Once, a seminary student's act of giving monthly donations of 100 to 200 yuan to other seminarians, despite receiving a meager salary as a church servant after graduation, deeply moved me during our conversation. He shared that he had faced financial constraints during his theology studies, and God moved many believers to contribute towards his living expenses. This gesture, although not much, saved him from hunger and strengthened his faith.
He now strives to pass this love forward, saying, "I have received God's grace for free, and now I should pass this love to others freely. Although my salary is not high, I will try my best to benefit others."
In the church, various people convey the love of the Lord, and some do so silently. For instance, I know a few elderly women whose average age exceeds seventy, and although they are not well-versed in the Bible, they practice what they comprehend.
Despite being rural folks with no retirement fund, some still labor on a few acres of land. They pool their hard-earned savings together, and whenever they attain seven, eight hundred, or one thousand yuan, they donate it to seminary students or impoverished families.
This moved me greatly, and a divinity student who benefited from their help said, "I am grateful, not only for the monetary assistance but also for their love towards me. Even my own grandmother has never done that, but a group of people unrelated to me love me so much for the Lord's sake. Is there any reason why I should not work hard? Whenever I feel weak and lazy, I remind myself of their love for God and me, and I tell myself that I must work hard and never let their love or God's grace down!"
(The author of this article is a volunteer at a grassroots church in Jiangsu.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
一次和一位神学生交通，我很受感动。这位神学生已经神学毕业参与侍奉了，也拿一点工资了。虽然不多，但他每个月总是会拿出100元或200元奉献给其他的神学生。他说因为自己读神学的时候很困难，上帝感动很多的弟兄姊妹不间断的给他奉献钱作每个月的生活费。虽然不多，但也是没有让他忍饥挨饿。
所以，他现在也将这份爱传递给了别人，他说，“我曾经白白地领受了上帝的恩典，现在也当白白地将这份爱传递给别人。虽然我的工资不高，但我会尽自己所能去做的。”
在教会中，不缺乏传递主爱的人，有些人甚至都是在默默地爱神和爱人。比如我知道的有几位年长的阿姨，她们的平均年龄七十多岁了，虽然对《圣经》的了解不是很多，但真是知道多少就行多少。
她们平时也是省吃俭用，因为都是农村人，没有什么退休工资。有的家里还有几亩田，很辛苦。但还是会把这来之不易钱省下来，几人一起攒好久，奉献出来给神学生或家里条件很差的人，可能只有七八百或一千元左右，去爱人，去回应神的恩典。
我真的很受触动，甚至有一位领受过她们帮助的神学生说：“我真的很感动，不是因为她们给我钱，而是她们的这份爱心。甚至就是我的亲奶奶都没有这么爱过我，但是这么一群和我没有血缘关系的人竟然为了主这样爱我。我还有理由什么不努力呢？每当我软弱的时候，想偷懒的时候，一想到她们爱神的心和这份爱我的心，我就告诉自己，一定要努力，绝对不能辜负她们的爱心，也不能辜负神的恩典！”
（本文作者系江苏一基层教会义工。）
记一群默默奉献支持神学生的人
Once, a seminary student's act of giving monthly donations of 100 to 200 yuan to other seminarians, despite receiving a meager salary as a church servant after graduation, deeply moved me during our conversation. He shared that he had faced financial constraints during his theology studies, and God moved many believers to contribute towards his living expenses. This gesture, although not much, saved him from hunger and strengthened his faith.
He now strives to pass this love forward, saying, "I have received God's grace for free, and now I should pass this love to others freely. Although my salary is not high, I will try my best to benefit others."
In the church, various people convey the love of the Lord, and some do so silently. For instance, I know a few elderly women whose average age exceeds seventy, and although they are not well-versed in the Bible, they practice what they comprehend.
Despite being rural folks with no retirement fund, some still labor on a few acres of land. They pool their hard-earned savings together, and whenever they attain seven, eight hundred, or one thousand yuan, they donate it to seminary students or impoverished families.
This moved me greatly, and a divinity student who benefited from their help said, "I am grateful, not only for the monetary assistance but also for their love towards me. Even my own grandmother has never done that, but a group of people unrelated to me love me so much for the Lord's sake. Is there any reason why I should not work hard? Whenever I feel weak and lazy, I remind myself of their love for God and me, and I tell myself that I must work hard and never let their love or God's grace down!"
(The author of this article is a volunteer at a grassroots church in Jiangsu.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Showing Support for Seminary Students Silently
