The Story of the Big Cave in Hualien

“God is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. Nothing is impossible for Him. In creating the big cave he prepared a place for spreading the Gospel. Here many souls were saved and many lives were committed to following the Lord’s footsteps in ministering to others. The Lord used a woman who loved the Lord and loved his church and loved the souls of her fellow aboriginal tribes people. Chi-oang Iwai. In 1945 before Taiwan’s retrocessions she preached the good news all day long in the big cave under the light of torches and lanterns. Fearing her arrest by Japanese police and to protect the safety of the faithful, two or three guards were always standing guard outside the cave during gatherings. Believers came to these meetings at the risk of their lives.

According to Chi-oang Iwai’s helper though only about ten people attended the meeting in the beginning but soon the spread the word and more and more came to the faith. Through God’s protection the Japanese police were never able to catch people during gathering, though they tried. Today it is more than half a century since believers met here. Their faith and witness are still like this rock. As we look at the big cave we can follow the wonderful steps of those who spread the gospel and their acts of faith. We need to carry on their mission glorifying God and serving humanity, fulfilling God’s commission to make disciples of all nation.”

Chi-oang of the Taroko tribe was born April 30th 1872 in Ka wan. In 1923 she came to the Hualien Presbyterian church seeking the truth. Pastor Lichui chia instructed her. June first 1924 at the age of 52 she was baptized, becoming the first Taroko Christian. In 1929, Rev. James Dickson escorted Chi-oang to Tamsui Women’s Bible School. Upon graduation she came to ka wan to work among her own people.

Under Japanese rule travel in the mountains was restricted and preaching to the tribes was prohibited. Chi-oang disregarded these rules. The tribes people came from far and near and heard her gladly. During WWII the Christians gathered secretly at night in the big cave east of this church to hear Chi-oang expound the Scriptures and pray. To save her from the polic, young men carried her on their backs or hid her in rice stacks. The tribal Christians were persecuted for their faith. They were beaten, thrown into prison and killed yet their numbers increased.


In 1945 the Japanese withdrew and the gates of grace were opened up. Several thousand mountain Christians awaited baptism.The fruit of Chi-oang’s labors sacrificially, the grace of God and the blood of martyrs built this church. Now there are 377 mountain churches in the area.