路城台灣基督長老教會簡史
歷史的主宰是上帝，英文 「歷史」 為History 即「His Story”」意思是祂的故事，祂即是上帝！ 因此歷史即是上帝的故事。我們來看看上帝在路城教會的作為，並讓我們繼續來建造合神心意的教會。
1978年的夏天， 溫隆志弟兄告別了故鄉台灣，父母、妻子、兒、女、 親朋好友、及一切所有的依靠，離開了熟悉的語言、 文化、 習俗、只憑著父親臨別的祝福﹕「你出你入，耶和華要保護你， 從今時到永遠。」(詩篇121:8) 隻身先移民來到完全陌生、未知的世界─美國。 他有如一棵已長成的大樹被挖起， 重新栽種在沙漠中，幾乎枯乾而死。幸有姐夫蕭玉川兄 (已先來美學成就業中)一家人的相伴，鼓勵和扶持，以及在台父母、妻、子、女及眾弟兄姐妹的殷切代禱，使他在失去了往日所依靠的人、事、物之後，仰望從小父母及教會所傳講的上帝，更因此想起了父親臨別贈言「祂要保護你」而開始親近神、渴慕神， 體會神、進而緊抓住神。 想到主恩的浩大，經歷「從前風聞有你，如今親眼看見你。」( 約伯記42:5) 及要遵行祂的命令，「你要去使萬民做我的門徒」﴾馬太福音28﹕19)， 從此天天為服事上帝積極裝備自己。
1983年開始，看到這些朋友多半是六０年代的留學生，都己學有所成，且都已五子登科，但還少了人生最重要的一件﹕就是認識我主基督。於是由蕭、溫二家及莊行夫婦之贊助下，邀請所認識的台灣同鄉約十戶人家，齊聚在溫家園他們所經營的中餐館聚餐，交誼、歡唱台灣民謠，並在刻意安排下，請當時由台灣先後來美進修的李志堅牧師，池漢鑾牧師及吳文秋牧師分享生活講座。( 因當時路城的同鄉或因成長背景之故，對聖經或詩歌尚不能接受。)由不定期的聚會，進而成為定期每月聚會–次，聚會的地點也由餐館移到New Albany Grant Line Church，及後來的盧文雄兄及紅嬋姐的家，以節省大家的來回旅程。信息也由生活講座進入生命信息；由詩歌取代了民謠，進而由某名人所言帶入聖經--神自己的話語
神自己有祂的時間表，在此過程中，我們都看見了神自已在每階段的帶領和預備，包括神自已的僕人，在那草創時期，我們沒有固定的牧師來牧養，但當時來此進修的牧者卻是一個接一個，不間斷地有人來牧養我們。
1988年在PC USA總會服務的王順吉牧師和當時來此進修的卓謙順牧師的幫助和推動下，得到Mid-Kentucky Presbytery的幫助，使我們得到Calvin Presbyterian Church無條件的接納，使我們有那麼好又方便的地方聚會。因此，我們有了固定的主日崇拜，於是路城台灣基督團契終於誕生了。卓牧師不久受聘他處牧會，離開路城。從1991-1994年上帝又為我們預備了一些忠心的牧者來牧養我們，他們有﹕徐信得牧師、吳政宏牧師、施逸洲牧師、吳道宗牧師及王陽明牧師。 除了感謝神的恩典外，我們也要特別感謝他們的奉獻。
1991-1994年王陽明牧師在此修課的的同時，他和陳真華師母還開放他家作為學生查經之用，在他們盡心盡力地牧養下，也感動了一些兄姐，由被動變成主動來聽道，進而參與服事。在1992年12月31日經過十年的撒種和耕耘，終於結出第一批的果實﹕有陳香津姐、林吉雄兄全家(包括妻美美姐及二位公子Joey和 Tony) 共五位受洗了。而其中Tony Lin也於2008年在加州第一華人教會被封立為牧師。真是感謝主啊!王陽明弟兄也於1993年完成道學碩士後，由Calvin Church封立為台語部牧師。一年後王牧師繼續完成神學碩士後，在我們依依不捨下，他因另有使命， 回台服事了。
1992年，溫隆志弟兄接受上帝的呼召，終於在1994年底，在神的引領印証下，排除萬難，結束餐館的生意於1995年進入Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary修讀道學碩士。
1995年到1999年這期間, 又相繼有李志堅牧師, 賴顥章牧師及莊孝盛牧師由台來此進修，感謝他們的牧養，此階段我們教會的成員也漸趨多元化，除了一些早期的留學生外，也多了從事各種不同職業的新移民及來此進修的青年學生，而受洗得救的人數至今增至四十一位。
1998年溫隆志弟兄由神學院畢業後，在大家的邀請下，接下牧養的重任，在大家同心協力下，經由王順吉牧師，中會總斡事Rev. Betty Meadow的幫助下，通過了New church development的專案申請。路城基督長老教會於1999年10月17日終於誕生了，且溫隆志弟兄也通過牧師資格考試，同時被按立為牧師。
過去這些年，除了在此定居的台灣人外，還常有短期在此居留者，他們或來此做研究，或讀書，多半都是尚未信主的，當他們離鄉背井在最無助的時候，藉由教會眾兄姐的愛和扶持，經由基督徒的愛的落實，使他們認識愛和力量的源頭是我們的主耶穌基督。他們在此認識主後，回到原來工作岡位，仍能在別處榮神益人。 因為進進出出，雖然在此受洗的人數至今已增至84位，但我們目前的會員數仍維持約40位。承蒙中會各牧長的接納，我們得以成為堂會。願上帝祝福我們教會繼續成為路城地區的台灣人心靈之家，永續傳承。
回顧路城台灣基督長老教會的歷史及其進程，溫牧師對成立堂會並擔任首任牧師有深刻的感動和期待，願以此對自我的期許與眾弟兄姐妹共勉之。
- 以基督耶穌的心為心，來更新自已。
- 以心靈與誠實來敬拜讚美神。
- 用各種的智慧來傳揚上帝的道。
- 領受聖靈的恩賜和引導，來服事別人。
- 繼續彼此相愛，以生命影嚮生命。
History of the Louisville Taiwanese Presbyterian Church
The creator of history is God. “History” may be considered “His Story,” the story of God. Let us examine God’s wonderful work in leading to the establishment of the Louisville Taiwanese Presbyterian Church according to His will.
In the summer of 1978, Winston Wen came to the United States alone, leaving behind his beloved Taiwan, his family, and friends. He arrived in this foreign land facing the challenges of an unfamiliar language, culture and customs. All he had carried with him was the blessing from his parents “He will protect you as you come and go now and forever.” (Psalms 121: 8) God be with you wherever you are.” He felt like a mature tree being uprooted and replanted in the desert, withering and dying. Luckily, his brother-in-law, Paul Hsiao and his family had already settled in Indiana at that time. Their encouragement and support, as well as earnest prayers from his parents, his wife and his church congregation in Taiwan, sustained him during this difficult time. The experience led him to depend more on God, long for God’s words, and build an intimate relationship with God, just as Job had experienced “In the past I knew only what others had told me, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.”(Job 42:6) as well as follow His Great Commission: “therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28: 19)
By 1983, many students who had come to the United States in the 1970 had completed their university degrees and established careers in the Kentuckiana area. They had achieved a measure of fame and wealth. However, they were lacking one of the most important things in life, that is to know Jesus Christ. Therefore, with the vision and help of three families (Winston Wen, Paul Hsiao and Hsing Chuang), a group of about ten local families began to hold fellowship meetings at the “House of Wen” restaurant. Occasionally, we invited seminary students from Taiwan, including Revs. David Lee, Han-Ran Chih, and Timothy Wu to deliver short messages. Gradually these gatherings evolved into regular monthly meetings and the location changed from the restaurant to the New Albany Grant Line Church, and later to the home of Mike and July Lu. The message broadens deeper to Words of God to eternal life and hymns replaced folksongs God’s timing is amazing. Through each stage of the process, we experienced His guidance. In the beginning, when we did not have a pastor, God continuously sent his servants from Taiwan to enroll in the local seminaries and to nourish us year after year. In 1988, with the help and negotiation of Rev. Shun-Chi Wang, the general assembly of Presbyterian Church USA, Rev. Sammon Cho, and the Mid-Kentucky Presbytery, we came to Calvin Presbyterian Church to worship. Our unconditional acceptance by the Calvin congregation led to the birth of the Louisville Taiwanese Fellowship. After Rev. Cho left Louisville for another calling, God sent several additional loyal servants from 1991 to 1994, including Revs. Daniel Wu, Joseph Shih, Stanley Wu and Paul Wang. We not only praise God’s grace and blessing, but are also grateful for the dedication of these pastors.
During Rev. Paul Wang’s studies at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS) (1991-1994), he and his wife opened their house for Bible study. Through their diligent teaching and guidance, Oscar Lin and his family (Oscar, May, Joey, and Tony) and Theresa Chen came to accept Jesus Christ as their savior and they were baptized at Calvin Presbyterian Church on December 31, 1992. Tony Lin later attended the Fuller Seminary in Los Angeles, and was ordained as a youth minister in 2008. After completion of his Master of Divinity degree, Rev. Wang was ordained at Calvin Presbyterian Church, and has since moved with his family back to Taiwan, where they have continued their ministry.
In 1992, Winston was touched by God’s calling to serve full time. After much internal struggle, he and his wife decided to close their restaurant at the end of 1994 and he entered the LPTS in early 1995 to pursue a Master of Divinity degree. During his studies from 1995 to 1998, God had again sent his servants, Revs. David Lee and Hsien-Chang Lai and Hau-Hsien Chuang to study at the LPTS and help minister the Taiwanese Fellowship. The number of people accepting salvation grew steadily in our fellowship group.
After completing his Master of Divinity degree in 1998, Winston was ordained at Calvin Presbyterian Church. With the help of Rev. Shun Chi Wang and Rev. Betty Meadows, the Louisville Taiwanese Fellowship applied to the Mid-Kentucky Presbytery for a New Church Development grant. On October 17, 1999, Winston was installed as the pastor for the New Church Development.
Through the years, in addition to residents in the Louisville and Southern Indiana area, our congregation attracted many short-term visitors, including students and exchange scholars, most of whom were non-Christians. They were far from their motherlands, and experienced the love and care of our congregation during their stays here. It is through the love of Christ first so that we could love others. Overall, we have baptized 84 people, but our membership remains at about 40, because many have relocated to other parts of the United States or returned to Taiwan. We are greatly appreciative to the Mid-Kentucky Presbytery for graciously allowing us to become a charter church despite our relatively small number of members. We will continue our mission to share the gospel with Taiwanese in the community, as well as sharing the vision of the Presbytery to go forth and make disciples of people from all nations.
Looking back the history and progress of Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, Pastor Wen feels deeply honored to be the first pastor of the charted church, he has great expectation for himself and this new church and hopes to encourage all brothers and sisters in the following aspects.
- With the heart of Jesus Christ to renew ourselves.
- With Spirit and Truth to worship and praise God.
- With all kinds of wisdom to spread God’s Word.
- With gifts and guidance by Holy Spirit to serve others.
- With loving each other to influence lives.