Theological Practice in Precision Industry

Written by Peter Li-Chang Kuo

Precision industry is an "Art of Transmutation," carrying profound philosophical and theological significance.

On April 29, 2025, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned the word "precision" at President Trump's 100-day inauguration press conference and reiterated the importance of "Precision Manufacturing" during a Cabinet meeting. This revealed their administration’s divergence from past fifty years of governance and hinted at the divine providence behind "God Bless America," reminding us of the disappointing 1970s—a time when a group of Americans was trying to reverse the tide.

Fig 1: Finance Secretary Scott Bessant mentions precision manufacturing

An American client had been talking to me for several years about developing a "satellite receiver." After many preparations, everything was finally in place. In early 1979, on the very day diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Taiwan were severed, I departed from Song-Shan Airport, flew to Narita Airport in Japan, and then transferred to a Boeing 747 to enter the U.S. through Seattle before taking a domestic flight to New York to begin the endeavor.

Plans often cannot keep up with change! Although I had brought numerous professional books and tools, upon arriving in New York, I realized that my spoken English was hardly understood, and I struggled to comprehend others. In this moment of distress, a kind American pastor offered to teach me English, and we quickly completed a full reading of the "Holy Bible" together.

In America, one crucial document is known as the "SSC" (Social Security Card). Due to the diplomatic severance, Taiwan's "quota" was gone! Yet, determined to help salvage the collapsing economy, I decided to step into the agency issuing the SSC. In the interview room, the officer sternly asked a barrage of questions, and I instinctively responded:

Q: What purpose are you here (come to America)?

A: Creating jobs.

Q: What can you do?

A: I am a very skillful craftsman. I am experienced in bronze work. I can turn materials into various electronic components.

Miraculously, the officer immediately issued me an SSC. On Sunday, I shared this story with members of the Taiwanese Association at Grace Church in Queens. Although they saw the small card in my hand, they all shook their heads, saying, "Unbelievable!" I replied, "It’s an incredible miracle! It's God’s mercy upon America!"

Reflecting on the interview, my spontaneous use of "turn it into"—an expression we learned in junior high English—means "to transform something into something else." Simply put, it is the essence of precision industry.

In fact, when answering the officer's questions, I instinctively drew from the "Holy Bible"—specifically the description of Huram, the master craftsman who built the Temple:

"Huram was filled with wisdom, understanding, and was highly skilled and experienced in all kinds of bronze work. He came to King Solomon and did all the work assigned to him." (1 Kings 7:14)

Clearly, my answers were rich in theological meaning.

I was chosen to come to the earth to establish a "Precision Industry." After more than a decade of practical experience, coupled with reading at least one book every day, my developed "Antenna Terminals and AV Connectors" were at that time (in 1979) found in every home around the world. The "CK Switch" on the portable recorder next to the interviewer was my creation. My metalworking skills have surpassed even those of Huram; consequently, at the right moment, I was able to save the American economy, thereby changing the entire world.

Fig 2: Antenna Terminals/AV Connector and Switch created by Li-Chang Kuo

When applying to establish a company back then, a Ministry of Economic Affairs official asked, "What products does your precision industry company make?" Upon hearing "electronic components," they were astonished and asked, "Why does electronics need precision manufacturing?" I replied, "Because it requires using molds to turn raw materials into electronic components." Their small minds couldn't process it—overwhelmed by the unknowns of "X, Y, and Z"—looking as if their heads were about to explode!

Since the age of nine, I understood the importance of precision industry. By twelve, I was already earning money for my family. In 1966, before I even turned thirteen, I founded "Cheng Kuang Metal Works" in a makeshift shack. Shortly after turning thirteen, I supplied my super-fine eyelets to Transworld Electronic Corporation, contributing to the Apollo 4 mission to space. I made good use of precision manufacturing technology to benefit all living beings, but those ignorant bureaucrats, armed only with degrees and passing exams, had no idea that "precision manufacturing technology was a divine tool of transformation.”

Fig 3: Li-Chang Kuo hones his precision manufacturing skills through the meticulous crafting of eyelets, used in early PTH (plated through-hole) electronic control units of Apollo Mission.

The reason for officials’ ignorance lies in the bureaucratic system. Even with higher education and national exams, their knowledge was purely theoretical, emphasizing diplomas over practical expertise. By 1974, no officials in Taiwan had real-world industrial experience. My path—earning a living through precision skills at twelve, founding a factory at thirteen, establishing "Cheng Kuang Precision Industrial Co., Ltd." at twenty-one—was beyond their comprehension.

Especially the concept of "Precision Industry" was virtually unheard of in Taiwan back then. Most imagined electronics as visible products—radios, TVs—without understanding that behind their creation was extremely precise mold engineering, component stamping, and micro-tolerance control. Mold-making is the divine tool that turns materials into high-precision electronic components.

My deep understanding—X = How precision industry transforms materials through molds, stamping, and forming; Y = Electronics' extreme requirements for dimensions, precision, and conductivity; Z = Concept of high-precision manufacturing—was alien to officials who only grasped slogans, bureaucracy and industrial classification.

My knowledge wasn't innate genius but the result of "responsibility" — an ability to respond the issues like the drive to ease my grandmother's burden and ensure the family could eat. After being enlightened by the Holy Spirit, I realized that mastering my father's techniques meant more than hard work; it also involved philosophical insights of "permeating the vastness of the universe and penetrating into microdust."

Simply put, because "I had love in my heart," I was already uniting knowledge and practice at a young age, unlike those officials who were merely "products of academic accomplishment." Our growth paths were fundamentally different.

In 1974, while I was founding Cheng Kuang Precision Industrial Co., Ltd. by the Taiping Bridge in Yong-Kang, Mr. Chiang Ching-Kuo paid a visit. Later, he sent me a calligraphy piece with four words “Good-use Resources Benefit People.” In the following meetings, he often said, “Kuo Li-Chang is the Father of Precision Industry in Taiwan!” And expressed that I was a person who knew how to make good use of resources to benefit all people.

Human events are interlinked; a single broken link changes everything. Even if I had the skills and knowledge, without theological training, without quoting Scripture during the SSC interview, I might be rejected, and went home with no fruit, and none of the following achievements would have happened. Without the satellite receiver development, President Reagan’s first term (1981–1985) would have lacked a critical tool to support "Reaganomics" and the "Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)."

If this link broke, the 1980s tech boom would have been delayed by 20 years, cultural globalization would have slowed, the Cold War might have continued into the 21st century, and the U.S. dollar's dominance would have suffered. Even China's rise could have been delayed.

In short, without theological grounding inspiring my actions, the entire history of the 1980s might have been different.

Moreover, because the SSA officer made the right choice, I could later help a middle-aged lawyer named William realize the early Silicon Valley revival, advancing the software industry’s breakthrough.

Thus, by mastering precision industry, turning nothing into something, adding Biblical wisdom, obtaining the SSC, developing satellite receivers, supporting Reaganomics, and advancing tech industries, I sowed seeds that stirred the global structure through a butterfly effect.

From a theological perspective, this was Divine Providence. From a philosophical viewpoint, it exemplified how seemingly minor individual acts can impact the macro history—human society is woven from countless small but crucial choices.

Last December, after the U.S. election, I submitted two proposals to President Trump, both advocating "Invest in America" (IIA) and revitalizing the "Technical Education System" (TES), always mentioning the early development of Taiwan’s precision industry.

Recently, I suggested adapting our former APEC "Economic Institute" (EI) model to America's 1,050 community colleges—training skilled workers through "automated teaching modules," with each 5-month term graduating 50 students. This would train 105,000 high-quality skilled laborers yearly.

Following President Trump's 100-day celebration in Michigan on April 29, he chaired a Cabinet Meeting in the White House, where Bessent once again emphasized the importance of “America First” is about economic security, which is related to national security. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced the "80,000 Apprenticeship Program," preparing for high-wage technical training.

Scripture says:

"The valley was full of dry bones; the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, giving them tendons, flesh, skin, and breath, and they lived, standing on their feet, a vast army." (Ezekiel 37:1–10)

America’s manufacturing sector shrank from 40% to 11% over 80 years, resembling the dry bones described in Ezekiel. Now, with recognition and effort, a miracle reversal—a great technical army—is underway.

When I served in 1977 as a platoon leader, one platoon had four squads, each with 10 men—40 soldiers. With 1,050 community colleges each training 40 students per class, 2 classes each year that equals 80,000—a powerful army ready to Make America Great Again.

Thinking of former President Lee Teng-Hui, who once cited Ezekiel while modernizing Taiwan's agriculture with the "80,000 Farmer Army," it seems Secretary Chavez-DeRemer shares the same spirit.

Thus, this is theological practice, for three reasons:

1. Embedding Faith Values into the Real World: By connecting Ezekiel’s resurrection of dry bones with America's manufacturing revival, we apply themes of resurrection and rebuilding from theology into national development.

2. Promoting Human Dignity and Social Justice: According to Christian beliefs, humans are created in God's image. Restoring work, skill, and capability restores dignity, provides the descent jobs is aligning with theological values of labor dignity and social justice.

3. Uniting Faith and Action: Rather than merely proclaiming "God will revive us," we propose concrete policy solutions—like automated teaching modules to train 100,000 skilled workers annually. As Scripture says: "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:26)

How to Proceed: A Theological Practice-Based Revival of Precision Industry

According to my proposal:

1. Practical and Immediate Action: Using Automation to Mass-Produce Skilled Manpowers

A total of 1,050 community colleges across the United States are like 1,050 resource arsenals. Instead of starting from scratch, we propose leveraging modern automation teaching technologies: one instructor plus one set of "automated teaching modules" can simultaneously train 40 students per class.

Each course is five months long, and every community college operates year-round with two sessions per year. Thus, each college trains 80 students annually; across the country, that's 84,000 newly trained workers per year. Considering variables such as non-completion or dropouts, conservatively speaking, we can guarantee 80,000 skilled workers annually.

The estimated cost of implementing a "full automation teaching module" per school is far less than the price of a single main battle tank or fighter jet.

Using minimal investment to foster high-income skilled workers—rather than expanding welfare and debt—is the true, sustainable way to make America great again.

This is not just an economic plan; it is a theological practice: to restore human dignity through technical excellence, allowing every individual to fully develop their God-given talents.

2. The Three Transformations: From Dry Bones to a Great Army

According to Ezekiel 37, the "dry bones" underwent three stages:

1) First Transformation: Bones Connecting to Bones — representing rebuilding fundamental knowledge, rekindling lost hope.

2) Second Transformation: Flesh and Skin Cover the Bones — representing forming practical skills and capabilities, clothing people with dignity.

3) Third Transformation: Breath Enters Them — representing breathing life and purpose into them, transforming workers into passionate, creative citizens.

Thus, training workers is not merely technical education—it is the rebirth of the human spirit.

Each young person, each middle-aged person who lost their job due to industrial decline, through the technical revival movement, is given a second chance by God.

This is precisely the "Resurrection of Dry Bones" prophesied by the Bible.

3. Building the City of God: A Technological Renaissance

In Augustine's City of God, two cities are described:

1) The City of Man is filled with self-centered desires, conflict, and decay.

2) The City of God is built on love, truth, justice, and renewal.

Modern society, especially in post-pandemic America, increasingly resembles the City of Man: loss of social cohesion, industries hollowed out, debt piling up.

Yet by practicing theological principles and technical revival, we can begin constructing the City of God as following:

1) Economic Justice: Allowing every willing person to earn a living through their skills.

2) Technological Renewal: Infusing moral values into the revival of technology.

3) Social Solidarity: Rebuilding communities with shared missions.

Thus, promoting the revival of "Precision Industry" is not merely saving an economy — it is saving civilization itself.

After the Cabinet meeting, President Trump gathered with global CEOs and mentioned that the "Investing in America" (IIA) initiative had reached investments totaling between USD 2 trillion to 8 trillion. He specifically gave NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang to talk about the critical role of “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) in advancing precision manufacturing.

In truth, precision industry is an expression of "Heavenly Wisdom." In earlier times, when material resources were extremely scarce, my father invented complex deep-drawing processing machines and molds. However, achieving automated continuous stamping with bare hand-made apparatus was beyond reach due to the required precision. After he was maliciously arrested and imprisoned during the White Terror period, I wrote in the blank pages of my notes: "If there is a God, tell me how to break through!" After falling asleep, I awoke with the revelation of the "U-shaped Replication Method," which marked a great turning point. From there, I built a precision industry from scratch.

Today, material abundance is widespread, and investment amounts are casually spoken of in the trillions of dollars. What was once "Heavenly Wisdom" has now become artificial intelligence.

Nonetheless, precision manufacturing demands extreme accuracy and refinement, which typically requires mastering the technology of "scaling down." AI can provide digital solutions to ensure that every detail of the manufacturing process meets rigorous standards, enhancing the mastery and application of complex skills.

For example, in semiconductor manufacturing, AI can be employed for microscopic structural inspection, predicting and correcting tiny defects. It is also used in the production of high-precision components for industries like aerospace, conducting quality control to ensure compliance with safety and performance standards.

In the field of technical education, AI can assist institutions in implementing personalized learning, designing customized curricula based on students' needs and progress. Through "Virtual Reality" (VR) and "Augmented Reality" (AR) technologies, apprentices can gain simulated hands-on experience, especially in the teaching of precision industry techniques and manufacturing processes.

Precision industries typically operate at the "micron" (1 x 10⁻⁶ meters) level. Through years of accumulating practical scientific and technical expertise, when my wife, Linda Din, proposed solving structural social problems by inventing a "Contactless TranSmart Chip," we directly leapt into the realm of ultra-precision "pico-meter" (1 x 10⁻¹² meters) technologies—critical for the AI era's most demanding precision manufacturing needs.

Fig 4: Linda Din invented a universal cashless system

May 1, 2025, happened to be the "National Day of Prayer" in the United States, a tradition continuing since 1952. President Trump hosted the prayer event in the White House Rose Garden, stating: "America is a nation under God."

Fig 5: President Trump in prayer (AI-generated image)

During the prayers led by clergy members, the phrase "America is a nation under God" was repeated multiple times, carrying deep cultural and theological significance. They were openly expressing:

1) America is not supreme—God is;

2) Leaders require divine guidance, wisdom, and grace to face domestic and international challenges, such as wars, economic crises, and societal divisions;

3) It is an expression of a humble pursuit of peace and justice.

Before concluding the event, President Trump, under the prayers and witness of pastors and priests, signed a "Faith Executive Order," humbling himself before God and sending a powerful message to the American people: "Faith and freedom are the foundations of the American nation, and the government will protect this foundation."

This was not merely a political gesture—it was a strategic integration of theology and culture.

Conclusion: Precision Industry as a Divine Mission

After President Trump announced the policy of reciprocal tariffs on April 2, Taiwan entered the Ching-Ming Festival holiday. Upon returning to work on April 7, the stock market experienced a gap-down limit drop, although the USD exchange rate was still at 32.8 NT dollars. Following the Labor Day holiday on May 1, the USD exchange rate suddenly surged to 30.8 NT dollars when the market reopened today, suggesting that it may soon drop into the 20s! This inevitably brings to mind the "Myth of Yen Appreciation" proposed by the president of Mitsui & Co. in 1989—which eventually led to Japan's 30-year stagnation. However, Taiwan did not collapse as Japan did. Why?

The answer lies in the "Rich Taiwan Plan," an initiative driven by private individuals. In the past, many Americans debated the use of the word "rich," insisting that "wealthy" would be more appropriate. However, President Trump himself recently shifted his slogan from "Make America Wealthy Again" to "Make America Rich."

The invention of the "Contactless TranSmart Chip" (非接觸式傳智晶片) was inspired by the illumination of the Holy Spirit and aimed at enriching Taiwan. It forms the foundation of a “Universal Cashless System,” which, during the COVID-19 pandemic, evolved into a worldwide "Contactless Economic System." It is said to have enabled 1.5 billion people to earn world's money from home, with an annual non-cash transaction volume reaching as high as USD 36 trillion.

This is a quantified result of theological practice, as well as a major achievement in social responsibility investment (SRI).

Cordial Greetings

From the personal journey of a Taiwanese craftsman transforming a single chance encounter in New York into a global butterfly effect…

From a tiny mold creating a satellite receiver that indirectly saved the American economy, ended the Cold War, and shaped today's world…

From proposing the training of 80,000 technical soldiers to restore America's manufacturing foundation…

Every link in this chain is imbued with theological meaning.

Precision industry is no longer just a profession, nor simply an industry—it is a divine mission, a theological practice, and a concrete action of participating in the redemption of human history.

Thus, I end with a prayer:

May God breathe His Spirit into America once more,

That dry bones may rise again,

That hands skilled in creation may be blessed,

That the "City of God" may be rebuilt on Earth.

“Donate to the NDART”

Peter Li-Chang Kuo, the author created Taiwan's Precision Industry in his early years. Peter was a representative of the APEC CEO Summit and an expert in the third sector. He advocated "anti-corruption (AC)/cashless/e-commerce (E-Com)/ICT/IPR/IIA-TES / Micro-Business (MB)…and etc." to win the international bills and regulations.