The fifth "Christianity and Social Care" seminar was held online from the 14th to 16th of December, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s topics were divided into three units: the importance of thinking about and practicing the Great Commission in the community; caring about people’s most important needs in their lives, so that the Great Commission would naturally appear in the right place where everyone’s life was involved; and sharing successful testimonies in social care ministry.
On the 14th, the keynote speaker, Professor Liu, shared the current crisis that the Chinese church was facing, from both internal and external environments. He mentioned that the development of the church could not be separated from society and that Christian testimony is achieved through action rather than through self-isolation or looking inward. He also pointed out that the church should be a beacon of hope for society. The church should be a blessing for all of society and should engage the community and face its challenges.
On the 15th, Pastor Huang Lei, senior pastor of Wuhan Root & Fruit Church, emphasized that every Christian should “act justly and love mercy". To achieve this, one needed to meet social needs and fulfill social responsibility, to care for and help those in need, especially those suffering from natural disasters or poverty. Pastor Huang shared the story of the Good Samaritan, explaining that social care and evangelism are actually responding to the Great Commission.
On the 16th, the first one of the two lectures given was entitled "Elderly Services and Life Care" by Pastor Li. The pastor shared his long-term thinking regarding what was the true meaning of the Christian faith and where the power of faith came from. Li believed that the most practical help for unbelievers was to use words and methods that they could understand in order so needs could be met and their lives positively affected. In the second lecture entitled, "The Church's Exploring of Community Rehabilitation of Mental Illness," the speaker claimed that the Christian faith should reach out to society, not by words alone, but by professional services with a humble heart and attitude in order to better share Christ’s love.
- Translated by Xiaodan
由于疫情的关系，今年的“基督教与社会关怀”讲座均以网络的形式举行，第五期日程为12月14日-16日。
主题共分为三个单元：在社区思考和实践大使命的重要性；关怀百姓生活生命中最需要的事情，让大使命自然而然出现在与大家生命相连相助相爱之地；分享社会关怀领域已经成功的见证。
在14日的讲座上，主讲人刘教授从内外两个环境来分享了中国教会现下面临的危机，认为教会要发展不能脱离社会，并提到基督徒的见证是通过行动来达成，而不是用形式主义来进行自我隔绝，自说自话。教会也当成为社会的希望，做社会的祝福，进入到社区之中，经受考验，迎接挑战，并要扎下根来。
15日的讲座上，黄牧师提到“好公义、行怜悯”是每个基督徒都当去行的事，而如何去做公益？便是履行社会关怀和社会责任，对有需要帮助的人——无论是在灾难当中还是贫穷当中，都应当对他们进行关怀和帮助。黄牧师藉着好撒玛利亚人的故事分享，社会关怀和传福音其实就是在回应大使命。
16日的讲座分为两个主题，首先是李牧师从他的角度对“老年服务和生命关怀”进行分享。李牧师提到他曾有很长一段时间在思考，信仰到底是什么？基督徒的能力在哪里？李牧师认为对于不信仰的人，最切实的帮助是用他能听得懂的话和方式来解决他的问题，用生命影响生命。
第二个主题是关于“教会开战精神疾病社区康复的探索”，主讲人认为信仰应当进入到社会中，但不是靠言语让别人认识基督徒，乃是带着谦卑的心和态度通过专业的服事以及基督的爱传递出去。
第五期“基督教与社会关怀”讲座已于12月中旬在网上正式拉下帷幕。
The fifth "Christianity and Social Care" seminar was held online from the 14th to 16th of December, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s topics were divided into three units: the importance of thinking about and practicing the Great Commission in the community; caring about people’s most important needs in their lives, so that the Great Commission would naturally appear in the right place where everyone’s life was involved; and sharing successful testimonies in social care ministry.
On the 14th, the keynote speaker, Professor Liu, shared the current crisis that the Chinese church was facing, from both internal and external environments. He mentioned that the development of the church could not be separated from society and that Christian testimony is achieved through action rather than through self-isolation or looking inward. He also pointed out that the church should be a beacon of hope for society. The church should be a blessing for all of society and should engage the community and face its challenges.
On the 15th, Pastor Huang Lei, senior pastor of Wuhan Root & Fruit Church, emphasized that every Christian should “act justly and love mercy". To achieve this, one needed to meet social needs and fulfill social responsibility, to care for and help those in need, especially those suffering from natural disasters or poverty. Pastor Huang shared the story of the Good Samaritan, explaining that social care and evangelism are actually responding to the Great Commission.
On the 16th, the first one of the two lectures given was entitled "Elderly Services and Life Care" by Pastor Li. The pastor shared his long-term thinking regarding what was the true meaning of the Christian faith and where the power of faith came from. Li believed that the most practical help for unbelievers was to use words and methods that they could understand in order so needs could be met and their lives positively affected. In the second lecture entitled, "The Church's Exploring of Community Rehabilitation of Mental Illness," the speaker claimed that the Christian faith should reach out to society, not by words alone, but by professional services with a humble heart and attitude in order to better share Christ’s love.
- Translated by Xiaodan
Fifth Seminar on Christianity and Social Care Targets the Great Commission
