After we helped thalassemia patients who needed blood and money, mostly by establishing relationships with them, it was easy to preach the gospel to them, said a male believer who is responsible for a project helping people with Mediterranean anemia.
Enthusiastic about public welfare such as donating blood, a male Christian named Damin has participated in a rescue team, currently leading a public welfare project that cares for Mediterranean anemia patients.
Recruiting members in the church to participate in visiting families suffering the disease in cities and counties, Damin also observed two phenomena worth reflecting on.
His narratives are written down as follows in the first person:
One phenomenon is that many believers confine their activities inside churches. They know little about public welfare or are too busy in church ministry to be concerned about other things. “It is a waste of time focusing on unbelievers”, not only believers think this way, but also some pastors.
I tell them that to introduce the gospel into China, Western missionaries were engaged in teaching children to learn Chinese characters or conducting medical and health care and were the “earliest community volunteers”.
It is difficult to evangelize, as the officials or people state that Christians say nothing but “believers will be in heaven with Jesus, but unbelievers will be sent to hell after their deaths.”
This reminds us the church should go into society to serve others. Being influential in society, the church could get support. Some churches might obtain the certificate of licenses they have been struggling to get.
Having studied theology at the theological training center in Hainan for two years, I was questioned, “why do you carry out public welfare activities rather than pastoral care?” when I was first involved in the volunteer work.
The vulnerable groups in society who are like orphans and widows mentioned in the Old Testament Bible need our support, otherwise, they will be helpless. I met some disadvantaged people who couldn’t write certain words when applying for subsistence allowance due to Mediterranean anemia or who didn’t know how to use WeChat.
The other phenomenon is that Christian volunteers are anxious to preach the gospel.
Volunteers should be caring and professional, so they still need further training.
Before the visit, I emphasize in advance that we must care about children and their families first instead of sharing the gospel in a hurry, as some volunteers are eager to introduce the gospel. It is troublesome if they report it and it’s better to share about Jesus next time if they trust us.
When you share the gospel with another person, they say they believe in Jesus but their life is unchanged. You need to think about how to conduct further pastoral care, letting thek have the heart to serve and new life to influence their family and friends.
Though I remind the Christian volunteers ahead, they still deliver the gospel eagerly.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
(地贫患者最缺的是啥？缺血液和钱。我们先跟他们建立关系，切实帮助他们以后，再传福音是水到渠成的事情。 一个地中海贫血的项目的负责人说
大民弟兄热心公益，曾经参加过蓝天救援队，也是一名无偿献血志愿者，目前正带领一个关爱地中海贫血（简称“地贫”）患者的公益项目。
因为需要到各市县去探访地贫家庭，大民弟兄争取得到当地教会的支持，希望发掘教会中的弟兄姊妹一起参与探访。在这个过程中，他也观察到一些值得反思的现象
以下为大民弟兄自述：
信仰只囿于教堂内
有许多教会一方面对外部的事工（公益事业）认识不足，一方面教会本身的事工太多，都忙不过来。还有的教会弟兄姊妹认为“外邦的事情，与我有什么相干？”不要说一般弟兄姊妹，就是很多传道人，他们的观念和认知也是这样的。我会跟他们讲，福音刚进入中国的时候，西方宣教士在中国要教孩子学字，开展医疗卫生服务等。其实这些西方宣教士是最早的社区志愿者。
为什么现在传福音难呢？因为政府或者很多人对基督教的认知还停留在这样的层面：基督徒，所谓信主的人，除了会说“信主的上天堂，不信主的下地狱”，还能讲点别的吗？
这恰恰反映了，教会要走进社会，做一些荣神益人的事情。教会在社会上产生一定影响力的时候，自然而然就得到见证了。像很多教会现在没办执照，这样的话能把执照办下来。
我在海南省基督教两会神学培训中心读过两年神学，我刚开始做地贫项目的时候，有些人不理解也不认可，他们和我说：好好的传道你不做，你跑去做什么公益。
旧约圣经当中所说的孤儿寡妇，放在我们当下的环境中来说，他们就是社会的弱势群体，没人帮他们情况下，他们真的很无助。就比如说，有些地贫家庭去办低保，他有些字都不会写，或者有些家长都不会用手机加微信。要不要帮他们？
基督徒志愿者急于传福音
志愿者一是要有爱心，二是要专业。目前我们的志愿者还需要进一步培训。
探访之前，我会提前和基督徒志愿者们强调：我们今天是去探访，要关心关心孩子，关心关心他们家庭，先不要着急传福音。有些基督徒志愿者去探访，上来就传福音。首先，如果人家要举报的话，就很麻烦。第二，咱们慢慢传，你马上给人传福音，是急功近利的基督徒。
再说，你给对方传了福音，假设说他信主了，回头只是嘴上信主。现在有多少人只是挂名基督徒、礼拜天基督徒？进一步的牧养怎么办？都要去想。不是嘴上说我信主了就信主了，要真的有生命，追求成圣。基督徒不是要追求数量，关键是要有侍奉的心，最起码自己的生命有改变，这样的话才能影响到家庭，影响到别人，得到见证。
这些我也都会提前给基督徒志愿者们讲，但讲完以后去探访的时候，他们还是会按自己的想法急着传福音。
https://www.gospeltimes.cn/article/index/id/64573
After we helped thalassemia patients who needed blood and money, mostly by establishing relationships with them, it was easy to preach the gospel to them, said a male believer who is responsible for a project helping people with Mediterranean anemia.
Enthusiastic about public welfare such as donating blood, a male Christian named Damin has participated in a rescue team, currently leading a public welfare project that cares for Mediterranean anemia patients.
Recruiting members in the church to participate in visiting families suffering the disease in cities and counties, Damin also observed two phenomena worth reflecting on.
His narratives are written down as follows in the first person:
One phenomenon is that many believers confine their activities inside churches. They know little about public welfare or are too busy in church ministry to be concerned about other things. “It is a waste of time focusing on unbelievers”, not only believers think this way, but also some pastors.
I tell them that to introduce the gospel into China, Western missionaries were engaged in teaching children to learn Chinese characters or conducting medical and health care and were the “earliest community volunteers”.
It is difficult to evangelize, as the officials or people state that Christians say nothing but “believers will be in heaven with Jesus, but unbelievers will be sent to hell after their deaths.”
This reminds us the church should go into society to serve others. Being influential in society, the church could get support. Some churches might obtain the certificate of licenses they have been struggling to get.
Having studied theology at the theological training center in Hainan for two years, I was questioned, “why do you carry out public welfare activities rather than pastoral care?” when I was first involved in the volunteer work.
The vulnerable groups in society who are like orphans and widows mentioned in the Old Testament Bible need our support, otherwise, they will be helpless. I met some disadvantaged people who couldn’t write certain words when applying for subsistence allowance due to Mediterranean anemia or who didn’t know how to use WeChat.
The other phenomenon is that Christian volunteers are anxious to preach the gospel.
Volunteers should be caring and professional, so they still need further training.
Before the visit, I emphasize in advance that we must care about children and their families first instead of sharing the gospel in a hurry, as some volunteers are eager to introduce the gospel. It is troublesome if they report it and it’s better to share about Jesus next time if they trust us.
When you share the gospel with another person, they say they believe in Jesus but their life is unchanged. You need to think about how to conduct further pastoral care, letting thek have the heart to serve and new life to influence their family and friends.
Though I remind the Christian volunteers ahead, they still deliver the gospel eagerly.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
