At present, social services and charity of most churches are still fixed on aiding the poor and the disabled, visiting and caring, and helping the elderly and filial piety. The forms are basically “donating money”. The church with a little more capabilities can provide free clinics, popularize legal knowledge, offer marriage and family counseling, and care for community streets and even run nursing homes without religious backgrounds. Generally speaking, the current social service is sporadic and short-lived, and the funds rely on the church’s income of donation. At the same time, believers’ initiation and participation in social services is relatively low.
So how can a grassroots church to take steps further from the means of “giving money” in social services? I recently attended the inaugural meeting of a special social service committee of a local CC&TSPM. I observed that the host church is actively using the following three types of Christians.
I. Pastors
Before practice, ideas come first. A pastor’s understanding of social service ministry and teaching level determine the degree of cognition and enthusiasm of most Christians in the church. In the meeting, the leading pastor of the county’s central church first shared a testimony themed on social service.
He elaborated the necessity for his church to set up special social service ministries and encourage believers to participate in charity from four aspects: the Christian view of service, the life of Jesus Christ, the concept and practical needs of social service, and the expression of Christian faith. He mentioned that in addition to preaching and Bible study, a church should also provide a variety of ministry platforms for believers. Let those who are willing to pray, pray and those who are willing to praise, praise. Similarly, let those who are willing to help others help. The life of Jesus Christ is explained to the world as love, going deep into people and caring for the disadvantaged groups; the life of Jesus should be the cause of a church. At the same time, social service is the window for the church to the outside world, and it is the best way to express the Chinanization of Christianity. The highest state of faith is helping others realize their dreams, and serving those in need is a sign of the maturity of Christian faith.
As a tangible institution, the leader of a church, namely the pastor, should not only pay attention to internal teaching and management, but also deal with the relationship with the external environment. From the surrounding communities to the society and the country, good social services are the key to deal with the relationship between the church and its environment. Many churches definitely lack donation and professional capability, but in some areas, the participation of churches in disaster relief and poverty alleviation is still based on the appeal and advocacy of local governments or hard targets. Even some churches would rather deposit their entire surplus in the bank than take the initiative to help those who fall into poverty. All these cannot be said to be the pastor’s dereliction of duty in understanding and teaching social service ministry. Therefore, in order to activate the charity work in a grass-roots church, what must first be improved are the pastor’s cognition, and teaching and leading role.
II. Professional Christians, especially entrepreneurs
At the meeting, the vast majority of the participants were not pastoral workers but entrepreneurs among believers.
Usually, the participants at decision-making and summary meetings of social service ministries in many churches are pastors and co-workers. This is also because the social service in those churches still ceases at the stage described above, and it has not developed to the degree of project incubation and specialization. The main management mode is still the administrative management within the church, and the decision-making level is basically consistent with the management of church affairs, such as centralized management, church committee system, and related peer decision-making supervision system.
In order not to make social services limited to simple and sporadic relief activities and truly discover and develop social service projects that can be standardized for long-term, Christian entrepreneurs need to participate in decision-making meetings. During the meeting I attended, the pastor invited participating entrepreneurs to express their opinions after a sermon. Compared with pastors and colleagues, entrepreneurs have a sharper, more specific and practical perception of social pain points and needs. They all show the first sight and consideration of the needy people and feasible projects related to their industry. The foothold of their voices is not “what the problem is”, but “what we can do about it”.
They also have higher execution and courage than ordinary people. It is very different from holding meetings with church colleagues. Unlike church staffers, entrepreneurs rarely deny others’ proposals with such words as “infeasible”, “reality does not allow it” and “impossible”. They only focus on expressing the projects they want to do, trying, failing, reflecting and trying again until they succeed. Such is their mindset and style – “Let’s do it bit by bit first, and when we do it, everything will slowly surface.” This is obviously beneficial to the development of any ministry.
Social service ministries need financial support. Entrepreneurial Christians have funds, links, resources, approaches, and knowledge of laws and regulations, which will make the discussion at a meeting more likely to move from ideas to practice.
Moreover, the so-called entrepreneurs are not necessarily icons of business. Small-scale, self-employed Christians may have the above qualities for their broad social contacts and profound expertise in their fields.
It is worth mentioning that the participating entrepreneurs were honored and happy to be invited to the inaugural meeting. Some entrepreneurs did not like church meetings, but after learning its theme details, they felt sorry for their lack of love in daily lives and expressed their determination to participate and support.
III. Social service and charity professional or research experts
How can social service ministries go further from “giving money”? The 2024 social service committee of the local CC&TSPM gave key points that it is necessary to “find a small incision and plan a good project”. The Guangdong CC&TSPM also pointed out that it is necessary to create diversity, features and quality, establish brand effect and form a long-term mechanism with the church as a unit. These are inseparable from the analysis and guidance of professionals.
Because churches are interested in developing long-term professional projects, the host church invited its elder, who has served the disabled for many years, to speak. Meanwhile, relevant professionals were invited to illustrate the overall situation and operation concept of charity, and study the Christian social service ministry projects from the perspective of social institutions. Feasible steps of project incubation such as vision, goal and strategy, and holding the group to warm up, exchange and unite were presented. There were also talks on expanding funds and funding channels, and principles that social care should be separated from evangelism.
Disaster relief, poverty alleviation, free clinics are traditional projects of the church’s social and charity work, but it should respond to the new needs put forward by the times. Simultaneously, the way to solve the problem should change from being simple and rough to being meticulous and gentle, from temporary help to long-term support. It should be done in a way that the recipients are most willing to accept and maximizes their long-term interests. All these require the church and Christians not to be lazy with their conscience in this ministry, but to think deeply from the center of the gospel.
The reason why the above-mentioned church can unite pastors, entrepreneurs and professionals is inseparable from the usual level of its daily caring, and the close relationship between pastors and believers. The smooth development of any ministry is based on the real efforts of regular cares. I hope that each church can find out what is missing and fill in the gaps, develop special social service ministries based on local needs, and unite the knowledge and strength of pastors, Christian entrepreneurs and professionals. Let churches’ social services and charity work be done increasingly matching God’s mind and people’s heart.
- Translated by Charlie Li
目前多数教会的社会服务和慈善事工依然止步于济贫赈灾、救困助残、探访关怀、助老孝老等活动类型，基本处于“捐献金钱”的状态。稍有能力的堂点会开展义诊、法律知识普及、婚姻家庭辅导、社区街道关怀乃至办去宗教化背景的养老院等。总体呈现零星短暂、资金依托教会奉献的样貌，同时信徒发起和参与社会服务的自主性相对较弱。
如何让一个基层堂点有可能在社会服务事工领域从“给钱”的手段再向前迈一步？笔者近期参加一个基层基督教两会社会服务专项委员会成立会议，观察到堂点发动以下三类人员的积极。
一，牧者
实践之前，观念先行。牧者对社会服务事工的认识层次与教导水平决定了堂内大部分基督徒对该项事工的认知和热心程度。笔者参与的该次会议中，县中心堂核心牧者先围绕社会服务主题，做证道分享。
他从基督徒的事奉观、耶稣基督的生命、社会服务的理念与现实需要，以及基督教信仰表达四个方面解释教会成立专项社会服务事工、鼓励信徒参与慈善的必要性。他提及，教会除了讲道查经，还应该为信徒提供多种服侍平台。让愿意祷告的去祷告、愿意赞美的去赞美，同样，让愿意帮助人的能帮助人。耶稣基督的一生向世人诠释的就是爱，深入人群，关怀弱势群体，是耶稣的生活，也应当是教会的事业。同时，社会服务是教会对外展现的窗口，是基督教中国化最好的表现方式。而信仰的最高境界是成人之美，服侍有需要的人是基督徒信仰成熟的表现。
教会作为一个有形有体的机构，其负责人也就是牧者，不仅要关注内部教导与管理，也要处理与外部环境的关系。小到周边社区，大至社会与国家，良性的社会服务都是处理好教会与环境关系的切入口。当然不乏有许多教会确实在奉献和专业能力上有欠缺，但在有些地区，教会对赈灾、助困、助贫的参与还都建立在地区政府的呼吁倡导或硬性指标之下；甚至有些教会宁愿将奉献盈余全部存入银行，也不曾主动帮助落在贫困中的人。凡此种种，不能不说是牧者对社会服务事工认识和教导的失职。因此，想激活基层堂点的慈善事工，先要提高牧者认知，发挥其教导和引领作用。
二，职场基督徒尤指企业家群体
笔者参与的这场教会社会服务事工专委会发起会议上，参会人员中绝大多数的不是教牧性同工，而是信徒当中的企业家群体。
许多教会的社会服务事工决策和总结会议上，出席者基本以牧者和同工为主体。这也是因为教会内社会服务还停留在本文首段所描述的阶段，也未发展到项目孵化、专业化的程度。主要管理方式依然还是教会内的行政管理，决策层基本与教会事务管理保持一致，一言堂、堂委制、相关同工决策监督制等。
要想让社会服务不再停留于简单零星的救济活动，真正发现、发展出可以长期规范进行的社会服务项目，决策会议上需要企业家基督徒的参与。笔者参与的这场会议中，证道结束后，牧者邀请与会企业家发表意见。与牧者和教会同工相比，企业家对社会痛点与需求的感知更敏锐、更具体、更实际；并且都展现出对本行业相关的有需要人群及可行项目的先行看见与思考。他们发言的落脚点不是“问题是什么样子”，而是“我们可以怎么做”。
他们同时具备高于普通人的执行力和魄力。跟教会同工开会大不相同，他们很少以“行不通”、“现实情况不允许”、“做不到”来否定别人的提议；他们只专注表达自己想做的项目，尝试、失败、想方法、再尝试，直到成功，是他们的思维模式和行事风格——“咱们先一点一点做，在做的时候，所有一切都会慢慢浮出水面。”这显然有利于任何事工的推进发展。
当然，社会服务事工需要资金支持，企业家基督徒有资金、有联络人、有资源，有方法，熟悉法律法规，将使会议讨论更有可能从文本走向现实。
再者所谓企业家，也并非要多么高的规格。小型个体户、有见证的职场基督徒，因其接触社会面的广度和本人所在专业的深度，都可能具备以上素质。
值得一提的是，与会企业家群体非常荣幸且开心自己被邀请出席教会社会服务事工决策会议。有人本不愿参加教会会议，但发现是这个主题后，后悔自己平日缺乏爱心，表达了参与和支持的决心。
三，社会服务和公益慈善从业人员或研究专家
教会社会服务事工如何从“给钱”更进一步，全国两会本届社会服务委员会2024年重点工作要点中指出，要“找准小切口、谋划好项目”。广东两会也指出要创建多元化、有亮点、创品质，以堂会为单位，建立品牌效应，形成长效机制。这些都离不开专业人士的分析指导。
笔者参与的这次会议上，因教会有志于发展长期专业化项目，所以邀请本教会已经在助残公益事业中有多年服侍经验的长老做分享。同时邀请相关人士梳理主内公益慈善事业整体情况和操作理念，从社会机构的角度看主内社会服务事工项目；整理出诸如异象、目标、策略的项目孵化可行步骤，抱团取暖交流联合的方向；扩充资金和资金渠道，并且点出社会关怀要与传福音分离的原则等等。
赈灾、助困、济贫、义诊等等方式是教会社会关怀和慈善事工的传统项目，但教会要回应时代提出的新需要。同时解决问题的方式也要从简单粗糙到细致温柔，从一时帮助到长久扶持；要以受助者最愿意接受、对受助者长远利益最大化的方式来进行。而这些都要求教会和基督徒在这项事工上不做良心的偷懒，从福音的心肠出发，深刻思考。
当然，上述该堂之所以能做到联合牧者、企业家信徒和专业人士，与平时堂内牧养水平、牧者信徒关系紧密等离不开。任何事工的顺利开展都立足于平日牧养的真功夫。盼望每个堂会能查缺补漏，发展立足本地需要的特色社会服务事工，联合牧者、职场基督徒和专业人士的见识与力量；让教会的社会关怀和慈善事工越来越做在上帝的心意和人的喜悦中。
基层堂会社会服务事工如何更进一步？——请在决策会议上邀请这三类基督徒
At present, social services and charity of most churches are still fixed on aiding the poor and the disabled, visiting and caring, and helping the elderly and filial piety. The forms are basically “donating money”. The church with a little more capabilities can provide free clinics, popularize legal knowledge, offer marriage and family counseling, and care for community streets and even run nursing homes without religious backgrounds. Generally speaking, the current social service is sporadic and short-lived, and the funds rely on the church’s income of donation. At the same time, believers’ initiation and participation in social services is relatively low.
So how can a grassroots church to take steps further from the means of “giving money” in social services? I recently attended the inaugural meeting of a special social service committee of a local CC&TSPM. I observed that the host church is actively using the following three types of Christians.
I. Pastors
Before practice, ideas come first. A pastor’s understanding of social service ministry and teaching level determine the degree of cognition and enthusiasm of most Christians in the church. In the meeting, the leading pastor of the county’s central church first shared a testimony themed on social service.
He elaborated the necessity for his church to set up special social service ministries and encourage believers to participate in charity from four aspects: the Christian view of service, the life of Jesus Christ, the concept and practical needs of social service, and the expression of Christian faith. He mentioned that in addition to preaching and Bible study, a church should also provide a variety of ministry platforms for believers. Let those who are willing to pray, pray and those who are willing to praise, praise. Similarly, let those who are willing to help others help. The life of Jesus Christ is explained to the world as love, going deep into people and caring for the disadvantaged groups; the life of Jesus should be the cause of a church. At the same time, social service is the window for the church to the outside world, and it is the best way to express the Chinanization of Christianity. The highest state of faith is helping others realize their dreams, and serving those in need is a sign of the maturity of Christian faith.
As a tangible institution, the leader of a church, namely the pastor, should not only pay attention to internal teaching and management, but also deal with the relationship with the external environment. From the surrounding communities to the society and the country, good social services are the key to deal with the relationship between the church and its environment. Many churches definitely lack donation and professional capability, but in some areas, the participation of churches in disaster relief and poverty alleviation is still based on the appeal and advocacy of local governments or hard targets. Even some churches would rather deposit their entire surplus in the bank than take the initiative to help those who fall into poverty. All these cannot be said to be the pastor’s dereliction of duty in understanding and teaching social service ministry. Therefore, in order to activate the charity work in a grass-roots church, what must first be improved are the pastor’s cognition, and teaching and leading role.
II. Professional Christians, especially entrepreneurs
At the meeting, the vast majority of the participants were not pastoral workers but entrepreneurs among believers.
Usually, the participants at decision-making and summary meetings of social service ministries in many churches are pastors and co-workers. This is also because the social service in those churches still ceases at the stage described above, and it has not developed to the degree of project incubation and specialization. The main management mode is still the administrative management within the church, and the decision-making level is basically consistent with the management of church affairs, such as centralized management, church committee system, and related peer decision-making supervision system.
In order not to make social services limited to simple and sporadic relief activities and truly discover and develop social service projects that can be standardized for long-term, Christian entrepreneurs need to participate in decision-making meetings. During the meeting I attended, the pastor invited participating entrepreneurs to express their opinions after a sermon. Compared with pastors and colleagues, entrepreneurs have a sharper, more specific and practical perception of social pain points and needs. They all show the first sight and consideration of the needy people and feasible projects related to their industry. The foothold of their voices is not “what the problem is”, but “what we can do about it”.
They also have higher execution and courage than ordinary people. It is very different from holding meetings with church colleagues. Unlike church staffers, entrepreneurs rarely deny others’ proposals with such words as “infeasible”, “reality does not allow it” and “impossible”. They only focus on expressing the projects they want to do, trying, failing, reflecting and trying again until they succeed. Such is their mindset and style – “Let’s do it bit by bit first, and when we do it, everything will slowly surface.” This is obviously beneficial to the development of any ministry.
Social service ministries need financial support. Entrepreneurial Christians have funds, links, resources, approaches, and knowledge of laws and regulations, which will make the discussion at a meeting more likely to move from ideas to practice.
Moreover, the so-called entrepreneurs are not necessarily icons of business. Small-scale, self-employed Christians may have the above qualities for their broad social contacts and profound expertise in their fields.
It is worth mentioning that the participating entrepreneurs were honored and happy to be invited to the inaugural meeting. Some entrepreneurs did not like church meetings, but after learning its theme details, they felt sorry for their lack of love in daily lives and expressed their determination to participate and support.
III. Social service and charity professional or research experts
How can social service ministries go further from “giving money”? The 2024 social service committee of the local CC&TSPM gave key points that it is necessary to “find a small incision and plan a good project”. The Guangdong CC&TSPM also pointed out that it is necessary to create diversity, features and quality, establish brand effect and form a long-term mechanism with the church as a unit. These are inseparable from the analysis and guidance of professionals.
Because churches are interested in developing long-term professional projects, the host church invited its elder, who has served the disabled for many years, to speak. Meanwhile, relevant professionals were invited to illustrate the overall situation and operation concept of charity, and study the Christian social service ministry projects from the perspective of social institutions. Feasible steps of project incubation such as vision, goal and strategy, and holding the group to warm up, exchange and unite were presented. There were also talks on expanding funds and funding channels, and principles that social care should be separated from evangelism.
Disaster relief, poverty alleviation, free clinics are traditional projects of the church’s social and charity work, but it should respond to the new needs put forward by the times. Simultaneously, the way to solve the problem should change from being simple and rough to being meticulous and gentle, from temporary help to long-term support. It should be done in a way that the recipients are most willing to accept and maximizes their long-term interests. All these require the church and Christians not to be lazy with their conscience in this ministry, but to think deeply from the center of the gospel.
The reason why the above-mentioned church can unite pastors, entrepreneurs and professionals is inseparable from the usual level of its daily caring, and the close relationship between pastors and believers. The smooth development of any ministry is based on the real efforts of regular cares. I hope that each church can find out what is missing and fill in the gaps, develop special social service ministries based on local needs, and unite the knowledge and strength of pastors, Christian entrepreneurs and professionals. Let churches’ social services and charity work be done increasingly matching God’s mind and people’s heart.
- Translated by Charlie Li
Invite Three Types of Christians to Develop Social Services at Grassroots Churches
