The streets were full of people making special purchases for the Spring Festival which was around the corner. For two days, the fellowship members of Yaodu District Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province, visited dozens of disabled Christians in the chilly wind, bringing cash and basic supplies. Blessings were also delivered following their steps. Despite facing difficulty, the disabled maintained optimism.
Yifen Garden is a large public rental housing complex where many disabled people with limited mobility reside. Among them is Peng Haixiang, a Christian woman over 60 years old with a disability in her right lower leg. She is well familiar with the situations of the believers there and pays frequent visits to them with her husband. They will massage them and take them to church on a tricycle.
Li Maixiang, a believer in her fifties, is never disappointed despite her walking difficulties due to hemiplegia. She even set up a reception and Bible study center in her home. From her view, the joy and fulfillment of serving God triumph over physical handicaps.
A disabled guy over 60 years old has known bits about faith from his recently passed mother, and he now lives alone. The visiting group prayed for him and assured him that the church and fellowship were here for him at any time.
Mr. Cheng Tianhe, a Christian in his forties suffering from cerebral infarction, used to rely on the care of his over-70-year-old father, who died of cancer over a month ago. Fortunately, Tianhe's daughter graduated from college and has a job. Every day, his wife takes him with her to work. He never forgets God's grace and Jesus' love, which saved him when he was a prodigal son struggling in the earthly world.
During the visits, there was also a paraplegic believer in his seventies who caught the virus during the pandemic last year, so his family asked the fellowship's elder to baptize him. Back then, lying on the bed with an oxygen tube inserted, he couldn’t even lift his eyelids. Although he was still bedridden and unable to talk, he appeared grateful and satisfied during the visit. His wife, who is also in her 70s, suffers from back pain. We all prayed for them, hoping to give them comfort.
Another believer who suffers from hemiplegia recovered greatly through exercise after being baptized last year. The couple often engages in devotional life, encouraging each other. The cross on the living room wall bears witness to God's work in this family.
Ms. Peng Haixiang mentioned that there used to be a meeting point in a nursing home for the elderly run by a Christian couple next door. Some fellowships from the local churches often paid visits. Later, it moved to a Christian woman’s home in the community. This sister works elsewhere yet returns to every Sunday service. At the meeting point, they study the Bible and share what they have learned. In addition, a choir member comes to teach hymns. They have also formed a prayer fellowship, praying for the country, society, the church, and individuals. This is a special community, mainly comprised of the aged, disabled, and weak, to whom God delivers salvation.
Wang Junhong, a Christian man who had been receiving kidney dialysis every other day for the past decade, was in the hospital when we called him. When I saw him, he was seated in a wheelchair, smiling joyfully with no signs of despair. He said that he has set up a reception point at home and that believers care about him. Several older Christian women offered to help him with cooking and housework. Medical staff assisted him in filling out various papers in the hospital, and the local office filed relief funding for him. The church also helps him financially. God never left him short of medical expenses, which totaled over 100,000 yuan per year. He was grateful that, without God, he would not be alive today.
Then we headed to the home of Mr. Hao Xinping, who was in a wheelchair. His wife was similarly crippled and had only one arm. Last year, his wheelchair overturned during an outing, and his leg was unfortunately broken. He said that even in illness, he did not blame God. Instead, he engaged in devotional practices with his wife, experiencing a beautiful interaction with God.
These disabled Christians have become gospel witnesses through their unique lives under the fullness of God.
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Poppy Chan
春节临近，街上都是购买年货的人群。团契的肢体们连续两天冒着寒风，带着现金和米面油，走访了十多个残疾肢体。每到一处，送上祝福。虽然他们身处逆境，却活出了积极的心境。
漪汾花园是一个较大的公租房小区，居住着不少行动不便的残疾人，其中60多岁右下肢残疾的彭海香姊妹对这里的信徒情况十分了解，和丈夫经常热心探访他们。帮他们义务按摩，用三轮车拉他们去教会。
五十多岁的李麦香姊妹虽然半身不遂行走不便，但她从不灰心。在家里设立了接待学习点，在她看来，残疾算不得什么，能服侍神就是最大的喜乐和满足。
一位六十多岁的残疾弟兄的母亲信主，对信仰有一些了解。前一段母亲去世后，只有他孤身一人，大家为他祷告，告诉他教会团契可以随时提供帮助。
四十多岁的患脑梗成天河弟兄，原来只能靠七十多岁的老父亲照料，一个多月前父亲患癌症去世。但庆幸，女儿已经大学毕业，也找到了工作。每天妻子打工时把他带上。他不忘神的恩惠。原来曾是一个混迹社会的浪子，是耶稣的爱拯救了他。
还有一位七十多岁的瘫痪的老弟兄，去年疫情期间不幸感染，于是家里人请团契长老给他施洗。当时插着氧气，无力睁眼。再次相见，虽仍卧床不能言语但脸上有感恩和满足。他七十多岁的妻子也患有腰痛，大家为他们祷告给他们安慰。
另一位弟兄也是半身不遂，去年受洗后，经过锻炼，康复效果明显。夫妻二人经常一起灵修互相鼓励。客厅墙上的十字架见证着神在一个家庭所做的工作。
海香姊妹介绍，这里原有一个活动点，在旁边一个基督徒夫妻经营的敬老院里。当地教会有些团契经常来访。后来搬到小区里一个姊妹家里。这姊妹在外地工作，每逢礼拜回来一次，他们查考圣经，分享收获。还有诗班的一个姊妹每次都来教唱诗歌，他们还成立了一个祷告团契，为国家、社会、教会及信徒个人代祷祈求。这是个特殊的小区，大部分都是老年、残疾的弱势群体，神要在里施行拯救。
与近十年来每隔一天去做肾透析的王俊红弟兄联系时，他正在医院。见到他时，他坐在轮椅上面带微笑喜乐，没有一点的颓废消沉。他说他在家里设立了小接待点，信徒们也很关心他，几个老阿姨也主动帮他做饭做家务，在医院里医护人员帮他填写各种表格，社区给他申请救助资金，教会也给他发救助金。一年的医疗费要花十多万，但是神从没让他缺乏。他感恩若没有神不可能活到今天。
随后又来到坐着轮椅的郝新平家，妻子也是只有一只胳膊的残疾人。去年一次外出时轮椅翻倒，不幸腿部骨折，他说即使在疾病中也没有埋怨神，反而有时间和妻子一起读经祷告，享受与神美好交通。
这些身有残疾的同路人，在神的丰盛之下以独特的生命经历成为福音的见证人。
注：本文作者为福音时报特约撰稿人。
新春走基层（3）探访路上，在感恩中数算神恩
The streets were full of people making special purchases for the Spring Festival which was around the corner. For two days, the fellowship members of Yaodu District Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province, visited dozens of disabled Christians in the chilly wind, bringing cash and basic supplies. Blessings were also delivered following their steps. Despite facing difficulty, the disabled maintained optimism.
Yifen Garden is a large public rental housing complex where many disabled people with limited mobility reside. Among them is Peng Haixiang, a Christian woman over 60 years old with a disability in her right lower leg. She is well familiar with the situations of the believers there and pays frequent visits to them with her husband. They will massage them and take them to church on a tricycle.
Li Maixiang, a believer in her fifties, is never disappointed despite her walking difficulties due to hemiplegia. She even set up a reception and Bible study center in her home. From her view, the joy and fulfillment of serving God triumph over physical handicaps.
A disabled guy over 60 years old has known bits about faith from his recently passed mother, and he now lives alone. The visiting group prayed for him and assured him that the church and fellowship were here for him at any time.
Mr. Cheng Tianhe, a Christian in his forties suffering from cerebral infarction, used to rely on the care of his over-70-year-old father, who died of cancer over a month ago. Fortunately, Tianhe's daughter graduated from college and has a job. Every day, his wife takes him with her to work. He never forgets God's grace and Jesus' love, which saved him when he was a prodigal son struggling in the earthly world.
During the visits, there was also a paraplegic believer in his seventies who caught the virus during the pandemic last year, so his family asked the fellowship's elder to baptize him. Back then, lying on the bed with an oxygen tube inserted, he couldn’t even lift his eyelids. Although he was still bedridden and unable to talk, he appeared grateful and satisfied during the visit. His wife, who is also in her 70s, suffers from back pain. We all prayed for them, hoping to give them comfort.
Another believer who suffers from hemiplegia recovered greatly through exercise after being baptized last year. The couple often engages in devotional life, encouraging each other. The cross on the living room wall bears witness to God's work in this family.
Ms. Peng Haixiang mentioned that there used to be a meeting point in a nursing home for the elderly run by a Christian couple next door. Some fellowships from the local churches often paid visits. Later, it moved to a Christian woman’s home in the community. This sister works elsewhere yet returns to every Sunday service. At the meeting point, they study the Bible and share what they have learned. In addition, a choir member comes to teach hymns. They have also formed a prayer fellowship, praying for the country, society, the church, and individuals. This is a special community, mainly comprised of the aged, disabled, and weak, to whom God delivers salvation.
Wang Junhong, a Christian man who had been receiving kidney dialysis every other day for the past decade, was in the hospital when we called him. When I saw him, he was seated in a wheelchair, smiling joyfully with no signs of despair. He said that he has set up a reception point at home and that believers care about him. Several older Christian women offered to help him with cooking and housework. Medical staff assisted him in filling out various papers in the hospital, and the local office filed relief funding for him. The church also helps him financially. God never left him short of medical expenses, which totaled over 100,000 yuan per year. He was grateful that, without God, he would not be alive today.
Then we headed to the home of Mr. Hao Xinping, who was in a wheelchair. His wife was similarly crippled and had only one arm. Last year, his wheelchair overturned during an outing, and his leg was unfortunately broken. He said that even in illness, he did not blame God. Instead, he engaged in devotional practices with his wife, experiencing a beautiful interaction with God.
These disabled Christians have become gospel witnesses through their unique lives under the fullness of God.
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Poppy Chan
God's Fullness Manifested on the Disabled
