I have been a preacher at a rural church for more than ten years. The church’s main members are elderly who firmly trust in the Lord. Their faith life shines with beautiful spiritual characters.
Many of them entrusted their lives to the Lord Jesus at a young age. Their life journey has been long enough to experience the deep love, endless grace and ever-present favor of the Lord Jesus. They often share their conversions during special times, which unfold as lively scrolls to make me feel the majesty and reality of the Lord Jesus.
In the hard years, they could not openly gather together due to restrictions, but they were strengthened by the Lord’s guidance through every difficult moment. They gathered secretly in a dark cellar where they studied the word of God, prayed, and encouraged each other. Lord's grace and miracles accompanied them. Whenever they mention those years, their hearts are filled with gratitude and joy.
Their love for the Lord has remained the same until now. Every Sunday, even elderly individuals with limited mobility make every effort to come to the church. Some of them walk with crutches, yet with resolution.
Although their offerings are modest, the money is saved through their frugality and careful living. They often say, "Although we cannot do great things, we still want to contribute to the church." Their offerings are not just money but also reflect their love for the Lord.
I remember the year when the church was being built, these elderly individuals, though unable to do heavy work as young people, carefully passed bricks to the workers building the church, one by one. Some elderly believers offered vegetables grown at home to God.
The elderly frequently and enthusiastically attend gatherings. At their village meeting points, they often sing praises to the Lord. Their songs might lack sophisticated language, but the pure love for the Lord expressed in their simple lyrics is deeply moving. One song they often sing goes, "Thank you, thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for being in my heart. I cannot live without the Lord; with the Lord, I have everything."
During every communion service, tears of emotion fill their eyes when the bread and cup of the Lord are passed to them. Some elderly believers, unable to attend due to physical limitations, entrust others to bring the bread and cup back to them. Their desire for the Lord and their reverence for communion reveal the depth and power of their faith.
Many people think elderly believers have little understanding of the Bible due to their lack of education. Yet when asked about basic biblical truths, you may be surprised to find their understanding is profound because they are deeply eager for God’s word. One elderly man, despite his hearing loss, would place his ear close to the loudspeaker during every sermon, listening intently to God’s word.
We should learn from their precious spiritual qualities with sincerity and enthusiasm. Like them, we can trust in the Lord in every detail of our lives, expressing our love for the Lord through giving offerings and pursuing the word with a longing heart. We hope that Christ’s glory will be revealed more abundantly through both them and us.
(Originally from the Gospel Times, the article has been edited under permission. The author is a preacher from Jiangsu.)
- Translated by Karen Luo
我在农村教会担任传道至今已有十余年。农村教会的信徒主要是老年人。他们虽已年迈，头发花白，但始终怀着对主坚定的信靠以及深沉的爱意。从他们的信仰生活中，我看到了一些美好的属灵品质。
许多老年人从年轻时便将自己的生命交托给主耶稣，在他们漫长的生命旅程中，他们亲身经历了主耶稣那深沉的爱、无尽的恩典以及时刻的眷顾。他们常常给我讲述着那个特殊时期信主的见证，那些见证故事如同一幅幅生动的画卷，展现在我的眼前，让我感受到主耶稣的伟大和真实。
在他们所处的那个艰难岁月里，生活充满了困苦与挑战。然而，正是福音的传入，如同一束明亮的光，为他们带来了希望和安慰。那时，虽然有着种种限制，他们无法公开聚会，但是，他们依然坚信主会引领他们走过每一个艰难的时刻。他们就悄悄地在昏暗的地窖里聚会，在那里，他们共同学习神的话，共同祷告，彼此勉励。他们将自己完全交托给主，主就常常赐恩典给他们，并且神迹常伴随左右。就这样，主带领他们渡过了那一段艰难的岁月。他们每每提到这些的时候，心中总是充满感恩与喜乐。
到了如今，他们对主的爱依然没有改变 ，每到主日，即使那些行动不便的老人，也努力来到教会。他们有的拄着拐棍，步履蹒跚，却依然坚定地朝着主殿走来。虽然他们奉献的钱财并不多，但这些钱是他们平时省吃俭用积攒下来的。他们常说：“虽然我们不能做什么大事，但也要为教会出一份力。”他们的奉献不仅仅是金钱，更是一份对主的爱的体现。
记得那年建设教堂的时候，这些老年人虽然不能像年轻人那样出重力，但他们却尽自己所能，为教堂的建设贡献着自己的力量。他们搬起一块块砖，小心翼翼地递给教堂的工人；有的老年信徒把家里面种的菜奉献给神。
老人们经常积极参加聚会，在自己村里的聚会点里，他们常常赞美主。他们所传唱的歌或许没有华丽的语言表达，但从那质朴的歌词里，我们能够深深地感受到那纯粹的对主的爱。比如他们经常唱的那首歌：“感谢感谢耶稣，感谢耶稣在我心，我不能没有主，有了主我就有了一切。”
在每一次圣餐礼拜里，当主的饼和杯递到他们面前时，他们都会流下感动的泪水。有的老年信徒由于身体不便，不能亲自来到教堂参加圣餐礼拜，但他们会委托他人把主的饼和杯捎给他们。他们对主的渴望和对圣餐的敬重，让我们看到了信仰的深度和力量。
很多人认为老年人对圣经明白的很少，觉得他们没有文化。然而，当你问他们最基本的圣经真理时，你会惊讶地发现，他们对圣经真理的认识非常深刻。这是因为他们对神的话语充满了渴慕。有一位老人，由于听力减退，每一次听道的时候，都把耳朵放到音响旁，专注地聆听神的话。他不放过任何一个学习神话语的机会，用心去感受主的教诲。
我们应以一颗真挚和积极的心，从他们的行为当中汲取那宝贵的属灵品质。如同他们一般，将对主的信靠带入到生活的每一个细节中，用奉献去表达对主的爱，以渴慕的心不断追寻主的话语。我们期盼，基督的荣耀可以借着他们以及我们更多地彰显出来。
（本文作者为江苏一传道人。）
农村老年信徒的信仰见证激励着我前行
I have been a preacher at a rural church for more than ten years. The church’s main members are elderly who firmly trust in the Lord. Their faith life shines with beautiful spiritual characters.
Many of them entrusted their lives to the Lord Jesus at a young age. Their life journey has been long enough to experience the deep love, endless grace and ever-present favor of the Lord Jesus. They often share their conversions during special times, which unfold as lively scrolls to make me feel the majesty and reality of the Lord Jesus.
In the hard years, they could not openly gather together due to restrictions, but they were strengthened by the Lord’s guidance through every difficult moment. They gathered secretly in a dark cellar where they studied the word of God, prayed, and encouraged each other. Lord's grace and miracles accompanied them. Whenever they mention those years, their hearts are filled with gratitude and joy.
Their love for the Lord has remained the same until now. Every Sunday, even elderly individuals with limited mobility make every effort to come to the church. Some of them walk with crutches, yet with resolution.
Although their offerings are modest, the money is saved through their frugality and careful living. They often say, "Although we cannot do great things, we still want to contribute to the church." Their offerings are not just money but also reflect their love for the Lord.
I remember the year when the church was being built, these elderly individuals, though unable to do heavy work as young people, carefully passed bricks to the workers building the church, one by one. Some elderly believers offered vegetables grown at home to God.
The elderly frequently and enthusiastically attend gatherings. At their village meeting points, they often sing praises to the Lord. Their songs might lack sophisticated language, but the pure love for the Lord expressed in their simple lyrics is deeply moving. One song they often sing goes, "Thank you, thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for being in my heart. I cannot live without the Lord; with the Lord, I have everything."
During every communion service, tears of emotion fill their eyes when the bread and cup of the Lord are passed to them. Some elderly believers, unable to attend due to physical limitations, entrust others to bring the bread and cup back to them. Their desire for the Lord and their reverence for communion reveal the depth and power of their faith.
Many people think elderly believers have little understanding of the Bible due to their lack of education. Yet when asked about basic biblical truths, you may be surprised to find their understanding is profound because they are deeply eager for God’s word. One elderly man, despite his hearing loss, would place his ear close to the loudspeaker during every sermon, listening intently to God’s word.
We should learn from their precious spiritual qualities with sincerity and enthusiasm. Like them, we can trust in the Lord in every detail of our lives, expressing our love for the Lord through giving offerings and pursuing the word with a longing heart. We hope that Christ’s glory will be revealed more abundantly through both them and us.
(Originally from the Gospel Times, the article has been edited under permission. The author is a preacher from Jiangsu.)
- Translated by Karen Luo
Elderly Christians’ Testimonies Inspires Me Forward
