Byron & Melissa Manners
Serving Hope International Missions as Missionaries in Taiwan
A word from ... | About | Updates | Contact
A word from Byron & Melissa Manners
Our ministry is pastoring a church in the northern part of Taiwan's second largest city, Kaohsiung. The church was started in the early 1990's, so in some ways it is established. The church is self-supporting and self-governing; however, we are not yet self-propagating, meaning that they still need missionaries to be their pastors.
Some of our work is very similar to what a pastor does in the States. We preach, visit, pray, and minister as opportunities arise. One never knows when and where a door may open. In the past, we have been invited to teach the Christmas story at a public school. Another time we were privileged to pray with several people that had lost everything after a bad typhoon.
The side of our work that is different is all the Bible studies that we do. Right now we are involved in four a week. One of them is especially for unbelievers, and in that class we teach English as we teach the Bible study. Anyone that speaks English and has the ability to teach can start Bible studies here. Since teaching is my strongest gift, Byron enjoys that part of the ministry most. Melissa enjoys the months when it is her turn to teach the children's class on Sundays.
About Byron & Melissa Manners
I like to say that God went to a lot of trouble to put me where we are currently working. I grew up in a pastor's home, and there were two things I did not want to do. First, be a missionary, and second, be a pastor. I surrendered my life to Christ at the age of 13, and one or two years later felt God's call to China. Because China was and still is closed to missions, I felt like He wanted me to be an English teacher.
I attended Allegheny Wesleyan College for two years where I met the woman I would marry. Melissa also was interested in missions, although her interest was more in Europe. I transferred to Malone College to work on my degree in secondary education in English. Between my third and fourth year Melissa and I were married. My final semester I was privileged to spend in Guatemala doing my student teaching in a Christian school. I had a wonderful time, and it strengthened my interest in missions. My next step was graduate school at Carson-Newman College in beautiful eastern Tennessee. Many of my classmates were from Taiwan. Following graduation, I had the opportunity to come to Taiwan for a month on a short-term missions assignment. I was part of a team that did a three-week English camp for a private school.
My initial reaction to Taiwan was that I hated it. I came during the summer when it is very hot and humid. The food made me sick, and the work was not easy. I found out that Taiwan and Guatemala are very different! One evening after work, the owner of the school and I talked about Christian education in Taiwan. That evening as I was lying on my bed, the Lord told me He wanted me in Taiwan. I went home, told my wife, and a year later we came to be missionary-teachers at a Christian college. We spent two years there, and then God called us to pastor a small church down south that is associated with HIM. Not having the training as a pastor posed some obstacles, but God opened every door that needed to be opened. That was the summer of 2002, and it was at that time we became part of HIM.
God blessed our ministry at the Koahsiung Church, and in our five years there the church doubled in size. It was God who did it because I was learning as He lead. After 5 years, we had our significant furlough. When it was time to come back, the Tsoying church asked us to move to the northern part of Kaohsiung and become pastor.
I still do not understand the call to China. I have joked that maybe I won't need to go to China; maybe China will come to me in Taiwan. From my perspective, this looks to be the direction events are headed. As I consider my life here, my testimony is that God does all things well. I love the people here, the work brings me joy, and on top of everything else, we live in a wonderful climate and enjoy delicious food. This island has become home to me, and I miss it when in the States. Even though I did not want to be a missionary or a pastor when I was a child, I am so thankful that I followed God's will for my life. I am doing what I was created to do, and I am happy in the service of the King.
News & Updates
2010-05-15 news
Manners newsletter - May
We arrived back in the States on May 11 for 6 weeks vacation. I thought I had better write a letter, so I started in Japan and finished up here in the States. You can read it here.
2010-03-13 news
Manners newsletter - February
The Manners' February newsletter is available here. At the end of the letter there are links to lots of photos! Be sure to check it out.
2009-11-02 news
English Summer Camp / VBS
DURING THE FIRST full week of July, we held our English Summer Camp -- what most of you would call Vacation Bible School. Much prayer went into it. My wife headed it up, with around 15 helpers. We had 27 children in VBS; only 6 were from our church. I wanted 20 new children, and God gave us 21.
A couple of the children attend other churches, but the majority are from this area and do not attend church at all. One tiny girl came a couple of times to Sunday School with her mother. Another little boy has come fairly faithfully. Katy, an older girl, has been back almost every week; her mother comes also.
We discovered that two of our young ladies are fantastic translators. It was thrilling to see so many pull together and help us make the camp a success.
Contact Byron & Melissa Manners