Editor's note: This is part four of the Christian testimony series: the stories of a man who is "stingy" with himself but generous to give and a preacher who regards the church as her own "home". (To see part one, part two & part three)
1. A brother who is "stingy" but willing to give alms
An old brother has been living through a hard time and developed a diligent and simple living habit. He never spends money needlessly or eats frugally. He wears old socks and clothes; even his mobile phone and computer are old models his children did not use them any longer.
However, there is another aspect about him that most people don't know, that is, he is very generous with his usual friendships.
He never worships the Lord empty-handed when he comes to a Sunday Service, and donates all that he should. He donates money once a month all year long to children suffering from incurable diseases for treatment, especially for the help from veterans, from the pastor or believers who have sickness and difficulty. He also donates to the churches in other provinces and cities which suffered losses due to natural disasters. For those who need funds to build churches, whether he knows him or not, he will give them a donation. But he is not tempted by money. He has declined to serve in the church many times and did not accept the salary paid by the pastor.
Five years ago, a sister said her husband was seriously ill and needed money for hospitalization and asked him for help to borrow his money. He said without hesitation that he would give her his entire monthly salary of 3,000 RMB to temporarily solve the urgent needs. He affirmed that it was for her and that there was no need to pay it back.
A child of a church worker planned to study theology, but his family was stuck with financial difficulties. After being told the situation, he gave out 1,000 RMB to them and told the child that if he had any difficulties that he shouldn’t hesitate to contact him.
Some co-workers were sick and hospitalized, he usually gave 200-500 yuan when visiting. He also bought spiritual books for co-workers, Bibles for non-believers, and donated money to the disaster-stricken areas responding to the distress call.
2. A sister preacher, with the church as her home
Originally an accountant in an urban company, a sister is now the head of a village church in a ravine. More than ten years ago, when the chairperson of the local CC (Christian Council) told her that the church in her hometown was on the verge of closing because there was no "head sheep", asking her to take charge of the church, she resolutely gave up her job and returned to her hometown.
In order to rebuild the dilapidated church, going back and forth dozens of times, she went to the town and county to apply for and file for the church construction. Sometimes she went to the office of the relevant department every day to help clean up and fetch water and then sat there quietly, without noise or disturbance. Her sincerity finally impressed the leaders of the relevant departments, and the plans for the church building were approved.
Then, after raising funds and finding a construction team, they started building the church. The sister preacher spent more than ten hours a day working on the construction site with the co-workers and the construction team and taking care of the building materials.
In order to build the church, she took loans and borrowed money in her own name. Her mobile phone was turned on 24 hours a day, because sometimes in the middle of the night or early in the morning, she would receive calls from believers for help.
Feeling embarrassed, she told me, “I regard the hard-built church as my home, but I have ignored the things in my ‘home’”. After she had a grandson, she couldn't help her daughter-in-law to take care of the child. However, fortunately, her daughter-in-law also serves in the church now.
The sister preacher, over 60 years old, has already been over the retirement age. Since the church was poor when the new construction began, she took out all her family savings, so she missed the opportunity and didn't pay social insurance or medical insurance. Therefore, she doesn't even have a pension. A company run by her relatives once invited her to work as an accountant with high pay and guaranteed that she could go to church on weekends, but she refused, saying that she could not live without the church.
(The author of this article is a special contributor to the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Sophia Chen
编者按：这是《我们是神的见证》系列第四集：一位对自己“吝啬”却又乐于施舍的弟兄和一位以教会为家的传道人。（可阅读第一集）
一、“吝啬”却又乐于施舍的弟兄
老弟兄从苦日子中过来的，从小就养成了勤俭朴素的生活习惯。他从不乱花钱，省吃俭用。他继续穿袜子和旧衣服；就连手机也总是孩子淘汰的他要来继续使用，自己使用的一台电脑也是孩子不用了，他“捡漏”的将就使用。
但是老弟兄对于平时的人情来往却不是这样，有大多数人不知的另外一面。
老弟兄每到主日聚会从不空手朝见上主，该奉献的一分钱不少；他常年的每个月一次拿出钱给在xx筹等网络，为那些患不治之症的孩童奉献治病的钱，尤其是对于退伍军人的求助；对于主内牧师或弟兄姊妹发出有的肢体患病、困难求助；外省市教堂因灾害受损失的；对于主内建教堂需要资金的，不管认识不认识，也会奉献。但是面对金钱不会动心，曾经多次谢绝在教会帮忙，牧师给的工价……。
五年前，一位姊妹和他求助说：家里丈夫，也是他的同工，得了重病住院需要钱，和他借。老弟兄毫不犹豫说：我把这个月的工资3000元全部都给你，暂时解决点急需，是给你，不用还了。
一位同工的孩子要去读神学，家里困难。和他说了后，他拿出1000元资助，告诉孩子，如果还有什么困难随时和我说。
看望有的同工患病住院，他去探访，一般都是送去200-500元；买灵修书籍送给同工、买圣经送给不信主的人、响应号召，为灾区捐款……。
二、以教会为家的传道人
姊妹是一间山沟里的乡村教会负责人。她本来在市内一家企业有一份不错的工作：会计。十多年前当她听到县基督教两会的主席和她谈话，告诉她老家的教会因为没有“头羊”濒于关闭，请她回去负责教会的工作后，毅然放弃了自己的工作，回到了家乡。
为了翻建破烂不堪的教堂，她到镇里、县里，申请、报备建堂的手续，往返几十趟。有的时候要天天去有关部门的办公室，帮助人家打扫卫生、打水，然后静静地坐在那里，不吵也不闹。她的真诚终于打动了有关部门的领导，建堂的手续批下来了。
而后就是筹集资金、找可以垫资的施工队，他们开始了建堂。姊妹一天十多个小时，在工地和同工们、和施工队一起干活、看管建筑材料。
为建堂，她以个人名义贷款、借款；她的手机24小时不关机。有的时候半夜或凌晨也会接到信徒打来的求助电话。
她不好意思的和笔者说：我把辛苦建成的教会当成了家，“家”里的事情倒是忽略了。她有了孙子以后，无法帮助儿媳妇带孩子，最后儿媳妇也在教会服侍了。
姊妹今年六十多岁了，早已过了退休年龄。但是由于当初教会穷，建堂的时候她把家里的积蓄也全部拿出来了，就没有交社保、医保，错过了缴纳的机会。所以她连退休金都没有。这个期间，亲属开的公司找她去当会计，给的待遇不低。并且说，可以在双休日回教堂。她没有动摇，说：我离不开教会。
（本文作者为福音时报特约撰稿人。）
我们是神的见证（四）—— 献身精神
Editor's note: This is part four of the Christian testimony series: the stories of a man who is "stingy" with himself but generous to give and a preacher who regards the church as her own "home". (To see part one, part two & part three)
1. A brother who is "stingy" but willing to give alms
An old brother has been living through a hard time and developed a diligent and simple living habit. He never spends money needlessly or eats frugally. He wears old socks and clothes; even his mobile phone and computer are old models his children did not use them any longer.
However, there is another aspect about him that most people don't know, that is, he is very generous with his usual friendships.
He never worships the Lord empty-handed when he comes to a Sunday Service, and donates all that he should. He donates money once a month all year long to children suffering from incurable diseases for treatment, especially for the help from veterans, from the pastor or believers who have sickness and difficulty. He also donates to the churches in other provinces and cities which suffered losses due to natural disasters. For those who need funds to build churches, whether he knows him or not, he will give them a donation. But he is not tempted by money. He has declined to serve in the church many times and did not accept the salary paid by the pastor.
Five years ago, a sister said her husband was seriously ill and needed money for hospitalization and asked him for help to borrow his money. He said without hesitation that he would give her his entire monthly salary of 3,000 RMB to temporarily solve the urgent needs. He affirmed that it was for her and that there was no need to pay it back.
A child of a church worker planned to study theology, but his family was stuck with financial difficulties. After being told the situation, he gave out 1,000 RMB to them and told the child that if he had any difficulties that he shouldn’t hesitate to contact him.
Some co-workers were sick and hospitalized, he usually gave 200-500 yuan when visiting. He also bought spiritual books for co-workers, Bibles for non-believers, and donated money to the disaster-stricken areas responding to the distress call.
2. A sister preacher, with the church as her home
Originally an accountant in an urban company, a sister is now the head of a village church in a ravine. More than ten years ago, when the chairperson of the local CC (Christian Council) told her that the church in her hometown was on the verge of closing because there was no "head sheep", asking her to take charge of the church, she resolutely gave up her job and returned to her hometown.
In order to rebuild the dilapidated church, going back and forth dozens of times, she went to the town and county to apply for and file for the church construction. Sometimes she went to the office of the relevant department every day to help clean up and fetch water and then sat there quietly, without noise or disturbance. Her sincerity finally impressed the leaders of the relevant departments, and the plans for the church building were approved.
Then, after raising funds and finding a construction team, they started building the church. The sister preacher spent more than ten hours a day working on the construction site with the co-workers and the construction team and taking care of the building materials.
In order to build the church, she took loans and borrowed money in her own name. Her mobile phone was turned on 24 hours a day, because sometimes in the middle of the night or early in the morning, she would receive calls from believers for help.
Feeling embarrassed, she told me, “I regard the hard-built church as my home, but I have ignored the things in my ‘home’”. After she had a grandson, she couldn't help her daughter-in-law to take care of the child. However, fortunately, her daughter-in-law also serves in the church now.
The sister preacher, over 60 years old, has already been over the retirement age. Since the church was poor when the new construction began, she took out all her family savings, so she missed the opportunity and didn't pay social insurance or medical insurance. Therefore, she doesn't even have a pension. A company run by her relatives once invited her to work as an accountant with high pay and guaranteed that she could go to church on weekends, but she refused, saying that she could not live without the church.
(The author of this article is a special contributor to the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Sophia Chen
Christian Testimony Series: Dedication Spirit
