The region with a developed industrial and commercial sector always draws large numbers of migrant workers. In response, a church located in such a region began reaching out to these workers with the gospel. Because local services are conducted in a dialect unfamiliar to the newcomers, a separate fellowship of non-local believers gradually took shape within the congregation, which they called the "Gospel Class."
"Gospel Class" initially focused solely on sharing the gospel, but later expanded into a multifunctional ministry as the number of members and needs increased. It introduced various discipleship and training gatherings, such as Bible study groups, courses using specific teaching materials, basic music theory classes, and piano accompaniment training sessions.
Among all sessions, one program stood out—a vocational skills training class that arose from the needs of non-local believers. Some hoped to move from general labor to skilled work, while others wished to transition from one industry to another. Believers come from diverse backgrounds—some are masters in their fields and are willing to share their skills with others.
Evangelism, spiritual growth, and professional development are all essential for believers; they are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary.
As the division of labor becomes more detailed and training institutions grow in cities, believers have more channels to improve their skills. This may lead churches to think that such training in the church is no longer needed. Is that true?
What we can be sure of is that the church shouldn't be absent from believers' vocational choice. One of God's purposes in creating mankind is managing the world, glorifying God, and helping others. The New Testament also gives teachings related to work. All these show us that career guidance should also be part of the church's ministry.
(The article was originally published by the Gospel Times, and the author is a Christian in Jiangsu.)
- Edited by Karen Luo and translated by Riley Li
