From Toronto to Taiwan
▲ Home of Mackay(Canada)／Source：《Open Museum》
【Motivation to come to Taiwan】
Mackay heard the stories of missionaries working overseas when he was 10 years old, evoking his desire to preach in foreign countries. Mark 16:15 of the Bible says: “He said to them, go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” This was the inspiration Mackay found when he was young and set his mind to become a missionary. He then attended Toronto University Knox Seminary at 22 and transferred to Princeton Seminary a year later. In 1870, after graduating and returning to Canada, he submitted his application to become an overseas missionary. He went back to his ancestor’s hometown to further study at Edinburgh University Seminary in Scotland.
After 9 months of waiting, he was finally approved to become an overseas missionary and was appointed to preach in China. October 19, 1870, he left his hometown and set off to his missionary career. He went through Japan, Hong Kong, Guangdong, Xiamen, and finally arrived in Takao (present-day Kaohsiung) in December. However, his original destination was Shantou in China. But as his diary wrote, “maybe there was an invisible line, guiding me to this beautiful island.” For Mackay, maybe this was a will of God, wanting him to preach selflessly in Taiwan.
▲ Mackay's former residence／Source：《Open Museum》
Referring URL：Open Museum｜THE TAIWAN-MINPO