5 Questions With...Melvyn Pard

Melvyn Pard

1. How did you first get involved with Friendship Presbyterian? I came to Taipei seeking a home church while I am here learning Chinese. I had come across Tim Keller's Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, and I knew they were theologically aligned with me. So, I looked for a church affiliated with them through their City to City website, hoping to find a church with a similar theological background to my own.  I was looking around for a church back in August of 2017. After a couple of visits to a few churches, I decided to stay with FPC, due to its theological positions, missional point of view, and its bold stance to preach about the Bible. 

2. What do you do Monday to Saturday? I am currently a student of the Language Center in Tai Da, where I am spending most of my time learning Chinese. At other times, I go to community group. 

3. What is something people might be surprised to know about you? I am actually an introvert, and like my quiet times. But people think I am an extrovert the first time they meet me.

4. What do you find most challenging about being a Christian today? Having a quiet time and pondering with God, through Scripture and prayer. I think nowadays, with a lot of distractions and always on the go, it is hard to take time to go back to the manual. I am often reminded by my daily stress and problems that I need to turn to God’s truth and to pray. In my anxieties, I am reminded that God gives me hope of the truth that he is in control and that he is sovereign. What gives me much peace is knowing that he is all powerful, and he loves me. Having an all-powerful God on my side gives me much peace. 

5. What is your favorite book of the Bible? This one is tough. My favorite book is the Book of Psalms. Through the psalms, we can see a man go through a wide range of emotions: anger, joy, hopelessness, hope. Through the psalms, I learn to pray.