Can a missionary life make a lasting difference? Wendell Philleo Fiest arrived in Taiwan as a U.S. Navy officer. Through the influence of Taiwanese Christians, he came to faith in Christ and found his missionary calling.
After many decades of service as a pastor he passed away peacefully at 90 years of age. In this report, pastors across Taiwan share powerful testimonies of his enduring impact on their lives and ministries. GNA reporter Peter Wooding speaks to CRU’s President David Robbins to find out how this ministry has grown into an international movement.
VIDEO SCRIPT
As Wendell Friest’s favorite hymn, “We Love Our Native Land,” was sung, nearly 500 pastors and ministry workers gathered at Taipei Truth Church on August 21. Together with his daughter and granddaughter, they remembered the missionary who served Taiwan’s churches for more than 30 years. Friest passed away in the United States on July 1 at age 90.
My father came to Taiwan while serving in the U.S. Navy. It was here that he truly came to know the joy of knowing Jesus. Taiwanese Christians led him to faith in the Lord. Our whole family is very grateful to Truth Church for loving my father and our entire family through all these years.
What did Pastor Friest see through the eyes of faith? He saw these jars of clay. He loved to say, “We have treasure in jars of clay.” God promised to reveal His unconditional love through the body of Christ. We talk about unconditional love, about an incomprehensible love. What did he call it in Chinese? He called it “a love that makes people faint.” I said, “That is such a wonderful Chinese expression! Only a missionary could come up with it.” We tend to say “incomprehensible,” all refined and literary. He put it very plainly: a love that makes people faint.
Over the past 40 years, the development of the Taiwan Lutheran Church has been closely connected with Pastor Friest’s Gospel theology. At the same time, he brought this theology to North America and blessed many churches there.
Pastor Friest held doctorates in theology, counseling, and therapy. He first came to Taiwan as a young serviceman and came to faith in Christ here. After studying theology in the United States, he returned in 1966 and served for 34 years. His Gospel theology brought the Gospel into everyday life and pastoral counseling, while training many pastors.
For seven years, I was able to serve in the church together with my parents and observe him at close range: how he preached, how patiently he cared for people, how joyfully he was with Mrs. Friest, and how he accompanied his children. I truly saw the power for life and ministry that the Gospel brings.
I met Pastor Friest when I was 20, and I knew him for 25 years. He shepherded, counseled, and accompanied me—from when I was dating, when he gave me premarital counseling, and through ten painful years after I was married. How fortunate I have been. I give all glory to God.
Once I encountered a setback. I called him that evening and told him about it. I began to cry, and he immediately said, “Where are you? I’ll come find you.” That was his instant response. Of course, I calmed down quickly, so he did not need to come. But I will remember that one sentence for the rest of my life.
I realized that I am much like Pastor Friest. The pastoral counseling he taught enabled me to do pastoral counseling for more than 30 years. The love of Jesus he expressed throughout the counseling process has deeply influenced my ministry.
The pastors remembered Friest with gratitude. For the sake of the Gospel, he crossed the ocean and became a grain of wheat, planted in Taiwan’s soil, tirelessly teaching Jesus’ “love that makes people faint.”
Prayer of the Late Pastor Wendell Friest
Lord, may Your Gospel, Your good news, Your love, and Your grace flow out from here, so that many, many people may see and know that we are Your disciples. May they also know that the heavenly Father sent You, believe in Jesus, and receive in Jesus the abundant life and satisfying joy that You said You would give us. Thank You, Lord. Hear my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.
People Interviewed and their Titles
Chairman of the Asia Missions Alliance
Pastor Peter Yang
Bishop of the Taiwan Lutheran Church
Pastor Caleb Kao
Pastoral Team,Taipei Truth Lutheran Church
Pastor Daniel Su
Banciao Gospel Church
Pastor Samuel Chang
Pastor Feng-Ching Hsieh
Taiwan Sanmin Christ Lutheran Church
Pastor Chuang Tung-Chieh
Christian Pastoral Training Association
Pastor John Yao
Recording Location
Taiwan
Organization featured in this Story
Taipei Truth Lutheran Church
Reporter/Producer for the story
GOODTV
Story Provider/Contact
David Wang
Producing Organization
GOODTV
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