"Serving groups with special needs requires not only love, but also professional skills." Sister Li Xiuqin who has been doing charity for a decade in Xinjiang shares in a lecture held in a fellowship of Mingde Church.
Li left Shanghai for Xinjiang in October 2005 and joined in a charitable organization dedicating to serve orphans and disabled children two years later. Since then, she has carried on the mission of serving them and accompanying them to adapt to the society.
Last year Li commenced founding "Xinhe Disability Assistance Service Center" that helps unknown mentally handicapped teenagers. At present the institute is under preparation. Despite the rough future, she hopes that the group she serves and the related people can get a new life by seeing the source of love through her self-giving life and live like normal people.
In the lecture with a theme of "Mission and Grace," Li states that the work of Jesus practiced the Great Commandment and Great Commission, including teaching, healing and preaching. She tells the audiences, "As the disciples of Jesus, we follow his steps, obeying the Commandment and undertaking the Commission, sharing in the kingdom of God. Then how can we be fishers of men if we don't reach people?"
"In the past China lagged behind others in the development of social organizations. By way of comparison, 1001 social organizations per ten thousand people provide service while China has only 1.45 ones. A couple of years ago, the government put forward the policy of developing China's social work and establishing social organizations, requiring that there should be 1.45 million social workers with certificates by 2020. Some achievements have been attained during the trial implementation of the policy in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Meanwhile, many people take exams to get social work certificates.
The 13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Guangzhou Social Organizations published by the WeChat account "Chinanpogov" on Dec. 30, 2016, reveals 'Guangzhou will have eight social organizations per ten thousand people. Every urban community own at least ten non-profit organizations and every rural community no fewer than five, by 2020. The annual growth rate of the invested fund for their development will reach 10%.'"
She adds, "The open social environment opens the door for Christians to reach people!"
Li appeals everyone to see the needs of different community groups then take actions. "Equip yourself with getting certification of social work, psychologist or marriage counseling and register a social service center. You can directly help seniors, children, left-behind children, the disabled, families with financial difficulties or emotional problems as well as contribute your effort to environmental care."
Translated by: Karen Luo
