close
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. (Mat 25:35-36)
We’re quite familiar with this scriptural passage, but most American churches would apply it to “spiritual hunger, spiritual pain, and spiritual bondage.” This perspective is a reflection of our background. Most of our brothers and sisters live in middle- or upper-class communities. Those living in newly developed areas where Asians are highly populated find it hard to find people living in “poverty, hunger, illness, and disadvantage.” People have a tendency to seek after revival meetings, anointed speakers, filling of the Spirit, and inner prayer. Between those spiritual feasts, it’s easy for us for forget why God gave us blessing, for whom has He anointed us, why does the Spirit empower us. How many Christians are aware of the urgent needs of the neighboring cities? How many churches have made an impact in the society? Although I have been a Christian for more twenty years, I regret that I did not serve people who are poor and in need in my community.
There was a one-week, forty-hour community service for all SCM students in October. I have an opportunity to serve recovering mental patients, mentally challenged, and homebound elderly. Through the help of Stewards Recovery Center, we have a team of seven students working closely with recovering mental patients and mentally challenged in a large sheltered workshop. Some students spent time with them doing arts and crafts - from assembling to packaging. Other students participate in mail service – fold, insert, seal, meter, label, bundle, and bag. In a friendly vocational training environment, we work with them, chat with them, and pray with them. Many accepted Christ into their lives.
Every night we spent our time at a halfway house with recovering mental patients. We played games, sang songs, shared our hearts, and prayed together. We noticed some who were shy, suspicious, and afraid slowly opened their hearts. Some shared about their family problems, others shared about their struggle with recovery, and some shared about their dreams. Every evening was filled with laughter and tears. Every evening was led by the Holy Spirit, one after another invited Jesus Christ to walk with them.
We also have an opportunity to visit vulnerable homebound seniors through meals-on-wheel program. Some lived in run down dirty apartment. Some are ill stricken. One old man said, “I’m useless.” Another old man with cancer has three more months to live. We can only use one word to describe our feeling – heartbreak.
We had an opportunity to clean an elderly woman’s apartment. One volunteered to clean the bathroom, one fixed the plumbing, another scrub the kitchen tiles, and one conversed with her. Even though we can only spend 30-minute with her, but we’ve worked very hard to make her place more sanitary. The smile on her face is worth it. We went in as servants of Christ, but we left with God’s blessing.
While I was spending time with recovering mental patients, mentally challenged, and homebound elderly, I realized that we’re not that different from each other. We have triumph and weaknesses. We have dreams and disappointments. What separates us is not their poverty, hunger, illness or disadvantage. What separates us is my attitude towards them.
Whether we’re rich or poor, strong or ill, young or old, male or female, every person is precious in the eyes of God. Everyone is created with the image of God, with the same calling and the same blessing. When we serve others, we should not focus merely on their spiritual needs. We should care about their physical needs as well. We need to be more involved in holistic ministry – to feed the hungry, look after the homeless, cloth the poor, heal the sick, and visit the hopeless.
There are things that never change - God’s faithfulness, His passionate heart for the poor, and His unconditional love.
We’re quite familiar with this scriptural passage, but most American churches would apply it to “spiritual hunger, spiritual pain, and spiritual bondage.” This perspective is a reflection of our background. Most of our brothers and sisters live in middle- or upper-class communities. Those living in newly developed areas where Asians are highly populated find it hard to find people living in “poverty, hunger, illness, and disadvantage.” People have a tendency to seek after revival meetings, anointed speakers, filling of the Spirit, and inner prayer. Between those spiritual feasts, it’s easy for us for forget why God gave us blessing, for whom has He anointed us, why does the Spirit empower us. How many Christians are aware of the urgent needs of the neighboring cities? How many churches have made an impact in the society? Although I have been a Christian for more twenty years, I regret that I did not serve people who are poor and in need in my community.
There was a one-week, forty-hour community service for all SCM students in October. I have an opportunity to serve recovering mental patients, mentally challenged, and homebound elderly. Through the help of Stewards Recovery Center, we have a team of seven students working closely with recovering mental patients and mentally challenged in a large sheltered workshop. Some students spent time with them doing arts and crafts - from assembling to packaging. Other students participate in mail service – fold, insert, seal, meter, label, bundle, and bag. In a friendly vocational training environment, we work with them, chat with them, and pray with them. Many accepted Christ into their lives.
Every night we spent our time at a halfway house with recovering mental patients. We played games, sang songs, shared our hearts, and prayed together. We noticed some who were shy, suspicious, and afraid slowly opened their hearts. Some shared about their family problems, others shared about their struggle with recovery, and some shared about their dreams. Every evening was filled with laughter and tears. Every evening was led by the Holy Spirit, one after another invited Jesus Christ to walk with them.
We also have an opportunity to visit vulnerable homebound seniors through meals-on-wheel program. Some lived in run down dirty apartment. Some are ill stricken. One old man said, “I’m useless.” Another old man with cancer has three more months to live. We can only use one word to describe our feeling – heartbreak.
We had an opportunity to clean an elderly woman’s apartment. One volunteered to clean the bathroom, one fixed the plumbing, another scrub the kitchen tiles, and one conversed with her. Even though we can only spend 30-minute with her, but we’ve worked very hard to make her place more sanitary. The smile on her face is worth it. We went in as servants of Christ, but we left with God’s blessing.
While I was spending time with recovering mental patients, mentally challenged, and homebound elderly, I realized that we’re not that different from each other. We have triumph and weaknesses. We have dreams and disappointments. What separates us is not their poverty, hunger, illness or disadvantage. What separates us is my attitude towards them.
Whether we’re rich or poor, strong or ill, young or old, male or female, every person is precious in the eyes of God. Everyone is created with the image of God, with the same calling and the same blessing. When we serve others, we should not focus merely on their spiritual needs. We should care about their physical needs as well. We need to be more involved in holistic ministry – to feed the hungry, look after the homeless, cloth the poor, heal the sick, and visit the hopeless.
There are things that never change - God’s faithfulness, His passionate heart for the poor, and His unconditional love.
全站熱搜
留言列表
離開美國前的生活點滴 (1)
