The reason why Christians are keen to be involved in philanthropy may be to practice the biblical principles of loving God and loving neighbors as ourselves. The second clause is probably to help us learn how to love through loving others to gain life and spiritual growth.
Below is an interview by Gospel Times, a Chinese Christian newspaper, with a Christian philanthropist on his journey and internal struggles. His pseudonym is Steven Li for safety reasons.
Gospel Times: Why did you join in philanthropy?
Steven Li: There were two original intentions: the first one was to improve and perfect myself. I expected the distillation of my thinking, other co-workers through communication, renewal of my ideas, and the growth of life during the ministry. Meanwhile, I could grow with others through communication and discussions.
Secondly, it was meant to improve my public welfare philosophy and solidate my convictions in doing it. It’s not enough to have a pure heart and passion for philanthropy. The guidance and help from the Holy Spirit are more needed because only when we have the mindset as Christ can we not hold ourselves high.
Gospel Times: Could you explain your experiences in public welfare or social service?
Steven Li: I have a job involved in medial relief, so I’m engaged in medical aid ministries. In these ministries, I am in close touch with disadvantaged groups and sick patients. I’m deeply touched by the sadness and suffering of marginalized groups.
While providing medical aid to them, I also comfort them with caring words and accompany them in the face of hardship. Besides offering physical help and care, we need to give them real, warm company and friendship.
Gospel Times: What social issue are you most concerned about? Why?
Steven Li: I care most about the aid and care for severely ill patients because I’ve seen their difficulties and suffering in my work and ministry. Many families become poor due to sickness. Many patients lose confidence and some even commit suicide. They are truly weak people as their spirits have been affected by tremendous traumas. To make the wounded not cry anymore, I urge everyone to provide poor and sick families humanized care and help.
We also need to encourage those people to help them restore confidence in their life and stay positive and strong to face their future. As a Christian, I invite them to pray together that God may bless them. Though some of them are not Christians, they are pleased to join in praying. Their prayers are very godly. I think that God’s great love is touching their heart.
Gospel Times: Do you have any insight or suggestions based on your work as a philanthropist?
Steven Li: A stream of loving and executive public welfare organizations sprang up in my area. They have contributed to aiding left-behind children and disabled people, saving sick patients, and caring for lonely elderly people.
However, when you look at the entire scope, they have some defects and disadvantages. First, local not-for-profit groups lack money and professionals and have a loose structure, so their influence is limited. To get financial support, some collaborate with businesses that embed their advertisements in their giving. That makes philanthropy utilitarian and secular.
Christian philanthropy is a long road that lasts our lifetime. There will be many difficulties and obstacles as well as sneers, persecution, and obstruction from others, but God grants us infinite faith and courage to keep moving in the direction of ideal philanthropy.
Mother Teresa, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, told us: “If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.”
A philanthropist said, “Jesus is hidden in the life of every poor and sick person, so we’re serving Jesus when we’re serving the afflicted.”
Matthew 10:42 says, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Gospel Times: What quality and capability do you think philanthropists need?
Steven Li: There are three qualities. The first is persistent love. This love must be pure without any selfish motivation and last a lifetime. The second is a will that endures. As there are many difficulties and setbacks on the path, professionals need a determined will and indomitable vitality. The last is self-sacrificial dedication. With such dedication, they can resist utilitarianism and secularism.
They also four capabilities: strong execution and decision-making ability, resiliency, teamwork, and the dependence on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Gospel Times: What contribution can you bring to local philanthropy?
Steven Li: As a member of a medical aid society, my special identity can do something. I can offer first-hand information about charity laws to non-profit groups. I can also serve as a bridge between the groups, enterprises, and governments.
Gospel Times: Have you ever attended any philanthropy-related course or training in the past two years?
Steven Li: I joined in a professional skill training held by a medical aid organization, including laws and regulations, skills, emergency handling, and psychological pressure resistance practice. I was very impressed with an emergency training for common people. The content contained mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, empyrosis rescue, and animal bite emergency treatment. There is always prime time to rescue others. Effective rescue largely enhances recovery rates of affected people. So I was convinced that philanthropy must be a part of public life. In the real philanthropy way, many people do a little, not a single person doing much. Thousands of drops of love mingle in great love.
Gospel Times: Do you have any expectations or ideas about your philanthropic career? Any plan for your personal study?
Steven Li: I expect to learn rich philanthropic ideas, obtain spiritual growth from conversations with professionals, and progress with the encouragement of my peers.
My suggestion for Christian charities lies in less abstruse, high-profile ideas and more emphasis on practice and practicability. I also wish training programs not to be one-size-fits-all. It should be tailored to different personalities and work of students.
I suggest teachers have one-on-one talks and communications with students in which they are expected to put forward constructive advises.
I believe that Christian philanthropy can integrate faith and hope with love under the guidance of and revelation from God. This is similar to what the Bible tells us: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ” (Matthew 5:13-14)
- Translated by Karen Luo
基督徒公益人访谈：探索基督徒的公益之路与心路历程 基督徒热衷公益的原因：第一是为了践行上帝爱人如己的圣经原则，可以荣神益人。第二是为了让自己在爱中学会爱，以达到生命与灵性的双重成长。下面，就是笔者与一位基督徒公益人的访谈录，探索基督徒的公益之路与心路历程。 1. 您参与公益事业的初衷是什么？ 答：我参与公益事业的初衷有两个原因：一是为了提升自我，完善自我。让自己在公益侍奉中获得思想的升华，得到理念的更新，赢得生命的成长。同时，在侍奉过程中，我还可以和其他同工一起交流、探讨，互相勉励、鼓舞。在团契中共同进步，一起成长。 二是为了让自己的公益理念更加完善，慈善信念更加坚定。我知道做公益光靠一颗单纯的爱心和一腔热忱是不够的，更需要有圣灵的引导与帮助，因为只有在公益事业中做到以基督的心为心，才能不高举自己，不迷失自我，从而真正达到爱神爱人的标杆。 2. 请阐述您在公益慈善或社会服务领域的工作经历及相关经验。 答：我平时从事与医疗救助相关的工作，会亲身参与到医疗救助的事工中来。在医疗救助中，我会近距离地接触到弱势群体和病弱患者本身。弱势群体的悲伤、眼泪，我也是深有感触。我在尽力为他们提供医疗救助的同时，也会用温暖的话语安慰他们，用安静的陪伴与他们一起面对苦难。我觉得对于弱势群体，我们除了要给予他们物质上的关怀与帮助外，还需要在精神上给予他们切实、温暖的陪伴与慰藉。 3. 当前您最关心的社会议题是什么？为什么？请阐述。 答：因为我从事医疗救助的工作，亲眼看见了许多患重病的弱势群体的艰难与痛苦，所以我最关心的社会议题就是对重病患者的救助与关怀。有好多家庭因病致贫，也有好多患者因病对生活失去了信心，甚至还有的走上了轻生的道路。他们的心灵受到了极大的创伤，他们是真正的弱者。为了让受伤的人不再哭泣，所以我呼吁大家走近贫病之家，给他们人性化的关怀与帮助。 我觉得对于重病患者，我们除了应该为他们医疗救助之外，还应该鼓舞他们的士气，让他们恢复生活的信心，帮助他们更加乐观、更加坚强地面对未来的生活。当然，在救助过程中，作为基督徒，我会邀请他们一起来祈祷，求上帝祝福他们。虽然他们当然有些人还不是基督徒，但他们一听说有人为他们祈祷，他们会很乐意参与到祈祷中来，而他们祈祷的态度也是非常虔诚的。我想这就是上帝的大爱感染着他们的心灵。 4. 您对当地的公益慈善事业的发展有何认识和看法？ 答：当前我所在的地区涌现出了一大批富有爱心、有执行力的公益组织。这些爱心机构在帮助留守儿童、救助重病患者、关怀孤寡老人、扶持残障人士等方面做出了贡献。但是，纵观全局，深入思考，我会发现该地区的公益组织还存在一些不足和缺陷。 首先是民间公益组织缺乏资金的支持，而且公益专业人才也比较稀缺，组织机构也比较松散，所以他们的公益之路走得比较艰难，收效也甚微。 第二是有些公益组织为了得到资金支持，和一些商家合作，而商家又在公益活动中变相地植入了广告宣传。这就让公益行动掺入了功利主义，变得世俗化 是的，基督徒的公益事业是一条漫长的道路，且是需要坚持一生。在这期间，会遭遇许多艰难、许多挫折，还有来自他人的冷眼与嘲讽，甚至是逼迫与阻挠，但是上帝赐予我们无限的信心与勇气，会一直朝着公益理想的方向砥砺前行。就像诺贝尔和平奖得主特蕾莎修女所告诉我们的：“即使你是友善的，人们可能还会说你自私和动机不良，无论如何，你还是要友善！当你成功的时候，你会有一些虚假的朋友，和一些真实的敌人，无论如何，你还是要取得成功！即使你是诚实的和坦率的，人们可能还是会欺骗你，无论如何，你还是要诚实和坦率！你多年来建造的东西，有人在一夜之间把它摧毁，无论如何，你还是要去建造。如果你找到了平安和喜乐，他们可能会妒忌你，无论如何，你还是要喜乐！你今天做了善事，人们往往明天就会忘记，无论如何，你还是要做善事！即使把你最好的东西给了这个世界，也许这些东西永远都不够，无论如何，把你最好的东西给这个世界。” 我们不但要在艰难的环境中坚持服侍他人、爱他人，还要带着喜乐的心服侍，且是面带微笑地照顾他人。就像这一位公益人所说的：“每一个贫病患难之人的生命里面都隐藏着耶稣，所以，我们基督徒在服侍困苦之人时，同时也是在服侍耶稣。”就像圣经里所说：“无论何人、因为门徒的名、只把一杯凉水给这小子里的一个喝、我实在告诉你们、这人不能不得赏赐。（太10：42）” 5. 您认为公益人才需要具备哪些基本的素质及能力？ 答：我觉得公益人才应该具备以下三大素质：第一就是执着的爱心。这爱心必须纯净，不掺杂任何功利性质。而且爱心必须是持续不断的，且能持守一生之久的。第二就是恒久的毅力。因为公益道路会面临许多艰难与挫折，这就需要公益人才有坚定的意志力和顽强的生命力。第三就是奉献心志的大我情怀。只有拥有这种素质，公益人才能抵制功利化与世俗化。 公益人才应该具备四大能力：一是果敢的执行力和决策力。二是强韧的抗挫折能力和抗压能力，让自己可以在突发事件和紧急事件中处变不惊，沉着淡定。三是团队协作的能力。公益之路靠一个人的力量所做的事情是微乎其微的。当然第四点就是基督徒的专利，那就是要依靠圣灵的引导与带领。 6. 您觉得自己能为当地的公益行业带来何种独特的贡献？ 答：作为医疗救助会的一员，我觉得我的特殊身份可以为公益事业贡献一份力量。我可以在第一时间为公益组织提供国家慈善相关法律政策的第一手信息，让公益组织的行动更具规则化。同时，我还可以在公益组织、企业和政府这三者之间搭建一座沟通的桥梁。让企业助力公益行动，让公益拥有更多的资金，也让公益更具社会影响力。让政府扶持公益，让公益成为民族正能量，让公益成为国家精神文明的见证。 7. 在过去两年中，您是否参加过公益相关的课程学习或培训等活动？若有，请介绍您印象最深的一次活动，并阐述理由。 答：在医疗救助机构，我参加了职业技能培训，这其中包括医疗救助的相关法规，专业技能学习，应急事件处理，抗压心理训练等等。我印象比较深刻的一次活动就是针对广大普通民众急救处理的培训，包括人工呼吸，心肺复苏术，烧烫伤急救处理，动物咬伤应急处理等等。这次活动让我深刻感受到急救术必须在普通群众中间得到推广与普及。因为抢救都有黄金时间，在有效时间内进行的急救将大大提升患者复苏率。所这次活动，也让我感触到：公益必须走进大众。真正的公益之路不是一个人做了很多，而是许多人做了一点点。这千千万万个点滴汇聚，就是醇厚深邃的大爱彰显。 8. 您对自己的公益事业有何期待或建议？对个人未来的学习有何规划？ 答：我对自己公益事业的期待是：自己可以在其间学习到丰富的公益理念，在与老师的对话中获得真正的生命成长，在与伙伴的共勉中得到真实的心灵进步。 我对基督徒公益机构的建议是：少些艰深、高调的理论，更加注重实践与实用性。让学到的公益理念可以在实际工作中得到应用和拓展。我还希望研修班不再是一刀切的教学方式，可以根据学员不同的个性特点、工作性质，为我们制定个性化的学习方案。 我还建议老师是否可以和学员进行单独对话与交流，为学员今后的公益事业提出具有建设性的建议，并为学员今后的公益规划出谋划策。 我相信在上帝的带领与启迪下，基督徒公益人的爱心事业一定可以做到信、望、爱的三效合一，我们的慈善之心一定会发出闪闪的光芒，真正让自己成为世界上的光和盐，做到爱神爱人、荣神益人。这就是圣经上所说的：“你们是世上的盐，盐若失了味，怎能叫他再咸呢？以后无用，不过丢在外面，被人践踏了。你们是世上的光，城造在山上，是不能隐藏的。”（太5：13-14）
The reason why Christians are keen to be involved in philanthropy may be to practice the biblical principles of loving God and loving neighbors as ourselves. The second clause is probably to help us learn how to love through loving others to gain life and spiritual growth.
Below is an interview by Gospel Times, a Chinese Christian newspaper, with a Christian philanthropist on his journey and internal struggles. His pseudonym is Steven Li for safety reasons.
Gospel Times: Why did you join in philanthropy?
Steven Li: There were two original intentions: the first one was to improve and perfect myself. I expected the distillation of my thinking, other co-workers through communication, renewal of my ideas, and the growth of life during the ministry. Meanwhile, I could grow with others through communication and discussions.
Secondly, it was meant to improve my public welfare philosophy and solidate my convictions in doing it. It’s not enough to have a pure heart and passion for philanthropy. The guidance and help from the Holy Spirit are more needed because only when we have the mindset as Christ can we not hold ourselves high.
Gospel Times: Could you explain your experiences in public welfare or social service?
Steven Li: I have a job involved in medial relief, so I’m engaged in medical aid ministries. In these ministries, I am in close touch with disadvantaged groups and sick patients. I’m deeply touched by the sadness and suffering of marginalized groups.
While providing medical aid to them, I also comfort them with caring words and accompany them in the face of hardship. Besides offering physical help and care, we need to give them real, warm company and friendship.
Gospel Times: What social issue are you most concerned about? Why?
Steven Li: I care most about the aid and care for severely ill patients because I’ve seen their difficulties and suffering in my work and ministry. Many families become poor due to sickness. Many patients lose confidence and some even commit suicide. They are truly weak people as their spirits have been affected by tremendous traumas. To make the wounded not cry anymore, I urge everyone to provide poor and sick families humanized care and help.
We also need to encourage those people to help them restore confidence in their life and stay positive and strong to face their future. As a Christian, I invite them to pray together that God may bless them. Though some of them are not Christians, they are pleased to join in praying. Their prayers are very godly. I think that God’s great love is touching their heart.
Gospel Times: Do you have any insight or suggestions based on your work as a philanthropist?
Steven Li: A stream of loving and executive public welfare organizations sprang up in my area. They have contributed to aiding left-behind children and disabled people, saving sick patients, and caring for lonely elderly people.
However, when you look at the entire scope, they have some defects and disadvantages. First, local not-for-profit groups lack money and professionals and have a loose structure, so their influence is limited. To get financial support, some collaborate with businesses that embed their advertisements in their giving. That makes philanthropy utilitarian and secular.
Christian philanthropy is a long road that lasts our lifetime. There will be many difficulties and obstacles as well as sneers, persecution, and obstruction from others, but God grants us infinite faith and courage to keep moving in the direction of ideal philanthropy.
Mother Teresa, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, told us: “If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.”
A philanthropist said, “Jesus is hidden in the life of every poor and sick person, so we’re serving Jesus when we’re serving the afflicted.”
Matthew 10:42 says, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Gospel Times: What quality and capability do you think philanthropists need?
Steven Li: There are three qualities. The first is persistent love. This love must be pure without any selfish motivation and last a lifetime. The second is a will that endures. As there are many difficulties and setbacks on the path, professionals need a determined will and indomitable vitality. The last is self-sacrificial dedication. With such dedication, they can resist utilitarianism and secularism.
They also four capabilities: strong execution and decision-making ability, resiliency, teamwork, and the dependence on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Gospel Times: What contribution can you bring to local philanthropy?
Steven Li: As a member of a medical aid society, my special identity can do something. I can offer first-hand information about charity laws to non-profit groups. I can also serve as a bridge between the groups, enterprises, and governments.
Gospel Times: Have you ever attended any philanthropy-related course or training in the past two years?
Steven Li: I joined in a professional skill training held by a medical aid organization, including laws and regulations, skills, emergency handling, and psychological pressure resistance practice. I was very impressed with an emergency training for common people. The content contained mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, empyrosis rescue, and animal bite emergency treatment. There is always prime time to rescue others. Effective rescue largely enhances recovery rates of affected people. So I was convinced that philanthropy must be a part of public life. In the real philanthropy way, many people do a little, not a single person doing much. Thousands of drops of love mingle in great love.
Gospel Times: Do you have any expectations or ideas about your philanthropic career? Any plan for your personal study?
Steven Li: I expect to learn rich philanthropic ideas, obtain spiritual growth from conversations with professionals, and progress with the encouragement of my peers.
My suggestion for Christian charities lies in less abstruse, high-profile ideas and more emphasis on practice and practicability. I also wish training programs not to be one-size-fits-all. It should be tailored to different personalities and work of students.
I suggest teachers have one-on-one talks and communications with students in which they are expected to put forward constructive advises.
I believe that Christian philanthropy can integrate faith and hope with love under the guidance of and revelation from God. This is similar to what the Bible tells us: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ” (Matthew 5:13-14)
- Translated by Karen Luo
Christian Philanthropist: Jesus is Hidden in Every Poor, Sick Person
