There are many ways to express love, such as interceding for and visiting church members who are in difficult situations, or providing financial assistance when needed to help them through a rough time.
In one church, we met a female believer who teaches people how to fish instead of just giving them fish.
This female Christian surnamed Xu owns a business and also participates in church ministries such as visitation and preaching. Xu's family was of average means in the beginning, but as she and her husband gained experience and seized opportunities in their hard work, they were able to start a business after meeting a "life changer," which has grown into a large enterprise in only about ten years of development.
Xu has long been providing regular financial support for the education of children from poorer families and has helped other church members in need by giving them money and goods. When she goes on visitations, she also prepares gifts at her own expense.
In addition, Xu often looks for or provides jobs for some of the church members who are unemployed. Since her company is a joint-stock company, she stepped down from the management after it developed, so it is actually not easy for her to find and give someone a job in her company.
Also, since the jobs Xu offers are either technical or management positions, she makes sure that there are good teachers to teach the newly hired believers technical and management skills.
With her help, some church members are working again and have learned skills that will last a lifetime. A few days ago, I talked to a male believer who left Xu's company for another company. He said that because he was well trained in both technical and management aspects at Xu's company, he became very popular with other companies and was offered much higher salaries. Seeing such growth in these Christians, Xu is very pleased.
Not only can she help these believers financially and spiritually, but she can also provide them with livelihood skills and opportunities for further development so that they can provide for their families with their own skilled hands and even earn more than enough.
Churches should learn from Xu's example to teach their members "how to fish" instead of just giving them "fish"-and help their members experience God, be equipped, and grow.
(This article was originally published by the Gospel Times and the author is a Christian in Jiangsu.)
- Translated by Joyce Leung
在信徒中间表达爱有很多种方式，比如某位肢体遇到困难了，为其献上代祷、进行探访；在必要的时候会给予金钱，以帮助其度过难关。
我们在一间教会中就遇见了一位女信徒往往会授人以渔而不是单单的授人以鱼。
这位信徒姓徐办公司，也参与教会探访、讲道等方面的服侍。起初，徐姊妹的家境一般 但和丈夫在打拼中积累了经验、抓住了机会，也遇到了“贵人”，办起了公司。发展至今日虽然只有十多年的时间，但已经成为一家大型公司。
徐姊妹会固定且长期的支持一些家境比较贫寒的孩子读书；也会帮助教会中比较贫穷的信徒，给钱、给物。探访中，也会自费买些礼品。
除此之外，徐经常会为一些失业的信徒寻找或提供一些工作岗位。因为公司属于股份制，发展起来之后，她就退出管理层时候。所以在她的公司里面为别人提供一份工作也并不是一件容易的事。
而徐姊妹为信徒所提供的工种，要么是技术岗，要么就是管理岗。为此，徐还为新入职的信徒找好老师，教他们技术和管理技巧。
在她的帮助下，一些肢体重新有了工作岗位，并且学到终身受用的技术。前几天，我就接触到从她公司离职进入到另一家公司工作的男信徒。他说，在徐的公司学到了技术、掌握了管理技巧，很受其他公司的欢迎，工资也高了很多。为此，徐姊妹异常高兴，因为看到了他们的成长。
她并不仅仅是在金钱上、属灵上帮助信徒，更是授予了他们谋生的技能和提升的机会。使他们能够靠着一双技能的手，养活一家老小，甚至有余。
其实，教会也应当学习徐姊妹做法，帮助信徒自己经历神、去装备、去提升。给予他们“渔”而不只是一味的给“鱼”。
注：本文为特约/自由撰稿人文章，作者系江苏一名传道人
一位女信徒提供工作和培训给没有技能的信徒，帮助他们
There are many ways to express love, such as interceding for and visiting church members who are in difficult situations, or providing financial assistance when needed to help them through a rough time.
In one church, we met a female believer who teaches people how to fish instead of just giving them fish.
This female Christian surnamed Xu owns a business and also participates in church ministries such as visitation and preaching. Xu's family was of average means in the beginning, but as she and her husband gained experience and seized opportunities in their hard work, they were able to start a business after meeting a "life changer," which has grown into a large enterprise in only about ten years of development.
Xu has long been providing regular financial support for the education of children from poorer families and has helped other church members in need by giving them money and goods. When she goes on visitations, she also prepares gifts at her own expense.
In addition, Xu often looks for or provides jobs for some of the church members who are unemployed. Since her company is a joint-stock company, she stepped down from the management after it developed, so it is actually not easy for her to find and give someone a job in her company.
Also, since the jobs Xu offers are either technical or management positions, she makes sure that there are good teachers to teach the newly hired believers technical and management skills.
With her help, some church members are working again and have learned skills that will last a lifetime. A few days ago, I talked to a male believer who left Xu's company for another company. He said that because he was well trained in both technical and management aspects at Xu's company, he became very popular with other companies and was offered much higher salaries. Seeing such growth in these Christians, Xu is very pleased.
Not only can she help these believers financially and spiritually, but she can also provide them with livelihood skills and opportunities for further development so that they can provide for their families with their own skilled hands and even earn more than enough.
Churches should learn from Xu's example to teach their members "how to fish" instead of just giving them "fish"-and help their members experience God, be equipped, and grow.
(This article was originally published by the Gospel Times and the author is a Christian in Jiangsu.)
- Translated by Joyce Leung
Christian Businesswoman Helps Believers by Providing Jobs, Training
