From the mission field: Music education in Taiwan

From left, Rebecca Bartelt, the Rev. Dr. Michael Paul and Deaconess Sandra Rhein, LCMS missionaries to the Asia region, play a voluntary during the Divine Service at Songshan Church in Taipei, Taiwan, on Sept. 27, 2023. (LCMS/David Bush)

Rebecca Bartelt serves as a sacred music educator to Asia, based in Taiwan. She assists church partners in the region in developing Lutheran hymnals and coordinates music programs in local congregations for the edification of the church and as an outreach to people in the community. In a recent newsletter, Bartelt shared several updates about her work in the LCMS Asia region:

“I returned to Taiwan the end of September in time for our Asia region missionary work group meetings. All the LCMS and alliance … missionaries in Asia met in Chiayi, Taiwan, for three days of worship, updates, brainstorming and sharing. We heard from Erin Alter [director of LCMS Short-Term Mission] … and Jay Kuczynski [LCMS global safety and security manager]. … Also, Rev. Steven Mahlburg, my supervisor, and I had some good conversations about my work, and I received encouragement and advice. …

“After the other Asia missionaries went back to their countries where they serve, I continued to have many meetings as [Deaconess] Sandra Rhein [also a sacred music educator for the Asia region] and I begin to pray, explore and plan how to furnish and begin the music conservatory in Chiayi, where we hope to offer a Christian witness through concerts and music education.”

Bartelt also wrote about visiting a congregation of the China Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC) in September with Rhein and Mindy Thews, education coordinator for the LCMS Asia region:

“We worshiped with them and celebrated the Lord’s Supper together. The pastor kindly had someone translate the sermon into English for us. Afterwards we shared a meal together and listened to their desires and needs for education and music. We came back with many ideas to consider and see how God might use us to help these, as they called themselves, ‘baby Lutherans.’ ”

Learn more about Bartelt’s mission work.

Posted Feb. 19, 2024