"I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 2:20-21)
This is what the apostle Paul said in his letter to the church in Philippi. Even in the early church, while the apostles were still alive, very few of their fellow workers served as faithfully as them, despite the many believers in churches at that time.
Is it not the same today? Perhaps it stands to reason that in this environment, there should be more faithful and dedicated people to serve the Lord, as the current number of church members, staff workers, and service environment are unmatched by the apostle Paul’s era. Yet still, those who faithfully serve the Lord are even fewer. Most of these fellow workers ask for their own affairs, not for Christ's affairs.
Although relatively sparse, such people do exist. Here is a servant who dedicates himself entirely to God.
Born in Lu'an City, Anhui Province, and having received a high school education, a man was assigned to work in a rural coal mine in western Anhui. Under the leadership of his workmates, he believed in Jesus. Then, he led his family to believe in the Lord one by one.
After believing in Jesus, he was more enthusiastic than most people, especially in the pursuit of the Lord's word. He longed to be an outlet for the preaching of God's word so that he could help and bless more people. Therefore, besides attending the training organized by surrounding churches, he applied for a correspondence course in Nanjing Union Theological Seminary in his spare time. It is said that he was among the first group of people to participate in correspondence education after the implementation of the religious policy in 1978.
In this way, with his spiritual growth, he became the core staff worker of the church when it came time to elect new fellow workers. After that, he was elected as the head of the church with the highest number of votes in a meeting of believers.
In order to better serve, he chose an early retreat from the unit. That had a great impact on his family, as he was the family’s only force. His daughter was still in high school, soon to enter college, so the meager "retirement" benefit was not enough to cover their family's expenses; even so, he did not hesitate.
After his retirement, he did not look for another job but devoted almost all of his thoughts, energy, and time to the service of the church. Most of the time, just as other people involved in their work, he went home to eat at mealtime and immediately returned to the church to do various services. So far, he has been doing this service for nearly twenty years without interruption.
In the beginning, others all thought that he turned to work in the church to get a salary. But in fact, he has never received a penny of the church's wages; not only that, but he also regularly contributes one-tenth of his and his wife's retirement salary every month. As such, under his faithful service and quiet (but strong) drive, the church's various ministries were also carried out with great success, which became a model among local churches.
In recent years, the number of believers in his church has not significantly reduced in the wake of population migration to cities; moreover, he had the foresight and set up youth fellowships, which is relatively rare in rural churches. Over the past ten years, their church has trained and recommended several young people to study theology.
Two years ago, they began the construction of the church. At present, the main body has been completed and is in the renovation stage.
(The article is originally published in the Gospel Times and the author is a pastor in Jiangsu.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
使徒保罗在写给腓立比教会的书信中，有一句话是如此说的，他说：“因为我没有别人与我同心，实在挂念你们的事。别人都求自己的事，并不求耶稣基督的事。”（腓2：20-21）
即便在初期教会、在那些使徒仍在世的时候，能像使徒们一样忠心服侍的同工也是比较少的，相对于众多信徒及同工而言，能忠心侍奉的人，也只是少数。
现今不也是如此吗？现今教会信徒数量、同工以及服侍环境，都是使徒保罗那个时代无法比拟的，或许按理来说在这种环境中，会有更多忠心侍奉，一心为主的人起来服侍，但与当时一样，甚至更为可怜，那些忠心侍主的人，也是比较稀少，并且大多数的同工也都是在求自己的事，并不太求基督的事。
虽然比较稀少，但也确实存在这样的人.笔者就遇到过这样的人。这位主的仆人，出生于安徽六安市，高中文化，后来被分配到皖西的一个乡间煤矿工作。在工友们的带领之下信了耶稣。而后，他又带领家人一一信主。
信了耶稣之后，他要比一般人更为热心，尤其对主话语的追求更为渴慕，渴望能够成为传讲主话语的出口，好以此帮助、祝福更多的人。因此，他在参加周围教会举办的学道办的同时，也用业余时间报读了金陵协和神学院的函授班，据说他还是在宗教政策落实后，最早参加函授的一批人。
就这样，随着自身灵命的长进，以及教会新老同工的交替，他成为了教会的核心同工；此后，在一次信徒大会的选举中，以最高票数当选为教会负责人。
他为了更好的服侍，选择从单位提前内退。这对他及家人的影响非常大，因为家中只有他一个劳动力，而且女儿尚在读高中，即将进入大学读书，微薄的“退休金”并不足以支持他们家庭的开销。虽然如此，他也是义无反顾。
其次，他内退之后，并没有再另行找工作，乃是几乎把全部心思、精力、时间放在了教会的服侍上。很多的时候，他都是像别人上下班一样，吃饭时间回家吃饭，吃好了之后，马上就回到教会中，忙于各种服侍。距今为止，他的这种服侍已经持续了接近二十年的时间，从不间断。
开始之初，别人都是以为，他转而进入到教会上班，拿工资了。但事实上，他没有拿过教会一分钱的工资；不仅如此，他还每个月定期的把自己及妻子退休工资的十分之一献上。就这样，在他忠心服侍以及默默的带动之下，教会各项事工也是开展的有声有色，成为一个地区教会的榜样。
近些年，他们教会在人口向城市转移的背景之下，其信徒的数量并没有明显的减少；而且，他们还有远见，办起了青年团契，这在农村教会是比较少见的事工。在这十多年时间中，他们教会先后培养、推荐了数位年轻人兴起读神学。
这两年，他们教会又开始了建设教堂的事工，距今为止主体已经建设完毕，正处于装修阶段。
注：本文为特约/自由撰稿人文章，作者系江苏一名传道人。
https://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/56836
尽忠心的仆人——记一位乡村义工全然摆上的服侍
"I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 2:20-21)
This is what the apostle Paul said in his letter to the church in Philippi. Even in the early church, while the apostles were still alive, very few of their fellow workers served as faithfully as them, despite the many believers in churches at that time.
Is it not the same today? Perhaps it stands to reason that in this environment, there should be more faithful and dedicated people to serve the Lord, as the current number of church members, staff workers, and service environment are unmatched by the apostle Paul’s era. Yet still, those who faithfully serve the Lord are even fewer. Most of these fellow workers ask for their own affairs, not for Christ's affairs.
Although relatively sparse, such people do exist. Here is a servant who dedicates himself entirely to God.
Born in Lu'an City, Anhui Province, and having received a high school education, a man was assigned to work in a rural coal mine in western Anhui. Under the leadership of his workmates, he believed in Jesus. Then, he led his family to believe in the Lord one by one.
After believing in Jesus, he was more enthusiastic than most people, especially in the pursuit of the Lord's word. He longed to be an outlet for the preaching of God's word so that he could help and bless more people. Therefore, besides attending the training organized by surrounding churches, he applied for a correspondence course in Nanjing Union Theological Seminary in his spare time. It is said that he was among the first group of people to participate in correspondence education after the implementation of the religious policy in 1978.
In this way, with his spiritual growth, he became the core staff worker of the church when it came time to elect new fellow workers. After that, he was elected as the head of the church with the highest number of votes in a meeting of believers.
In order to better serve, he chose an early retreat from the unit. That had a great impact on his family, as he was the family’s only force. His daughter was still in high school, soon to enter college, so the meager "retirement" benefit was not enough to cover their family's expenses; even so, he did not hesitate.
After his retirement, he did not look for another job but devoted almost all of his thoughts, energy, and time to the service of the church. Most of the time, just as other people involved in their work, he went home to eat at mealtime and immediately returned to the church to do various services. So far, he has been doing this service for nearly twenty years without interruption.
In the beginning, others all thought that he turned to work in the church to get a salary. But in fact, he has never received a penny of the church's wages; not only that, but he also regularly contributes one-tenth of his and his wife's retirement salary every month. As such, under his faithful service and quiet (but strong) drive, the church's various ministries were also carried out with great success, which became a model among local churches.
In recent years, the number of believers in his church has not significantly reduced in the wake of population migration to cities; moreover, he had the foresight and set up youth fellowships, which is relatively rare in rural churches. Over the past ten years, their church has trained and recommended several young people to study theology.
Two years ago, they began the construction of the church. At present, the main body has been completed and is in the renovation stage.
(The article is originally published in the Gospel Times and the author is a pastor in Jiangsu.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Story of a Loyal Village Pastor
