Timeline
On-Going
Status
Currently Operating
Topics
Church Planting, Discipleship, Evangelism, Gospel Music, Leadership Development
Although 95% of people in Poland would identify themselves as Roman Catholic, many have never heard that God wants a personal relationship with them.
Evangelicals - those who believe and preach a grace and relationship based salvation as opposed to a rules or works-based salvation - are often viewed as a cult.
They are suspicious. They are insane.
They are shunned.
This means evangelism in Poland requires unique creativity, persistence and boldness.
Gospel Joy Workshops and Evangelism creatively uses people's interest in Gospel Music in Poland to explain the reason for the existence of the songs: the author's relationship with Jesus.
Hundreds of non-believers come - and even pay - to attend a Gospel Joy Workshops.
They want to listen to and sing this popular and dynamic music.
The Gospel Joy Workshops are high octane full-weekend events where a Gospel Music Instructor and a Polish Choir Director teach participants Gospel songs in English.
To the workshop attendees, the Gospel Music Instructor is something like a rockstar, due to the popularity of the music. He or she has a unique platform to talk about his or her relationship with Jesus because of this status.
The workshops include time for the meaning of the songs to be explained.
The explanation of the heart-felt Gospel lyrics is the Gospel itself. The very existence of this music provides a joyful example of what having a relationship with Jesus can be like.
But they also get to see this joy when they connect with the staff, volunteers or previous attendees who are discovering Jesus. There's lots of connecting and relationship building that happens throughout the weekend.
The workshop participants display a positive reaction to the explanations of the songs as they truly want to know what they are singing about. Some are even surprised to find that the Gospel message can be interesting and relevant. One participant shared,
“I was touched. If we had worship like this in my church, ...I would be there everyday.”
Another said,
“The interpretations of the songs made me think a lot. Because of what I heard yesterday at the workshops, I woke up this morning, thanked God that He was caring for me throughout the night, and asked for His blessing on my day.”
The workshop concludes with a final concert in which the participants present the music they have just learned to a packed auditorium of family and friends.
The good news that Jesus, the Son of God, pursues and desires a relationship with us is also given at the concerts.
Gospel Joy puts on workshops in multiple cities around Poland throughout the year.
What is wonderful about this particular method of outreach is that it does not leave a group of new believers alone after the workshop. Being invited to a local Evangelical church might cause these newborn believers to be instantly ostracized within their community.
Instead, loving follow-up is conducted in a natural setting in two ways.
1. Future Workshops.
Newborn believers are invited to attend future workshops so they can build relationships with the believers there.
2. Word Zone Bible Groups.
All participants have the opportunity to sign up for these after the final concert.
This method is EXPLODING.
You can read Basia's story, Joanna's story, Karolina's story and Anna's story. That's just the tip of the iceberg. So many have come to Christ and been discipled!
There are now multiple thriving Word Zone groups!
