Santiago sings and dives into ministry in Taipei, Taiwan and beyond
In this installment of our series, we feature a millennial who is emulating Hudson Taylor by following Jesus wherever He leads. The Hudson Taylor movie project seeks to inspire a movement of other Christ-followers in his generation.
Santiago lives in the heart of Taipei, Taiwan. He’s married and has two kids. He recently shared his story of adventures of following Jesus and how he fell in love with the arts.
Half Crown Media (HCM): How did you first want to follow Jesus?
Santiago: I first heard the Gospel when I was 16. After high school, I went to Christ’s College in Taipei. At age 20, during one class, my teacher shared the Gospel. I really felt a touch of God during that class! That’s when I started to believe.
HCM: What made Jesus real?
Santiago: He was the only God who said he loved us. It made sense that if this God created me, then he loves me.
HCM: What drives you to be involved in sharing the love of Jesus with others?
Santiago: Simply love. When you fall in love, you want to share that joy with everybody!
HCM: Are you motivated to share Jesus with people of other cultures? And have you had the opportunity to do that?
Santiago: I first went to the Philippines on a short-term mission trip. I quickly realized that life there is very different than what tourism photos portrayed. The amount of people in poverty is huge. I felt God’s love pushing me to share. It was just not for me to live in Taiwan in comfort without sharing God’s mercy with others. It is really important to share God’s love in all contexts.
In the Philippines, I visited the poor, prayed for their healing, prayed for the youth I interacted with, and took part in the worship team. I relied on God’s leading in how to best pray. For worship, our team memorized English and Filipino songs – that was a way to show God’s care for them.
HCM: How did you learn to share your faith across cultures?
Santiago: My dad’s caretaker is from Indonesia and is a Muslim. Initially, I attempted to introduce my relationship with Jesus to her, but I quickly realized it was crucial to understand her beliefs before sharing mine. As our relationship strengthened over time, I felt more comfortable sharing my faith with her.
HCM: I heard you spent some time with a client from another culture. Tell us about that.
Santiago: 10 years ago, I had a Japanese client. I shared the Gospel with him. We did some life together like going on a shopping expedition. I realized that he had big celebrations at Christmas and Easter but had no real understanding of the meaning of those holidays.
HCM: How do you respond to movies compared to books?
Santiago: Books give more space to imagine. Movies have strong images that reveal the heart of the director. What comes out is a collaboration between the actors and the director.
The performance of Hugh Jackman in Les Misérables was very powerful. The book portrayed the main character, Jean Valjean, in a very different way than the movie. Jackman played the character with huge depth. He came alive!
In the book, Valjean had no sense of mercy, and in the film, he was almost a picture of Jesus – having deep kindness and love for others. It’s hard to express how much of an impact that movie had on me.
HCM: Were you ever inspired to change your life by hearing the story of someone from the past?
Santiago: There are too many examples to share!
George Mackay was a missionary to Taiwan in the late 1800s and has had a huge influence in my life. I even live in a neighborhood named after him!
How was it that God gave George the calling to go to a place that was so hard? As a result of his obedience, his life still has an impact on Taiwan today. He stood up for the rights of minority cultures in Taiwan and fought against idol worship. Some of my nation’s blessings surely come from his work here.
God compelled a man who had no relation to a very foreign place to make a difference there. His life motivates me! Because of him, I understand that even I can be used by God.
HCM: What kinds of ministries are you involved in today?
Santiago: I spend a lot of time mentoring younger believers. Singing in my church’s worship band is a lot of fun. I would like to disciple other musicians. I’m involved in a collaborative group for artists. I’m passionate about music that glorifies God even when it’s outside the bounds of typical Christian music.
HCM: What would you say to someone who might be thinking of praying for and giving to this movie project?
Santiago: One day there will be someone who would like to thank you – because of your involvement, they were blessed.
HCM: Is there anything else you want to add?
Santiago: It’s exciting to be involved in sharing this project. In my own life, I was older before I pursued my passion of being a jazz singer. It’s so fulfilling being in the arts and doing things for God. I love using my talents to glorify God!
God used Les Misérables to impact my life. That movie showed me how much a story can impact a life. I would love to be involved in the Hudson Taylor movie project… I’m excited about how this movie could forcefully impact the world!
If you want to be part of bringing the Hudson Taylor movie project to life, you can make a significant difference by praying, spreading the word, and contributing financially. Together, we can share the inspiring story of Hudson Taylor with the world. Yes, I’d love to. Tell me more.
Photos courtesy of Santiago.
