by Summer Kelley
ITMI's Gospel Joy Workshops and Evangelism recently held a Workshop in Tuchola, Poland.
Tuchola is the seat of Tuchola County in northern Poland, near the Bay of Pomerania of the Baltic Sea.
The ITMI partner, Andrew Gorski and the Gospel Joy team recently made the 2 to 3 hour trip north from Poznan to Tuchola, where they spent a weekend sharing their love for the emotional and expressive Gospel Music.
As they learn the words to the songs, participants learn why someone would sing these joyous songs about their relationship with Jesus - a concept that is foreign to the average Polish person.
After experiencing this high energy weekend full of relationship building, camaraderie and explanation of how Jesus wants a relationship with us, Andrew reports that 60 of the participants decided to respond and enter into a relationship with Jesus!
Launching More Word Zones
But what happens when the Gospel Joy team packs up and returns to Poznan, Poland? What happens to these new believers when the weekend is over?
In Poznan, Gospel Joy has had remarkable success with Word Zones for over 3 years. Workshop participants who want to know more about having a relationship with Jesus can sign up for a weekly gathering called a "Word Zone."
There are now 6 Word Zones in Poznan. The model is clearly working.
It's time-tested and proven.
New believers learn more about Jesus at weekly Word Zone meetings.
But for cities that aren't local, like Tuchola, Gospel Joy is answering this question by launching a movement that would allow them to train 30 Polish evangelical leaders in cities in Poland to lead a Word Zone group after the Gospel Joy team returns to Poznan.
The boat is built. The Gospel Joy team has been laboring on it for years.
Its ready to launch. Its ready to reach many.
Now it needs a push.
If you want to partner with Gospel Joy to launch this movement of planting 17 home groups, you can be a key part in reaching many with the news that they, too, can have a relationship with Jesus.
Summer Kelley is a writer living in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and three kids. She’s had the honor and privilege of telling ITMI’s stories since 2006. She’s a homeschooling mom and a T-shirt and jeans aficionado who likes all things simple. When she’s not writing or homeschooling, you can find her honing her skills as what some might call a "suburban survivalist" as she learns to thrive in the suburbs with 3 kids. As a productivity and organizing enthusiast, she may or may not spend hours attempting to use technology to "save time.” Summer loves reading, the outdoors and Coca-Cola Classic from the fountain.