If you spend 20 minutes with ITMI partner, Daniel Macholowski, you learn quickly that he has a burning passion to speak with anyone about Jesus.
It’s like Jesus is burning a hole in his pocket.
Daniel cares deeply about people; they aren’t a jewel in his crown, they are a friend he cares about unconditionally.
Daniel is exceptionally equipped and prepared by God for making disciples in Poland. He has a powerful story that many in Poland can relate to. He is so passionate about Jesus he can’t NOT talk about the good news fearlessly.
The skillful way Daniel is able to approach a stranger – in a country where their past communist rule has left scars of suspicion and closed-off demeanors – and make them feel comfortable enough with him to open up about spiritual things so quickly, is quite remarkable.
What is continually amazing is the way he is able to build friendships from those interactions!
In 2013, Daniel prayed with one of the men in his Old Testament class, David, to receive Christ after sharing the good news with him. He was baptized two months later. Now David has a job at a local Christian school and leads worship at various church events.
David makes a point to attend all Daniel’s gatherings and studies and is a lively contributor.
David makes a point to attend all Daniel’s gatherings. This is Daniel’s homegroup with David seated at the far left.
At one such group that included dinner, there were leftovers. David and Daniel took the food to the train station to bless some of the homeless there with food.
That’s where they met Nicholas. He wasn’t sober, but they were able to converse with him. While they were talking, sharing the gospel and praying with him, another homeless man tried to start a conflict with Daniel and David.
Nicholas stood in front of them, saying, “Don’t mess with them, they’re good people!”
Daniel told Nicholas if he came to the K5N service on Sunday, Daniel would introduce Nicholas to the pastor. To Daniel’s surprise, Nicholas showed up on Sunday, clean, nicely dressed and sober.
Daniel kept his promise. All this led to Nicholas being taken in at Bread of Life’s New Life Center. Thanks to the New Life Center’s exceptional recovery program, Nicholas was set free from alcohol and his old life.
Nicholas served alongside Daniel at the Festival of Hope where Franklin Graham spoke. Later that year, he was ready to take the next step of faith and be baptized!
Daniel (pictured middle left) with Mike (far left), another David and Nicolas (middle right) after Nicholas was baptized by Piotr Zaremba.
Nicholas has graduated from the New Life Center’s program, is holding a job in construction and found his own apartment! He’s even talking about returning to the New Life Center as a volunteer to help others recover!
It’s exciting to see disciples making disciples, and all our projects and partners working together beautifully to truly impact Poland.
An Unstoppable Force
Nicholas’s story is a great example of the unstoppable force that is our Polish team.
From Piotr Zaremba’s equipping and encouraging leadership as ITMI’s European Director to Daniel’s faithfulness to demonstrate and declare the good news, to all the dedicated workers at Bread of Life and the New Life Center.
From ITMI’s Richard and Brooke Nungesser who founded Bread of Life and worked tirelessly to see the dream of the New Life Center realized, to you, our faithful supporters who pray hard, give generously and sacrifice much.
This team is a multiplication machine, and there’s still lots of parts to play if you’d like to be a part of something exceptional!
Summer Kelley is a writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and three kids. She has had the privilege of telling ITMI’s stories since 2006. She loves to write uplifting stories of God’s work overseas, read and learn about the world around her and enjoy her family.
