Recently, I met a middle-aged couple at a gathering. The lady shared that their journey to faith in Jesus was not sparked by any extraordinary event or on their own initiative, but rather by the warm hospitality of a friend, which led them to the church.
Liu works at a top-tier hospital in our city, and over a decade ago, her colleague Zhang was sent on an assignment to work at a hospital in Singapore. Eventually, she settled there and embraced Christianity.
When Liu's daughter was in high school, she was selected to study in Singapore due to her excellent grades. The couple, due to the nature of their work, found it challenging to accompany her to a foreign land and entrusted Zhang to look after their daughter. Unexpectedly, Zhang warmly welcomed the girl into her home, sparing her from living in boarding school.
At Zhang's home, Liu's daughter was cared for with utmost kindness, receiving the same care as Zhang's son, including meals, clothes, and even red envelopes during the Chinese New Year.
Inspired by Zhang's loving hospitality, Liu's sixteen-year-old daughter accepted Jesus as her Ssavior. When they learned of this, Liu and her husband realized that Zhang's love transcended ordinary friendship, and even among relatives, such genuine and selfless love is rare.
Soon after, the couple flew to Singapore during their child's school holiday. Zhang graciously offered them her master bedroom, while she and her child stayed in a smaller guest room. They were treated to delicious meals every day, and various sightseeing activities were arranged for them.
During their stay, whenever Zhang suggested going somewhere or doing something, the couple readily agreed, saying, "Sure, we will follow your lead." A week later, when Zhang invited them to church, they again agreed without hesitation, saying, "Okay, we'll go with you."
During the couple's first time in church, they coincidentally encountered a renowned Chinese pastor delivering a powerful sermon. The sermon and the testimonies of fellow believers deeply moved them. The more they listened, the more they felt the stirring of the Holy Spirit. During the altar call, they were encouraged by Zhang to bravely step forward and accept Christ as their Lord and savior.
While sharing their testimony, Liu and her husband said, "We used to be staunch atheists, and due to our professions, we kept our distance from religion. But my colleague never preached to us or shared the Bible with us. It was her warm hospitality that convinced us that the God she believed in must be good, and we were willing to accompany her to church!" Liu's husband added, "She not only hosted our child but also hosted other students from China who came to study abroad and led them to Christ."
"A person who shares the gospel must first let others see themselves clearly; a person who testifies for Christ must embody the witness of Christ entirely." We can only enable others to recognize the goodness of Jesus through us and desire to know Him by demonstrating Christ-like love, integrity, joy, and a life of faith.
(The author of this article is a Christian from Shaanxi.)
- Translated by Nonye Nancy
前不久，在聚会中结识了一对中年夫妻。 姐妹说，他们夫妻能信耶稣，不是因为经历了什么特殊事件，或是自己主动寻求；而是因为一个朋友的热心接待，才走进了教会。
刘就职于本市一家三甲医院，十几年前她的一位姓张的女同事被公派到新加坡某医院工作。后来就留在了当地生活，并且信了耶稣。
刘的女儿在上中学时，因成绩优异被选去了新加坡留学。夫妻俩因为工作性质的原因很难跟去异国他乡陪读，就拜托张代为关照女儿。没想到，对方二话不说竟把小姑娘接到自家住，使得她不用住寄宿学校。
在家里，张对孩子呵护备至。平时给自家儿子吃什么，就给刘的女儿吃什么。还给小姑娘买衣服，过年发压岁钱。
因着张的爱心接待，刘十六岁的女儿先信了耶稣。他们知道后，觉得张姊妹对她们的情谊，超越了普通的友情，即使时亲戚，也不见得有这样热诚无私的爱。
不久后，夫妻俩趁着孩子放假也飞到了新加坡。张为他们让出了自己的大卧室，她和孩子则住进小客卧。每天都用美食款待他们，又安排了各类出游行程。
在客居的那段时间，无论张姊妹提议去哪里玩，去做什么，夫妻俩都说：“好！听你的。”一周后，张姊妹说：“随我去教堂吧。”夫妻俩又不假思索地说：“好，跟你去。”
夫妻俩头一次走进教堂，恰逢是一位颇有声誉的华人牧师来证道。那场讲道和慕道友们的生命见证，震动了他们的心，两人越听越受圣灵的感动。在最后的呼召环节，他们在张的鼓励下，勇敢走上台作决志。
在做信仰见证时，刘和丈夫说：“从前我们两个都是很坚定的无神论，也因职业关系，对宗教向来是敬而远之。但是我的那位同事，没有给我俩讲过一次圣经，没有给我们传过道。但就是因为她热忱地接待， 使我们相信，她所信的神一定是好的，我们就愿意跟她去教会！”刘姊妹的丈夫补充道：“她不光是接待我们孩子，后来也接待其他从国内去留学的孩子，也带人信主了。”
“一个传福音的人，首先要让人看自己；一个见证基督的人，整个人都要成为基督的见证。”我们只有让别人从自己身上看到基督福音的爱，看到正直、喜乐、信心的生活态度，才能让人透过自己认识信耶稣的好，也能心里渴慕去认识耶稣。
（本文作者为陕西一基督徒。）
因着朋友的爱心接待，这对夫妻走进了教会
Recently, I met a middle-aged couple at a gathering. The lady shared that their journey to faith in Jesus was not sparked by any extraordinary event or on their own initiative, but rather by the warm hospitality of a friend, which led them to the church.
Liu works at a top-tier hospital in our city, and over a decade ago, her colleague Zhang was sent on an assignment to work at a hospital in Singapore. Eventually, she settled there and embraced Christianity.
When Liu's daughter was in high school, she was selected to study in Singapore due to her excellent grades. The couple, due to the nature of their work, found it challenging to accompany her to a foreign land and entrusted Zhang to look after their daughter. Unexpectedly, Zhang warmly welcomed the girl into her home, sparing her from living in boarding school.
At Zhang's home, Liu's daughter was cared for with utmost kindness, receiving the same care as Zhang's son, including meals, clothes, and even red envelopes during the Chinese New Year.
Inspired by Zhang's loving hospitality, Liu's sixteen-year-old daughter accepted Jesus as her Ssavior. When they learned of this, Liu and her husband realized that Zhang's love transcended ordinary friendship, and even among relatives, such genuine and selfless love is rare.
Soon after, the couple flew to Singapore during their child's school holiday. Zhang graciously offered them her master bedroom, while she and her child stayed in a smaller guest room. They were treated to delicious meals every day, and various sightseeing activities were arranged for them.
During their stay, whenever Zhang suggested going somewhere or doing something, the couple readily agreed, saying, "Sure, we will follow your lead." A week later, when Zhang invited them to church, they again agreed without hesitation, saying, "Okay, we'll go with you."
During the couple's first time in church, they coincidentally encountered a renowned Chinese pastor delivering a powerful sermon. The sermon and the testimonies of fellow believers deeply moved them. The more they listened, the more they felt the stirring of the Holy Spirit. During the altar call, they were encouraged by Zhang to bravely step forward and accept Christ as their Lord and savior.
While sharing their testimony, Liu and her husband said, "We used to be staunch atheists, and due to our professions, we kept our distance from religion. But my colleague never preached to us or shared the Bible with us. It was her warm hospitality that convinced us that the God she believed in must be good, and we were willing to accompany her to church!" Liu's husband added, "She not only hosted our child but also hosted other students from China who came to study abroad and led them to Christ."
"A person who shares the gospel must first let others see themselves clearly; a person who testifies for Christ must embody the witness of Christ entirely." We can only enable others to recognize the goodness of Jesus through us and desire to know Him by demonstrating Christ-like love, integrity, joy, and a life of faith.
(The author of this article is a Christian from Shaanxi.)
- Translated by Nonye Nancy
The Power of Hospitality: How a Friend's Warm Welcome Guided a Couple to Christianity
