7979急难故事 及时雨 Timely Rain

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Chen-Li Presbyterian Church JB in JB, Johor, has been promoting community care ministry for many years. Therefore, they know 7979 Holistic Care Relief Network (" 7979 "for short) does provide holistic care assistance and community services to the community. In order to provide more opportunities for members to get involved in community care, Chen-Li Presbyterian Church JB set up HISTEAM 7979 Care Station, hoping to reach out to the residents of the community and help those in need through the 7979 Family Crisis Assistance Program. The church also gets to know and befriend the parents of the students in the Companionship Class through the 7979 Companionship Class Programme for under privilege children.
 
7979 services programmes not only serve as a bridge between Chen-Li Presbyterian Church JB and the community, but also brings timely rain and relief to families in crisis. Lillian (pseudonym) is a beneficiary of this timely rain and relief. Lillian is a single mother who had single-handedly raised her son, Xiao Zhang (pseudonym). Later, because of an accident, Xiao Zhang became paralyzed and bedridden. From then on, Lilian fell deep into pit of poverty due to their huge living expenses.
 
During the day, Lillian would ride her motorcycle to work at the factory near her house, and take care of her son after work. The days went by very quickly, she swallowed down all the bitterness of life. Xiao Zhang was aware of his mother's difficulties, but there was nothing he could do. The interaction between mother and son was paradoxical and they often quarrelled. When Lillian toiled all day to make a living, one day she heard the news that the factory was about to move. The news which came out of the blue made her panicked -- she couldn't afford to lose her sole source of income. She desperately needed to find work that was flexible, close to home and accessible only by motorbike. Her neighbour, who is in contact with Chen-Li Presbyterian Church JB, knew that the church might be able to help with the crisis and suggested that Lillian sought help from the church. When the church learned of the family's plight, they appointed Xiao Ting, a volunteer, to care for them.
 
The church initially provided a relief aid for Lillian's family, knowing that she would lose her job soon, they helped her to apply for 7979 Crisis Intervention Fund. Initially, Lillian who being an understanding person refused to accept the fund for the said reason she told the church, "I am still working and the company has not move yet. So, you don't have to apply for me." She said there may be others who need the money more than she does. Later on, with the continuous help of the church, she became depended on the Crisis Intervention Fund to ease the "pressing needs" in her life and her life indeed became more relaxed.
 
In fact, Lillian never applied for assistance from other organizations or seek help from other channels, including her own family; She accepted only the Crisis Intervention Fund which the church had applied for her, because she didn't know how to apply for aid, and her busy life had kept her from looking for other resources. She said that in the process of the church assisting her, she felt respected. Besides, the situation was complicated because her son was chronically ill, and there were very few agencies around which were willing to help them.
 
The church's little act of applying Crisis Intervention Fund for Lillian became a contact point for both parties. The church would visit Lillian every week or two and also looked out for suitable jobs for Lillian. The relationship between mother and son has improved with the intervention of the church. Xiao Zhang was led by the church to believe in Jesus Christ and he in turn encouraged his mother to believe in Jesus too. Now, Xiao Ting and Lillian have become good friends.
 
Perhaps a rain, cannot moisten every earth;
But a rain, can put out a fire in time;
This is the vision of a timely rain and relief, Crisis Intervention Fund.
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位于柔佛新山的新山真理长老教会，多年一直极力推动社区关怀事工。因而得知，能为社区提供全人关怀救助及社区服务的7979全人关怀救助网络（简称“7979”）。为了让会友有更多的机会接触社区关怀事工，新山真理长老教会设立7979全人关怀站，期盼透过7979急难家庭救助方案，接触社区的居民，帮助有需要的人；教会亦透过7979弱势儿童陪读方案，认识陪读班学生的双亲，并与他们成为朋友。
 
7979服务方案不只成为新山真理长老教会与社区的桥梁，更为生活面对困境的家庭带来一场及时雨缓解困境。莉莲（化名）正是这场及时雨的受益者。莉莲是位单亲妈妈，她靠自己的双手抚育儿子——小张（化名）长大。后来，小张因一场意外，从此瘫痪在床，莉莲就此背负庞大的生活开销，生活陷入拮据。
 
白日，莉莲骑着摩托车到临近住家的工厂上班，放工后回家当儿子的护工。日子过得相当忙碌，一切的辛酸尽在不言中。小张知道母亲辛劳的付出，但爱在心里口难开。母子俩的互动矛盾，时常发生口角。当莉莲整日为了生活而劳碌奔波时，岂料获知工厂即将搬迁的消息。这晴天霹雳的消息，顿时让她惊慌失措——她不能失去这份唯一获取收入来源的工作。她急需寻找弹性上班又临近住家，且只需靠骑摩托车就能抵达的工作。莉莲的邻居与新山真理长老教会有联系，知道教会或许能帮莉莲解决眼前的危机，便建议莉莲找教会帮忙。教会了解莉莲一家面对的困境后，便委派志工晓婷关心他们。
 
起初，教会为莉莲一家提供补助金，了解她将失业后，便为她向7979申请急难救助金。善解人意的莉莲原不想收下这笔救助金，告诉教会：“我现在工作和公司还没搬。所以你不用帮我申请”。她说，可能别人比她更需要这笔经费。尔后，在教会持续的帮助下，她靠着这笔急难救助金，缓解“燃眉急”，生活顿时变得较松懈。
 
其实莉莲从未向其他机构或管道申请援助金，包括自家人；她只收下教会为她申请的这笔急难救助金。因为她不懂申请援助金的管道，加上忙碌的生活促使她无暇寻找其他资源。她表示，在教会协助她的过程中，让她备受尊重。此外，基于她儿子是名长期病患，情况较为复杂，鲜少有机构愿意帮助他们。
 
教会为莉莲申请急难救助金的小小举动，让彼此的生命从此有了连接。教会每一个或两个星期去拜访莉莲，也为莉莲寻找合适的工作。母子间的关系，因教会的介入，得到改善。小张在教会带领下相信耶稣基督，并鼓励母亲和他一起相信耶稣。现在，小婷和莉莲成为好朋友。

或许一场雨，无法滋润每个大地；
但是一场雨，能及时扑灭一团火；
这是及时雨，急难救助金的愿景。

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目录
7979急难故事  故事始于第一次派发物资
7979急难故事 陪伴是最好的关心
7979急难故事 及时雨
7979动起来 新动态（2022年12月至2023年2月）
7979爱助人 我愿意
福气临门 我愿意
7979活动预告板
大家一起7979  看见自己的责任