7979急难故事 坚持助人的动力 The Unceasing Driving Force of People Helping

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Year 2021 during MCO, the public primary and secondary schools turned physical classes into online classes. Every student was required to use a digital device that could access the internet to attend classes. A girl from a poor family could not attend classes regularly because her family was unable to provide her with a mobile phone with data service.

​When Persatuan Kebajikan Hati Nurani Johor Bahru came to know of their family condition, they referred this family to 7979 Holistic Care Station (Hereby referred to as Care Station) of Gereja Presbyterian Holy Light Tun Aminah. Our volunteers, Sherleen Tan and Serene Lim helped this family to apply for aid from the 7979 Crisis Intervention Fund, they also bought her a second-hand mobile phone, and finally, she could attend classes. This little girl is the first aid recipient of this Care Station. “After sending 4 times of Crisis Intervention Aid, the initially shy and timid girl who refused to meet us, had finally opened her heart to us.” The volunteer shared how joyful was the family when they received the monetary aid.        

What can a church do? 

Serene Lim with the beautiful wall

When we stepped into the church, the beautiful artwork on the wall caught the eyes of our interviewer. There was one wall which has many pictures on it, underneath the wall was a box with the label “The Good Samaritan” to place donated food. “The Good Samaritan” is a department set up by Care Station which comprises a group of brothers and sisters passionate about caring for others.

This church is located in Skudai, Johor. There are a few old and run-down flats nearby, many of which are occupied by poor and underprivileged families. Because of this factor, it attracted the attention of those few who care for their communities, and their kind intentions gained full support from their senior pastor, Rev. Allan Kong. Thus, they established “The Good Samaritan”. Upon the establishment, Rev. Allan Kong invited Teacher Bryant Teo (the founder of Persatuan Kebajikan Hati Nurani Johor Bahru) to teach them how to organise and promote social care. Initially,  Teacher Bryant suggested the food bank approach, however, the church thought that many organisations were already doing that, so they decided to do something different. Henceforth, he encouraged the church to move towards the direction of soul and spiritual care approach, which could help underprivileged families practically.    ​

The initial wall during the establishment of “The Good Samaritan”

Money can accomplish many things

In 2018, Rev. Allan Kong together with a group of brothers and sisters went to Kuching to attend our third “Malaysian Christians Holistic Care Conference” to be equipped for their upcoming social care ministry. From there, they came to know of 7979 Holistic Care Relief Network (7979 HCRN) and their programs. After some consideration, they decided to join 7979 HCRN upon the establishment of “The Good Samaritan”.

MCO was enforced not long after the establishment of "The Good Samaritan", henceforth some initial committee members were stranded in Singapore due to work. Coincidentally, Rev. Allan discovered that there was another group of church members who were active in another food bank ministry, they were also trained by Teacher Bryant Teo and had other advantages too. Both Sherleen Tan and Serene Lim are from this group of people. Therefore, with one heart all team members raised resources to help those in need. “Actually, at that time, Rev. Allan Kong kept emphasised that all that was temporary only, and out of our expectation, it continues to operate until today.” Serene laughingly shared the past.  

​In the process of ministering to the needy, Sherleen Tan and Serene Lim frankly shared that although those aid recipients had received food provision, they still had many other needs, e.g. rental and transport expenses. “Money can accomplish many things, it can help to improve the lives of the underprivileged.” Serene Lim said the Crisis Intervention Fund can indeed help many underprivileged families. She also praised the 7979 Crisis Intervention program for helping them in setting up a good case management system. ​

the key person behind the scene

“The Good Samaritan” Team Leader Sis. Sherleen Tan

When “The Good Samaritan” was about to recruit volunteers, 4 couples and a few volunteers appeared during that time, and among them were Sherleen Tan and Serene Lim, and their husband. Sherleen rose to the occasion, she quickly assigned one couple to lead each group, and finally came up with 5 visitation teams. Volunteer teams that are led by married couples have several advantages, they can better understand the complications of every family which also comprises male and female differences in rational and emotional aspects. Besides, the model of one family helping another family not only covers the wholesome needs of a family but could also set an example for the underprivileged family. This caring model could also influence the family members of the volunteering family.

When the reporter asked them about the challenges they faced in ministering to the needy, they answered simultaneously: “No.” This is because the volunteers in “The Good Samaritan” are willing to help each other, whenever problems arose, they would share and discuss. “Sometimes, some group members might be on leave, then other volunteers from another group would cover them.” Sherleen Tan said that their volunteers not only care for their community, but they are also very willing to help each other out, this has indirectly reduced the pressure on the volunteers. 

“The Good Samaritan” has been established for 4 years, both Sherleen Tan and Serene Lim were unstinting in their praises for Rev. Allan Kong, acknowledging him as the man behind the scene, who enables the ministry to run smoothly by helping those aid recipients. Rev. Allan Kong who is usually busy does not only care for the development of “The Good Samaritan”, he will also try his best to fulfil their request. If the need arises, he is most willing to visit the aid recipients together with the volunteers. ​
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Rev. Allan Kong, the man behind the scene of “The Good Samaritan”

Team members of “The Good Samaritan”

A small sum of money does not make someone rich, yet it can bring a glimpse of hope for the poor and underprivileged, just like a ray of warm sunlight, brightens up their heart. A ray of sunlight can be the driving force of “The Good Samaritan” in people-helping. 

2021年行动管制令（MCO），全国中小学校从实体课堂转为网课。每位学生需要使用能上网的电子设备来学习。一位来自贫穷家庭的女孩，因家人没有能力购买手机和网线配套，所以经常缺课。

展新关怀协会知道女孩一家面临的处境，便将他们转介给基督教长老会皇后圣光教会7979全人关怀站（以下称为“关怀站”），志工陈忆菁和林莉莉便为这个家庭申请7979急难救助金，也为她购买二手手机，她终于可以上网课了。这名小女孩就是关怀站的第一个受惠者。“领受了四次急难救助金后，害羞和自卑的她，原本不敢见我们，后来打开心房接受我们！” 志工们回忆，并分享这家庭接受那笔救助金后露出的喜悦。

成立“爱邻舍”

莉莉和漂亮的墙面

踏入教会，精美的墙面吸引本团队采访记者的眼球，其中一面墙挂着许多相片，下面放着一个木箱子，是“爱邻舍”（关怀站成立的社区关怀组织）食物置放处。“爱邻舍”是由一班热衷于社区关怀事工的志工组成，是关怀站成立的部门。

教会位于柔佛州的士古来，这里有老旧的平民组屋，住了不少贫困和弱势家庭。因而，引起一班关爱社区的人们关心，这份心意获得教会主理江仁健牧师的鼎力支持，于是成立“爱邻舍”。成立后，牧师邀请张景文老师（展新关怀协会创办人）教导如何组织及推动社会关怀工作。起初老师建议先推行食物银行，但是有许多组织已经在做相同的事情，我们便思考教会可以做什么不一样的事情？

“爱邻舍”成立初期墙面

有钱可以做很多事

为了预备参与和开始社会关怀事工，仁健牧师在2018年与一班人远赴砂拉越古晋，参加“第三届大马基督徒全人关怀研讨会”。他们从中认识了7979全人关怀救助网络这项关怀社区的方案。经一番考量后，牧师和这几位志工筹备“爱邻舍”时，加入7979全人关怀救助网络。

筹备工作不久就迎来MCO，原本的委员因为工作被迫留在新加坡。正好，牧师发现另一班曾活跃于其他食物银行的人、接受过景文老师的培训和具备其他优势等，忆菁和莉莉就是出自这班人。于是，团员们齐心援助物资给受助者。“当时，牧师和我们强调一切都是暂时的，没想到‘爱邻舍’仍旧运作至今。”莉莉笑着提及加入“爱邻舍”的往事。

扶助个案时，莉莉和忆菁坦言许多个案虽然拥有了食物，其实还有其他的需要，例如租金和车油费。 “钱可以让弱势家庭改善很多问题，因为可以用钱做很多事。”莉莉说，能用急难救助金实际地帮助贫苦弱势家庭。她也赞扬7979急难家庭救助方案为“爱邻舍”开了新的道路，例如良好的个案管理系统。

幕后推手

“爱邻舍”团长忆菁姐妹

正当“爱邻舍”在召集想要做关怀社区的志工时，刚好有四对夫妇，包括团长忆菁、莉莉和她们的丈夫，以及一些志工出现。忆菁见状，便安排一对夫妇带一个小组，最后组成了五个探访小组。由夫妻带领的志工小组有许多好处，包括从男性和女性的理性及感性思维的特质更全面了解个案情况。此外，一个家庭帮助另一个弱势家庭的举动，不仅可以从整个家庭的需要为考量，也可以成为受助家庭的模范。这样的关怀模式，也影响了志工的家人开始慰问个案。


当记者问她们服侍个案过程中是否遇到挑战。她们异口同声的说：“没有”。因为“爱邻舍”志工们都愿意互相帮助，有问题就分享和讨论个案的情况。“有时，小组有人请假，其他小组的志工会帮忙补上。”忆菁说，志工不只乐于分享从事社区关怀心得，也愿意担当其他小组的重担，无形中减轻了个人的压力。

“爱邻舍”成立至今有四年，忆菁和莉莉不吝于称赞仁健牧师是这一切的幕后推手，使关怀工作得以顺利展开，例如愿意协助关怀个案。平日忙碌的牧师，不仅关心“爱邻舍”的进展，也会尽量满足志工的要求。若有需要，他也会抽空，随同团员探访个案。

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“爱邻舍”的幕后推手江仁健牧师

“爱邻舍”团员们

一笔小小的金钱不能使人过上富裕的日子，却能为低收入和弱势家庭带来一线希望，犹如一缕温暖的阳光，照亮他们的心田。一缕阳光，是激发“爱邻舍”坚持助人的动力。

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​目录
7979急难故事  坚持助人的动力
7979急难故事  我们不会倒下
7979大家庭  7979亲子体验营
​7979动起来  新动态（2023年11月至2024年1月）
福气临门  平安和喜乐
7979资讯台
大会一起7979 让爱人成为生活态度