The Church of the
Nazarene in Poland has been busy these past few weeks! Let me tell you about this and
also share some prayer requests that have grown out of what is happening.
Our workers in Poznan continue to distinguish
themselves both in the work of the Sweet Surrender Coffee Shop ministry and in
sharing the love of Christ in the community. The shop continues to grow both in
its effective outreach and in its financial stability.
We owe a great debt of gratitude
to our Volunteers and our local Poznan people. God continues to bless their
fellowship together and give them fruit for their labors.
Many of you are
aware that we have had several years of working with some complexities in
connection with our past work in Gdansk.
God has worked a number of great miracles as we have cleared titles to property
and dealt with complicated tax issues. Thank God!
The papers have been signed transferring the Gdansk property to the Foundation!
There are stirrings from
Gdansk from those who would like to see this work come back to life. Please
join us in praying about what our next steps might be to use our resources in
Gdansk for God’s glory.
These exciting things are underway:
1. We have had wonderful meetings in
Krakow with the EurAsia Regional Director and the Field Strategy Coordinators
from the Region.
2. May 7 - July 30: we look forward to two “immersion” team girls
from Trevecca Nazarene University who will be working with our ministries in
Poznan and Krakow.
3. May 21 – 31: the Northwesterners singing group (which
includes Autumn Tustin, younger daughter of Ev and Rhonda Tustin) from Northwest
Nazarene University will tour our work in Copenhagen, Denmark, Malmø, Sweden, and
in Poznan and Krakow, and help in outreach at the Sweet Surrender Shop
ministries in each city.
4.
June 20 - July 3: the John Day, Oregon, Work and Witness team
will be working in Poznan doing critical work on our building, replacing
windows in the first floor shop and the third floor apartment. This work is
critical to the soundness of these properties.
5. July 26 - August 7: the Plymouth, Michigan, Work and Witness team
will be in Poznan to continue the work on the windows in the shop and
apartment.
6. September 12 – 26: the South Texas Work and Witness team led by
Duane Srader will be in Poznan the complete the work on the windows in the shop
and apartment.
We ask you to join
us in prayer for the safe travel and effective ministry of all of these groups
in our work in Poznan and Krakow. Join us in praying that God will continue to
put our ministry in Poland on the hearts of churches and Districts to help us
with other needed Work and Witness projects.
Thank God for our Volunteers who continue to be willing
to come work in our coffee shop ministries. If you think of people who might be willing
and able to do effective work in our coffee shops, please have them get in
touch with me to see if spending several months to a year or more as a
Volunteer might be a great way for them to serve God. We are always on the
lookout for those who may have experience at working in coffee shops, who can
come and help us feed the love of coffee that many Polish people have, and who
would also share God’s love with them.
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Heads up!
* We hope to schedule several
Partners Meetings this fall in the United States. Watch for announcements!
* In just a few days
you will receive another Poland Partners’ Update about our work in Krakow! Some
exciting things are happening, but we are also facing some faith-stretching
challenges!
