Abstract
Taiwan was a mission field of Presbyterian Church of England (PCE) and Presbyterian Church of Canada (PCC) since 1865 and 1872 respectively until a unified General Assembly of PCT (Presbyterian Church in Taiwan) was established in 1951. The slowly changing status from a mission field to an independent church was marked by an urgent desire to become a missionary sending body. Rev. James Dickson was the key player in setting the agenda. His vision before his passing inspired the first PCT overseas missionary endeavor which was carried out by Austronesian-speaking indigenous pastors, mainly from the Amis and the Bunun. Lilian Dickson, the founder of "Mustard Seed", established 'Burning Bush Mission' in 1967 and set the agenda in motion. Most accounts of missionary encounters center on the interface between Western missionary sending body and the non-Western missionary receiving society. However, little attention has been paid to non-Western convert-turned evangelists who further proselytize in other non-Western societies. This paper will trace the history of this missionary encounter between Taiwan and Sarawak and situate it between the global ecumenical movement and the local conditions of Methodist church in Sarawak. It will further examine the strategies adopted by the missionaries and possible impact of their activities. How do Iban converts recall that conversion process and how does it differ from previous missionary activities carried out by other denominations or ethnic groups? What role does ethnic politics play in the process?