in 1625, maarten sonck, the dutch governor of taiwan, requested that the netherlands send two to three missionaries to taiwan for the purpose of converting the natives. however, the first group to arrive were visiting missionaries who did not have the authority to perform baptism rites. it was not until june 1627 that the first real minister, rev. georgius candidius, arrived, upon which missionary work in taiwan began in earnest. the first area to be targeted, the sinckan settlement (modern-day sinshih), had many converts by 1630.