her life. Receiving enthusiastic and generous support from Morgan and a number of pastors and professors, she formed Taiwan Mission Foundation (TMF) this spring. TMF is the first mission parachurch organization in history established by Taiwanese Christians abroad for mission outreach. "Every day I keep asking God, ‘why me?'" Eileen says. "But the support that has been coming so quickly on the heels of this vision, both financial and spiritual, has given me confidence that all the resources I need are in God's hands."

TMF was legally established as a non-profit ministry organization on Eileen's birthday, April 25, what she calls "a great gift from God." With the percentage of active Christians in Taiwan at an all-time low, the Changs see the need for missionaries as crucial. Besides pursuing her doctoral studies, Eileen plans to devote time to raising funds for the new organization and recruiting short- and long-term missionaries. "TMF will combine charity with outreach ministries to fulfill Jesus' two commandments of love and the Great Commission," Eileen asserts. "If God calls me, He will be responsible for the calling; I simply go forward and try to do my best." The passion to serve others that drove their activism 30 years ago is still what motivates Eileen and Morgan Chang's choice of priorities today.

"God is the origin of love and justice, and God's children should imitate their Father by devoting themselves to promoting those traits."