Once, a seminary student's act of giving monthly donations of 100 to 200 yuan to other seminarians, despite receiving a meager salary as a church servant after graduation, deeply moved me during our conversation. He shared that he had faced financial constraints during his theology studies, and God moved many believers to contribute towards his living expenses. This gesture, although not much, saved him from hunger and strengthened his faith.
He now strives to pass this love forward, saying, "I have received God's grace for free, and now I should pass this love to others freely. Although my salary is not high, I will try my best to benefit others."
In the church, various people convey the love of the Lord, and some do so silently. For instance, I know a few elderly women whose average age exceeds seventy, and although they are not well-versed in the Bible, they practice what they comprehend.
Despite being rural folks with no retirement fund, some still labor on a few acres of land. They pool their hard-earned savings together, and whenever they attain seven, eight hundred, or one thousand yuan, they donate it to seminary students or impoverished families.
This moved me greatly, and a divinity student who benefited from their help said, "I am grateful, not only for the monetary assistance but also for their love towards me. Even my own grandmother has never done that, but a group of people unrelated to me love me so much for the Lord's sake. Is there any reason why I should not work hard? Whenever I feel weak and lazy, I remind myself of their love for God and me, and I tell myself that I must work hard and never let their love or God's grace down!"
(The author of this article is a volunteer at a grassroots church in Jiangsu.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
