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Since its establishment, Taipei Grace Baptist Church has regarded music as a vital ministry, emphasizing evangelism and mission through the medium of music. Since 1954, the church’s Mandarin worship services have been influenced by Chou Lien-hwa’s theological ideas, maintaining a solemn and reverent style. However, in 2008, the decision to integrate youth-oriented evangelical worship into the second service led to a diversification of the Mandarin worship style, reflecting a shift towards indigenization. I began attending the first Mandarin service in 2022 and noticed in 2023 that the music of the second Mandarin service differed significantly from the first service’s “emphasis on solemn and orthodox sacred music tradition.” This observation sparked the motivation for this study: First, how have the congregational hymns in Grace Baptist Church’s Mandarin Sunday worship been influenced by Chou Lien-hwa’s theological concepts and the process of indigenization? Second, how are hymns chosen for both services? Third, what roles do different hymns play in the Mandarin services within different contexts?
This study focuses on the congregational hymns of Grace Baptist Church’s Mandarin services, employing fieldwork and online audio-visual data analysis to explore the relationship between music and worship styles through various activities. The research findings show that hymns are used to convey doctrine and facilitate connections among congregants during worship rituals. Some interviewees believe that music itself is merely an expression of emotion, while faith is the crucial element sustaining church practices. However, if there is a divergence between congregational hymns and cultural identity, it may lead to resistance, resulting in avoidance or rejection. Generally, older congregants prefer traditional hymns, while younger congregants are more open to contemporary hymn styles. Regarding answers to the research questions: First, the pastor’s upbringing and educational background directly influence the style of worship. Second, the sacred music ministry, led by those with classical music education backgrounds, often exhibits a solemn music style. In contrast, the general believers’ sacred music ministry typically opts for worship and praise music, though hymn selection remains guided by the pastor. Third, contemporary worship and praise music have led to changes in worship practices.
In conclusion, this study finds that the style of Mandarin worship services at Grace Baptist Church has evolved over time; these changes reflect that the use and acceptance of church music are influenced by historical and cultural contexts and the ongoing process of indigenization, yet must also keep pace with contemporary developments.