Why I’m in Taiwan Right Now

To the Ends of the Earth

As I stand upon the vibrant and bustling streets of Taiwan today, I find myself struck by the sheer magnitude of the task that lies before the modern Church in her mission to evangelize the nations. The physical distance from the familiar landscapes of the United States feels significant, yet the spiritual distance between a culture rooted in Judeo-Christian categories and one that remains largely unacquainted with the Person of Jesus Christ feels even more profound. I have traveled across the globe because the Great Commission remains the primary mandate for every believer who recognizes the transformative power of the Gospel. The urgency of this proclamation drives every step I take through these crowded markets and quiet temples, for every soul I encounter belongs to the Creator and deserves to hear the message of salvation. We often fail to realize how deeply our Western world remains saturated with the remnants of Christian thought, even as secularism attempts to scrub the surface clean.

Living within a society shaped by centuries of Catholic and Christian influence provides us with a set of intellectual tools that we frequently take for granted. We assume that the inherent dignity of the human person is a self-evident truth that any rational individual would naturally accept without prompting. However, history and cross-cultural experience demonstrate that the concept of universal human rights is a specific fruit of the Biblical revelation. In the West, we operate under the assumption that every life possesses a sacred value regardless of social status or economic utility, because we believe that every man and woman is created in the image and likeness of God. This foundation of natural law informs our legal systems, our medical ethics, and our social interactions in ways that remain invisible to us until we step into an environment where these categories are absent. When I walk through the streets of Taipei, I see a people of incredible industriousness and kindness, yet they often lack the metaphysical certainty that their individual lives carry an eternal significance defined by a loving Savior.

The Western mind, even when it claims to be atheistic, continues to use the vocabulary of the Church to argue for justice and mercy. We speak of “progress” because we view history as a linear journey toward a final goal, a concept that replaced the cyclical and often fatalistic views of ancient paganism. We demand “equality” because the Gospel leveled the distinctions between slave and free, Greek and Jew, male and female. These ideas are gifts from the Church to the world, yet in places like Taiwan, these concepts are often interpreted through the lens of traditional philosophies that emphasize social harmony or ancestral duty over the radical freedom found in Christ. The need for the proclamation of the Gospel is urgent here because the people deserve to know that they are more than cogs in a social machine or links in a biological chain. They are invited into a personal relationship with the God who spoke the universe into existence and then entered that same universe as a vulnerable babe to redeem it.

My presence here is fueled by the conviction that the Truth is meant for everyone, reaching to the very ends of the earth as the Scriptures command. I remember quite vividly the period of my own life when I existed as one of those people who desperately needed the fullness of Christ without even knowing how to articulate the hunger in my soul. I was once adrift in a sea of competing ideologies, searching for a foundation that would hold firm against the storms of life. When the grace of God finally broke through my defenses and revealed the radiant face of Jesus, my entire reality underwent a shift that I can only describe as a total rebirth. This personal testimony remains the engine of my ministry, for I have tasted the bread of life and I find it impossible to remain silent while others starve for lack of spiritual nourishment. Because I was once lost, I feel an unbreakable bond with those who still wander, and I recognize that the only answer to the restlessness of the human heart is the peace that surpasses all understanding.

People often ask why I continue to push myself into these challenging environments instead of enjoying the relative ease of a domestic ministry. The answer lies in the reality that Jesus wants all souls to come to Him, and where He calls, I must go with a heart of willing obedience. The drive to evangelize feels like a fire shut up in my bones, much like the experience of the prophet Jeremiah who found himself unable to keep the word of the Lord to himself. I have realized that reality bats last, and the ultimate reality is the Lordship of Jesus Christ over every square inch of this planet. To ignore the spiritual needs of the East would be a failure of charity and a betrayal of the mission entrusted to us at our baptism. If we truly believe that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, then our lives should reflect the desperation of that conviction.

This mission is a heavy burden to carry alone, and I must acknowledge that I would likely fail to sustain this pace without the unwavering support of my bride. She is my biggest supporter and the silent strength behind every lecture, every broadcast, and every journey into foreign lands. Her heart beats in unison with the mission of the Church, and her willingness to sacrifice the comforts of home so that the Gospel might be preached in Taiwan is a testament to her own deep faith. We operate as a team, fueled by the same desire to see the Kingdom of God expand into territories where the name of Jesus is rarely spoken with reverence. Her encouragement provides the emotional and spiritual anchor I need when the weight of the work feels overwhelming or when the cultural barriers seem insurmountable.

As I look toward the future of this mission, I am reminded that the Gospel still needs to fall upon ears and hearts that remain closed to the message of the Cross. There is a palpable sense of expectation in the air here, a quiet longing for something that the material world fails to provide. The rapid technological advancement of Taiwan has provided many comforts, yet the soul remains hungry for the eternal. This is why we must engage with the culture through the lens of faith and reason, showing that the Catholic faith is the only system of thought that fully explains the human condition while offering a remedy for our brokenness. We are called to be witnesses to the ends of the earth, and that calling requires us to be bold, persistent, and filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

The blessings we enjoy in the West are meant to be shared, not hoarded as if they were our own creation. Our understanding of the human person, our commitment to natural law, and our hope for eternal life are all treasures that we must offer to the world with humility and passion. Taiwan is a field white for the harvest, and the laborers are few. I find myself here because I cannot imagine a more important use of my time and energy than the pursuit of souls for the sake of the Kingdom. Every conversation, every encounter, and every prayer offered on this soil is a seed planted in the hope of a future harvest that will glorify the Father.

Now, as you read these words from your own corner of the world, I must ask you to consider your own role in this great drama of salvation. We are all called to participate in the evangelization of the culture, whether we find ourselves in the heart of Asia or in our own local neighborhoods. The Gospel demands a response from every one of us, for we have been entrusted with the greatest news in the history of mankind. Will you remain comfortable in the blessings you have inherited, or will you find a way to contribute to the spread of the Truth to those who still sit in darkness? The mission is vast, the stakes are eternal, and the Lord is calling each of us to step forward with courage. What will your response be?

If you want to explore more about how we can navigate the complexities of our modern world through a Catholic lens, I invite you to browse the archive of my previous reflections on faith and culture. The journey to the ends of the earth begins with a single step of faith in our own hearts. Together, let us work toward a world where every soul knows the name of Jesus and every heart finds its home in Him.