KO Chùn-Bêng bok-su Rev. Dr. C. M Kao 高俊明 (1929-2019) A third generation Christian KO Chùn-Bêng (Rev. Dr. C. M. Kao) was born 6 June 1929 in Tainan, Taiwan, the twelfth of thirteen children. Following early education in both Japan and Taiwan, C. M. Kao felt called to the Christian ministry and entered Tainan Theological College and Seminary. After graduation in 1953 he served as Evangelist and Itinerant Preacher among indigenous communities/churches in Taiwan. His passion for indigenous ministries continued and shortly after his ordination to the Christian ministry in 1957 Rev. Kao was appointed as teacher and Principal of Yushan Theological College and Seminary until 1970 when he was elected as the General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan - a positon he held until his retirement in 1989. During his years in Yushan he married Ms LI Le-Tin 李麗珍 (Mrs. Ruth Kao) and they were blessed with three children - two daughters and one son. Throughout his term as PCT General Secretary and following Dr. Kao travelled extensively both home and overseas. Highly respected and esteemed, he gained wide ecumenical experience and knowledge having served on committees and participated in numerous international meetings as delegate, preacher and Bible Study leader over the years. During the critical period in Taiwan in the 1970s, when he was General Secretary, the PCT issued its prophetic statements (three) which Rev. Kao signed based on his deep faith conviction. Later, in 1980 Rev. C. M. Kao was arrested and imprisoned and tried by a military court accused and subsequently charged, for his sympathy and alleged help in harbouring an escaping dissident and Human Rights Movement's leader. The original sentence was for seven years but in 1984 Dr. Kao was given early release, on parole for one year, and returned to his duties as General Secretary of PCT. During the four years, three months and twenty-one days [4321] of his imprisonment C. M. Kao along with the PCT received much prayer and moral support from churches, organizations and individuals worldwide as well as being adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. Many church leaders visited him in prison and the international support and protest to the government undoubtedly played a significant part in his early release. Throughout this period his family and home were under twenty-four-hours police surveillance. A man of prayer and vision, Rev. Kao saw the mission task of the church as twofold where evangelism and social justice/welfare ran parallel. This was reflected in his unrelenting sincere efforts to preach the good news among all peoples; at the same time his commitment to peace and justice issues never wavered. Throughout his life C. M. Kao served tirelessly and humbly for his church and country Taiwan, inspired and strengthened by his living faith and belief in Jesus Christ his Saviour. A poet and Chinese calligrapher (and once an ardent table-tennis player), over the years Dr. Kao wrote and published poems, hymns, and sermons in Taiwanese, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and English languages – some of which he wrote from his prison cell. Although formally retired in 1989 C. M. Kao continued active and went on to pioneer the PCT ministry and university for senior citizens; and was in constant demand as a preacher and speaker for almost three more decades! Along with his wife Ruth he retreated to live in their native home town Tainan for quieter days of reflection and time with their family. After a time of devotion reading the Bible and praying with his wife and family, C. M. Kao fell asleep and in the afternoon went home to the Lord peacefully on Thursday, 14 February 2019 in Tainan, Taiwan – it was the day of C M and Ruth’s 61st wedding anniversary! Rev. C. M. Kao has conveyed in an open letter (in Chinese) his sincere will and desire that his funeral should be very simple to give honour and glory to the Lord he loved and served - his family and PCT are respecting his request. 15 February 2019 Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) PCT63GA/ch 追思高俊明牧師 (1929-2019) 高俊明牧師於1929年6月6日出生在台灣台南，家中共有十三名子女，他排行第十二，為第三代基督徒。早期接受日本與台灣教育後，高俊明牧師受感召，有志於基督教事工並進入台南神學院就讀。1953年畢業後，他在台灣的原住民社區及教堂中擔任傳教士與巡迴傳道。 他對於原住民福音事工的熱情從不間斷。在1957年封牧不久後，高俊明牧師受邀擔任玉山神學院的教師，並在同一年出任院長，直到1970年被選為台灣基督長老教會（PCT）總幹事 ，一直到1989年退休。 在玉山神學院服事期間，他與李麗珍女士結婚，因著上帝的恩典他們有兩個女兒及一個兒子，共三名子女。 高俊明牧師在擔任PCT總幹事期間，常於國內外參訪。多年來，他身為教會代表、傳教士及聖經研究領導者，參與許多國際會議，並於擔任委員時獲得廣泛的普世經驗與知識，豐富的經歷讓他備受尊敬與敬重。 1970年代正值台灣的關鍵時期，高俊明牧師擔任PCT總幹事期間，台灣基督長老教會發表了三個先知性的宣言，他根據堅固的信仰簽署了這些聲明。隨後於1980年，高俊明牧師因庇護異議人士及人權運動的領導人被捕且受軍事審判。最初判決為七年有期徒刑，但在1984年，高俊明牧師被提前釋放，假釋一年，並恢復其PCT總幹事之職責。 於監獄的4年3個月又21天中，高俊明牧師與PCT收到教會各界的代禱與支持，而國際特赦組織（Amnesty International）更視高俊明牧師為良心犯。許多教會領袖去獄中探望他，國際上的支持與抗議，這些舉動無疑扮演著重要的角色，促使當時的政府提早釋放他。 勤於代禱又有異象的高俊明牧師認為教會的使命是雙重的，傳福音與社會正義/福利需要並進，也因此他努力不懈地傳福音給大眾，同時，他致力於和平公義問題的心，從未動搖，其體現於他所看重的教會使命。救主耶穌基督激勵且堅定高俊明牧師又真又活的信仰，使他一生不倦又謙卑地服事教會及台灣這塊土地。 多年來，作為詩人與書法家（更是一位熱情的乒乓球員），高俊明牧師用台語、日語、華語及英語撰寫及出版詩、讚美詩與講章，有些是他於監獄中完成的。高俊明牧師雖於1989年正式退休，但仍活躍於教會事工並開拓長者的PCT事工及大學。 於2019年2月14日的結婚61年紀念日，高俊明牧師與他的太太和家人一起讀經禱告，下午於台灣台南的德輝苑蒙主召安息歸天家。 高俊明牧在一封中文的公開信裡表達他的意願及願望，他的家人與PCT都尊重其要求，即他的告別禮拜應簡單、素樸，告別禮拜是和參與的親友一起為他所愛及服事的主獻上榮耀 。 2019年2月15日 台灣基督長老教會總會 |