Prison Ministry in Taiwan
Prison ministry was my personal choice. Before I made the decision to take on this ministry, I visited several other possible ministry placements and discussed their suitability with the lay mission leadership team. When I first visited Hsinchu Remand Prison for young offenders I felt strong compassion for them. In their expressions I saw a picture of myself in my own youth.
In my youth I, too, went astray. With my friends I drank alcohol and stayed out late at night. At that time, deep down, I was uncomfortable with myself and felt that something was missing. And then, at the end of my wanderings, I found God. It is my hope to introduce to these young people such a strong protector. It is because of my experience that I felt this attraction to be with the young people. This is why I chose this ministry.
Redemption is not a distant idea for me. It is the experience of becoming aware that God truly loves me. It is a great consolation to know that God is always with us. Every day God’s love will uplift us and make us laugh. This is my salvation. This is what I can share with others. This, I believe, is missionary work.
Columban lay missionary Sunhee Maria Kim lives and works in Taiwan.
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.