LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–The American dream. It’s that carrot-on-a-stick promise of prosperity that lures thousands each year to the “land of opportunity.” Yet for many immigrants, affluence remains out of reach, and the American dream can quickly become nightmarish.
Such was the case with the owner of a local Louisville, Ky., Chinese restaurant, Double Dragon. Having invested a life’s savings in the chase for cash, the proprietor was facing certain financial ruin. Debt heaped. The landlord grew impatient. Eviction loomed.
Enter Southern Baptist Theological Seminary students Deyi Wei and Bryan Brown — two seminarians who, through their free assistance and advice over the past seven months, have helped bring the business from the brink of bankruptcy to profitability. But more than that, they have conveyed a Christian witness to all involved — owner, family, staff and others.
Wei, himself a native of China, was the first to become involved in the ministry to the restaurant. He met the owner while translating for a social services organization. Through that relationship, Wei started going to the restaurant to eat, and he began to learn of the owner’s dire straits.
Unfortunately, the financial problems at Double Dragon were beyond his ability to relieve. But, Wei did know someone who could help — Brown.
A master of divinity student from Indianapolis, Brown had come to seminary after spending many years in the business world. In his job before seminary, he and his business partner had directed a $150 million calendar company. In other words, his management skills were not lacking.
Wei brought Brown to the restaurant and introduced him to the owner. The situation — which stemmed primarily from language barriers and a misunderstanding of American business practices — was even worse than they thought.
“He had put every penny of his savings in that restaurant,” Brown said of the owner. “So to me, it was even more of a heightened sense of urgency. … They were willing to come to America for the American dream, and they found out that maybe it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.”
Brown offered his help, and the proprietor grabbed the lifeline gladly. Brown assessed the financial predicament and went to work.
His first goal was to stop the bleeding.
“Just like any type of emergency room situation, we had the critical things we needed to work on,” Brown said. “The most critical situation was that the landlord wanted to evict the family [from the restaurant].”
After meeting with the landlord, Brown convinced him to accept a six-month payment schedule to repay the late rent and give Wei and Brown some time to improve the business.
With an economic tourniquet applied, Brown began to attempt to move the business towards profitability. With Wei translating, Brown gave advice on how to improve anything and everything — from the cost of food to cleanliness.
“We’re kind of a team,” Brown said of Wei and himself. “Without Dei’s ability [to speak the language] and passion for the Lord, I would really be of no value.”
Brown also implemented several simple enhancements, such as seating people next to the windows to make the restaurant appear busier. He confronted vendors to prevent them from taking advantage of the family. He passed out fliers to local establishments and homes. And he and Wei taught the restaurant staff some basic English skills.
The result has been amazing. Business, according to Brown, has increased more than 40 percent since September. And rent payments have been made on time.
But in stemming the tide of debt, the door also opened for Wei and Brown to address a more eternal issue — like the Gospel.
“I think God had stricken them … in a way that their hearts were softened,” Wei said.
Wei and Brown’s ministry was multifaceted. Wei gave the family Bibles and other Christian materials in Chinese, including a “Jesus” video. Soon, they also began to lead the staff and the family in a weekly Bible study. Currently, Brown is using a “chronological storying” technique to teach the Sunday night study. He learned the technique in a January term class at Southern.
The two seminarians’ time together with the family has borne much fruit. The owner’s two daughters have accepted Christ, and other employees, including the owner, are hearing the Gospel with open hearts.
Brown and Wei are now turning their attention to discipleship and to ensuring that a positive influence continues into the future.
“Deyi and I both graduate in May, and we’re trying to leave them with a Christian group of people that can support them not only in their business but in the life of Christ,” Brown said.
Brown and Wei’s Christian influence has not been limited to just the family and workers, however. The landlord has noticed the two seminary students’ ministry as well.
“The question he kept asking me initially was, ‘Now, why are you doing this?'” Brown recalled. “I told him, ‘This is a ministry.’ … He now is more open. He says, ‘I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to deal with this in a Christian fashion. And I may not have done that all the time. But I want to try to … work in a Christian fashion [in the future].”
Both Brown and Wei agree that none of the inroads to ministry would have been tapped without first meeting the needs of the restaurant’s owner. Truth, love and service must be combined in ministry, Wei said.
“When we preach the Gospel, we don’t just preach theology,” he explained. “We preach theology that is really working itself out.”
Wei believes Brown has especially modeled this blend of service and evangelism.
“God has given him a capacity to give his time and energy and expertise in love for the lost,” Wei said. “He has a joyful and encouraging attitude. … It is all voluntary work. He has a giving heart.”
Their ministry also convinced the two seminarians that a Christian’s eyes should always be open to the needs around them.
“We should have this compassion for people who are lost in the world, to reach out and to help them when they really need it,” Wei said. “We need to go out into the workplace and into the home where they are hurting to share the Gospel with them.”
–30–
(BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: FINIANCIAL SERVICE.
