Getting Through with Good News
In Poland, if you tell someone that Jesus, God of the Universe, wants a relationship with them, it wouldn't be uncommon for them to respond with a blank stare. They'd be speechless.
Although 99% of people in Poland would identify themselves as Roman Catholic, our Polish partners find that often people don’t know what to do with this good news.
They feel unworthy to have free salvation.
But at a workshop where you hoped to learn how to sing a popular music genre - Gospel Music - it might sink in.
The joyous lyrics reflecting a deeply personal relationship with God through happy strains of exultant notes, combined with the excitement and community you experience there, might just get through.
It's like a sermon they can see and feel.
The energy and passion of Gospel Music demonstrates the joy its singers find in their relationship with Jesus.
Following Through
While the Gospel Joy Workshops are only a weekend long each, and happen in each city once per year, it doesn't have to end there. Participants can join a weekly gathering called Word Zones, where believers and seekers will explore God's Word together.
As these groups have grown in maturity, they have become church plants, and there are now 6 of them with more and more being added all the time!
A Word Zone gathering.
Equipping Many for Wide Expansion
Since the Gospel Joy team is based in Poznan, Poland, the Word Zones have most often been located there. But as this model has been honed and duplicated, the team lifted their eyes to other cities in hopes of equipping local leaders to be ready to receive Workshop participants.
Recently, ITMI's Andrew Gorski, the Director of Gospel Joy, spent 6 months meeting with leaders in the city of Brzeg, training them to duplicate the "safe place" model of Word Zones in their city.
photo credit: 2006-04-16 14-33-13 Wielkanoc Brzeg via photopin (license) Filters and text added.
Brzeg Gospel Music Workshop
In March 2015, over 100 people attended the Gospel Joy Workshop in Brzeg. Fifteen people made the decision to give their lives to Christ and around 20 indicated interest in coming to this new home Bible group.
For two consecutive weeks 12 people came to the group and one has already invited her friend!
Andrew says,
"We’re so happy we can report of another new Bible based fellowship! What a joy to see people, who start reading the Bible with other believers on a weekly basis from now. Wow!"
Thanks for being a part of this incredible Gospel movement in Poland!
Top Photo Credit: 2006-04-16 14-35-31 Wielkanoc Brzeg via photopin (license). Cropped, text and filters added.
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.
