In Xi'an, a historic city, there is a social service organization that quietly provides care to the community. It is committed to providing HLC (Holistic Lifelong Care) services for people in need and helping them integrate into society.
The head of the organization, Xile, is an ardent and devout Christian.
Her experience of faith is related to divorce. When her daughter was just in the first grade, she went through the pain of divorce, and since then, she has lived a struggling life of self-reliance while taking care of her daughter. Her sister, who was far away in a foreign country, had become a believer and often preached the Gospel to her, but Xile always refused to accept it because she felt that prayer was of little use and could not help her solve her real problems. She even felt that the story of Jesus was groundless and untrustworthy.
When Xile's sister came back to visit her family, she gave Xile a Bible. After her sister left, Xile put it away. Later, when her sister came back again, she kept asking Xile if she had read the Bible. After Xile was asked several times, she opened the Bible and read it. She came across Jesus' teaching about not worrying in Matthew 6, which gave her great peace. Later, when she was reading the Bible, she began to see clearly that she was a person with many problems and had made a lot of mistakes. Later, a couple who studied abroad came to Xi'an and led her in Bible study and prayer.
Once, Xile was particularly moved by God and determined to do something for exceptional children. Later, she was given the chance to work as a volunteer for two years with an organization that helped autistic children. Then, she planned to start a social service organization for exceptional children. At first, she went to the Civil Affairs Department to apply for the qualification of the service center for autistic children, but the application was not approved. The receptionist then suggested she work as a social worker, then it would be easier to get approved.
At that time, there happened to be a social worker training program, and she was recommended to attend. After systematic training, Xile was more determined to serve as a social worker. After that, she started putting together the necessary paperwork for registration and soon finished registering for the social work service organization.
Xile named the organization "Glimmer", she said, "Glimmer means the bright light in the dark night." This light will dispel the darkness, guide the direction, and bring peace and hope. "Jesus is the true light of the world, and we must help more people in darkness see the great light."
The day the agency was registered, she got a case. She got a list of all the poor families in a neighborhood, went to each one with a sheet of information, weeded out some that weren't really poor, verified the information, and turned in the report. Her hands-on approach to work was noticed by higher-ups, and she began to work with the community to help children with special needs.
The first time she started a campaign, she didn't know how to organize it. Her sister, who is also doing social work, introduced her to a couple who are social workers serving the children in Xinyang, Henan Province. This couple is also doing social work to serve local vulnerable groups. Later, they came to Xi'an to help her organize their first activity together. Because it was in the early stages of her organization, she had little money, and the warm-hearted couple didn't even ask for travel expenses.
After that, Xile started organizing events by herself, but only for those that lasted a day or two. Once, she and a couple jointly held a seven-day summer camp. During that activity, she saw that ethnic minority children in remote areas are actually living more difficult lives than exceptional children in the city, and they need more warmth.
Along the way, her path as a social worker was fraught with difficulties. When she could not make ends meet, Xile wanted to stop doing this after she finished one last activity and spent all the money she had, but God always prepared more than she could ever hope for. Every time, she would have a surplus.
She also shared a witness story at a social worker training conference. One of her friends invited her to meet a stranger. The stranger was holding a thick black Bible, which turned out to be an English Bible with a history of 200 years. It was left by the man's ancestors and kept safe for several years. However, he always felt that it didn't belong to him, so he always wanted to give it to someone. So he tracked down the sister's friend, Xile, and finally gave it to Xile. Xile has always regarded it as a treasure. She says it is the power of her faith that keeps her going.
During previous summer camp activities, she learned that some people in low-rent housing communities in Xi'an commit suicide by jumping off buildings. She did research and found a community to offer long-term social work services, and the results were amazing.
When talking about the current situation of the social work center, Xile said that in recent years, they have rented a house in the community and provided free care classes. Children who are different or have problems can come to the care classes after school to eat and do their homework. Social workers and parents would work closely together to create a good environment for the healthy development of these children.
When asked about the difficulties they are facing, Xile said they still do not have enough resources. For example, they need the support of a matching foundation, and they also need more volunteers to work with the social worker service team. After helping a lot of people during the pandemic, the social work center is excited to offer more services to people in the community. For example, they want to open a community bookstore, a pharmacy, and a center for rehabilitation therapy.
Speaking about her experience in the social work center, Xile said, "During the years of community service, we have come into contact with various groups with special needs and recognized the needs of various families in difficulties." We also often feel powerless because what we can do is very limited, and many difficulties cannot be fundamentally solved. And yet, in every visit, we share our faith in the Lord, and we do our best to share with them our own personal experience of life, the world, and society, in the hope that we can bring them the warmth of love and the hope of the future.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
在古城西安，有一家默默向社会传递关爱的社工服务组织，致力于针对困境群体开展全人关怀服务，助力融入社会。
机构负责人喜乐姊妹是一名热心又虔诚的基督徒。
她的信主经历是与离异有关。在女儿刚上一年级时，她经历了离异的伤痛，此后带着女儿，过着奋斗打拼的自强自立生活。远在异国他乡的姐姐已经信主，经常给她传福音，但她总不以为然，因为她觉得祷告没什么用，不能帮她解决现实中的问题。她甚至觉得耶稣的故事没有根据，是不可信的。
一次姐姐回国探亲，专门送给她一本圣经，姐姐走后，就被她束之高阁。后来姐姐回去后一直问她，是否看了圣经。被问得多了，她实在无法敷衍，就硬着头皮打开圣经去读，正好读到《马太福音》第6章里耶稣关于不要忧虑的教导，就给了她很大的平安。后来再读圣经，她开始清楚地认识到自己是个存在许多问题和错误的人。后来有一对夫妻从国外留学回到西安，带领她一起学习圣经，做了决志祷告。
有一次，喜乐蒙神特别感动，要为特殊儿童服务。后来，她便有机会进入一家自闭症儿童的服务机构，做了两年义工。再后来她打算自己注册一个社会公益机构，专为特殊儿童服务。最初去民政部门申请自闭症儿童服务中心的资质，跑了很多次，都没有结果。后来接待人员建议她做社工服务，因为申请会更容易一些。
恰好当时有一个社工服务的培训，她就被推荐参加。经过系统培训，她也坚定了她做社工服务的决心。此后她就开始预备相关注册资料，很快便完成了社工服务机构的备案注册。
喜乐姊妹说，取名“微光”的寓意就是暗夜中的明光，这光将驱散黑暗，指引方向，带来平安、盼望。耶稣是真光，要让更多在黑暗里的人看见大光。
机构注册当天，她就得到了一个对接的案例。她拿到一个社区的困难家庭花名册，然后手持信息表一家家访问，筛除一些非贫困家庭，核实了真实贫困人员信息后提交上报。她干练务实的工作作风得到了上级部门的认可，此后便开始与社区合作开展特殊儿童服务工作。
第一次开展活动，她手足无措不知该怎么做。也在做做社工服务的姐姐姐姐给他介绍了河南信阳一对做儿童社工服务的夫妇，他们也在做社工事业服务当地的弱势群体。后来，他们就过来西安帮助她一起做第一次活动。因为是创办初期，真的是一穷二白，那对热心的夫妇连路费都没要。
之后喜乐姊妹开始自己组织活动，不过也就仅限于搞个一两天的活动。一次她和一对夫妇联合举办了为期七天的夏令营，在那次活动中，她看到偏远地区的少数民族孩子，其实比城市的特殊儿童更艰难，更需要温暖。
一路走来，她的社工之路充满艰难。每当走不下去时，喜乐就想着做完最后一场活动，花完手头所有的钱就结束掉，可是神的预备总是超出她所求所想，每次都有结余。
她也一次社工培训会议中，分享了这样一个见证故事：一次，她的一位好友邀请去她见一个陌生朋友。那位陌生朋友手拿一本厚厚的黑皮圣经，原来这是一本有200年历史的英文圣经，是这个人的祖辈留下来的，一直放在保险柜中，但他总觉得占地方，就想送给别人，于是找到了喜乐姊妹的这个朋友，最后转交到了她手上，被她视为珍宝。她说，是信仰的力量在激励她勇往直前。
在之前的夏令营活动中，她了解到西安一些廉租房社区有人跳楼自杀的现象，于是开展调研，最后选择了在某小区开展长期社工服务，并收到了显著成效。
谈到社工中心当下的现状时，喜乐姊妹介绍说，这几年，他们在社区租了房子，提供了免费托管班服务，欢迎有各样问题的“特殊孩子”在放学后，过来托管班吃饭、写作业。社工服务人员和家长有密切沟通，都在为促进孩子们健康成长去营造良好的氛围。
问及现在面临的困难，喜乐姊妹表示，资源还是不够，比如需要有对口基金会支持，也需要有更多的义工及志愿者加入，与社工服务团队搭配合作。经历了疫情期间的多次爱心服务后，社工中心期待能为社区居民提供更多的综合服务，比如开办社区书店、药店、康复理疗馆等。
谈到在社工中心服务的感受，她说：“在多年的社区服务中，我们接触了各种特殊困难群体，深刻感受到各式各样困境家庭的需要，我们也时常感到无能为力，我们所能做的事情十分有限，很多困难无法从根本上解决。然而，我们还是在每一次探访中，分享属天的价值理念，尽我们所能将我们心中那份对生命、世界、环境、人生的经历分享给他们，期望能把爱的温暖传递给他们，能把对将来的盼望带给他们。”
“微光”闪耀彰主荣——专访某社工服务中心负责人喜乐姊妹
In Xi'an, a historic city, there is a social service organization that quietly provides care to the community. It is committed to providing HLC (Holistic Lifelong Care) services for people in need and helping them integrate into society.
The head of the organization, Xile, is an ardent and devout Christian.
Her experience of faith is related to divorce. When her daughter was just in the first grade, she went through the pain of divorce, and since then, she has lived a struggling life of self-reliance while taking care of her daughter. Her sister, who was far away in a foreign country, had become a believer and often preached the Gospel to her, but Xile always refused to accept it because she felt that prayer was of little use and could not help her solve her real problems. She even felt that the story of Jesus was groundless and untrustworthy.
When Xile's sister came back to visit her family, she gave Xile a Bible. After her sister left, Xile put it away. Later, when her sister came back again, she kept asking Xile if she had read the Bible. After Xile was asked several times, she opened the Bible and read it. She came across Jesus' teaching about not worrying in Matthew 6, which gave her great peace. Later, when she was reading the Bible, she began to see clearly that she was a person with many problems and had made a lot of mistakes. Later, a couple who studied abroad came to Xi'an and led her in Bible study and prayer.
Once, Xile was particularly moved by God and determined to do something for exceptional children. Later, she was given the chance to work as a volunteer for two years with an organization that helped autistic children. Then, she planned to start a social service organization for exceptional children. At first, she went to the Civil Affairs Department to apply for the qualification of the service center for autistic children, but the application was not approved. The receptionist then suggested she work as a social worker, then it would be easier to get approved.
At that time, there happened to be a social worker training program, and she was recommended to attend. After systematic training, Xile was more determined to serve as a social worker. After that, she started putting together the necessary paperwork for registration and soon finished registering for the social work service organization.
Xile named the organization "Glimmer", she said, "Glimmer means the bright light in the dark night." This light will dispel the darkness, guide the direction, and bring peace and hope. "Jesus is the true light of the world, and we must help more people in darkness see the great light."
The day the agency was registered, she got a case. She got a list of all the poor families in a neighborhood, went to each one with a sheet of information, weeded out some that weren't really poor, verified the information, and turned in the report. Her hands-on approach to work was noticed by higher-ups, and she began to work with the community to help children with special needs.
The first time she started a campaign, she didn't know how to organize it. Her sister, who is also doing social work, introduced her to a couple who are social workers serving the children in Xinyang, Henan Province. This couple is also doing social work to serve local vulnerable groups. Later, they came to Xi'an to help her organize their first activity together. Because it was in the early stages of her organization, she had little money, and the warm-hearted couple didn't even ask for travel expenses.
After that, Xile started organizing events by herself, but only for those that lasted a day or two. Once, she and a couple jointly held a seven-day summer camp. During that activity, she saw that ethnic minority children in remote areas are actually living more difficult lives than exceptional children in the city, and they need more warmth.
Along the way, her path as a social worker was fraught with difficulties. When she could not make ends meet, Xile wanted to stop doing this after she finished one last activity and spent all the money she had, but God always prepared more than she could ever hope for. Every time, she would have a surplus.
She also shared a witness story at a social worker training conference. One of her friends invited her to meet a stranger. The stranger was holding a thick black Bible, which turned out to be an English Bible with a history of 200 years. It was left by the man's ancestors and kept safe for several years. However, he always felt that it didn't belong to him, so he always wanted to give it to someone. So he tracked down the sister's friend, Xile, and finally gave it to Xile. Xile has always regarded it as a treasure. She says it is the power of her faith that keeps her going.
During previous summer camp activities, she learned that some people in low-rent housing communities in Xi'an commit suicide by jumping off buildings. She did research and found a community to offer long-term social work services, and the results were amazing.
When talking about the current situation of the social work center, Xile said that in recent years, they have rented a house in the community and provided free care classes. Children who are different or have problems can come to the care classes after school to eat and do their homework. Social workers and parents would work closely together to create a good environment for the healthy development of these children.
When asked about the difficulties they are facing, Xile said they still do not have enough resources. For example, they need the support of a matching foundation, and they also need more volunteers to work with the social worker service team. After helping a lot of people during the pandemic, the social work center is excited to offer more services to people in the community. For example, they want to open a community bookstore, a pharmacy, and a center for rehabilitation therapy.
Speaking about her experience in the social work center, Xile said, "During the years of community service, we have come into contact with various groups with special needs and recognized the needs of various families in difficulties." We also often feel powerless because what we can do is very limited, and many difficulties cannot be fundamentally solved. And yet, in every visit, we share our faith in the Lord, and we do our best to share with them our own personal experience of life, the world, and society, in the hope that we can bring them the warmth of love and the hope of the future.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
Glimmer of God's Glory - Interview With Head of Social Worker Service Center
