PoKsh ChrisTian MinistriesPaul Bajko, DirectorP.O. Box 629

Bel Air, MD 21014-0629(410) 734-7250

C. Wayne Murphy, Director-elect65 Deep Dale Drive East

Levittown,PA 19056-1004(215) 945-1481

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: A PIONEERING WORK

Vacation Bible School is not the first pioneering work in Poland for this ministry.In 1956 we began a relief ministry when almost every year from 500 to 1000 packages

of used clothing were sent along with hundreds of packages of medicine. We continuesending and taking numerous packages of medicines to Poland.

A publication ministry began in 1960 with the first issue of the Polish Christianmagazine, Guideposts (English translation). This magazine continues to be published ona monthly basis. In later years many song books and much other literature have also been

of Boleslaw Winnik,VBSat Bialogard

THE DOORS OF POLAND ARE OPEN!JOIN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US IN SPREADING THE WORD!

countries. Firstj abook about VBS was trans-along with samples of materials was taken to

For many years Alice Lewczuk togetherj. , , , , , j • 1.-1 Abce and Lonek Lewczuk

with her husband have been engaged m children's and youth work. Alice organized and taught the first Sunday School class for children in the church at Warsaw. She then began training Sunday School teachers in otherchurches and has had national conferences for Sunday School teachers. She has been invited to Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Romania, and other countries to help in establishingSunday School programs in churches.

It took Alice over two years to digest the VBS material and persuade some preachersto have VBS in their churches. First she trained local teachers and then started to direct VBSin different cities. Right from the beginning VBS was a great success with hundreds ofchildren attending this new event.

What a joy it was when Alice wrote of that first VBS in 1992: "By the end of the weekchildren nicely dressed came hand in hand with their parents to the closing exercises. Therewere tears of joy on the cheeks of parents when they heard their children talking aboutChrist and the Bible. It moved many of them to come to church on the Lord's Day."

In 1993 VBS was very successful with schools being conducted in Bialogard, Gdynia,^ Katowice, Kolobrzeg, and Rybnik.

These were done under Alice's^ ||f, leadership with the help of her^ , husband, Lonek, and the assis-

t^ce of a young preacher and

materials'for more churches to^ wTV-- be involved in the future.

Preparing for VBSat Katowice \1954-1994

40 YEARS OF SERVICE!

DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IN KATOWICEby Roman Chmielewski

firm offered help and the childrenVBS at Katowice , , , n n . ,

had plenty of sweets, fruits, anddrinks. Teachers and helpers also experienced God's goodness including dinner at a Frenchrestaurant. All that is not possible to describe. The "multiplying" was so great that we didnot spend one cent from the church money, and had more than enough. God is great andvery real and often makes us ashamed of our lack of faith.

Sister Alice Lewczuk and Darek & Iwonka Stawinski were the experienced leaders of thewhole action, helping every day in preparations, organization, and leading the activities.There were four more helpers^sfrom Warsaw. But were it not ^for the help of our own young ^people and adults, we would f¥ifc If 'have many difficulties. Thiswas another evidence how God

answered our prayers forenough workers during the VBS. Hh^H w.This really unitedour church. % 1m

The attendance at VBS was -^ ' '̂w . ^something else. The children ^ ^ ^ ^came invited by a processionofclowns, orthey leamed about V 11VBS from thepress, radio, and Ulocal TV. The TV showed a WBBBfeBKlBBHBILyyshort coverage of the VBSactivities. The attendance was VBSatckiynia

M

PKZVjOt

VBSat Kolobr/eg

Staff:

Paul Bajko. DirectorDela Bajko, Secretary/Bookke^)^C, Wayne Muiphy, Director-elect

Guidance Committee:Kennetti Meade, Secretary, Rockvilie, MD

Gary Bordelon, Indianapolis, INJohnF. Buckley, WestLebanon, INThomas M. Hart. Parsippany, NJ

Robert K. Klanops, Indian^lls. INAd^ J. Korenczuk, Baltimore, MD

Robert Martin, Knoxville, TNGerald0. Moreland, Markle, IN

Bill Gates. Brownstown, INIvan Odor, Mt, Pleasant. MlBill Smith, Cumberiand, IN

John Todd, West Chester. OHbeyond our expectations. Every day through the whole | looa, west Chester, oh |week came 100-150 children. Two hours before the 'opening time, the children were waiting outside afraid to be late. They were very open tothe Gospel.

The children's enthusiasm caught also the parents and many of them came every day- with the children and took part in all the activities, helping with handworks, singing, etc.It gave us a good chance to talk with them. It showed us also how important the work withthe children is because it opens doors to the whole family.

The children prepared a special closing program for their parents. Their singing andacting out how "Great is God, po\verful and mighty, and nobody can compare with Him..." and "Howgood it is to follow jesus," brought tears to the eyes of the parents. We neverexpected so many of them to come.

At the end we had a meeting with the parents who thanked us for a beautiful week. Weset a date for a meeting after vacations to show them a video that had been made and adisplay of pictures. We invited them to come to church. Many children expressed theirfeelings. We were so happy to hear that from all the activities they liked the Bible storiesbest.

Following vacationsaverysuccessful meetingwiththe childrenand parents took place.As a result we arc preparing a special program and will meet once a month in the school.Again we invited the children and their parents to come to our services.

Thanks to all thosehappenings the workofour SundaySchool improved and expandedgreatly. We have more children now divided into two groups and more teachers and assistants.

The VBS for our congregation was so great that I dare to compareit to the crossingofthe Red Sea by the Israelites. We experienced the reality of God and that His greatestexpectation is to be allowed to use His children for great things.

[Roman Chmielewski is the preacher for the Katowice congregation.]

Polish Christian Ministries

GUIDANCE COMMITTEE

Kenneth A. Meade, Secretary, Rockville, Md.Gaiy Bordelon, IncSanapolis, Ind.John Buckley, Ind.Thomas M. Hart, Parslppany, N.J.Carroll Kakac, Fairfield, III.Robert K. Kleinops, Indianapolis, Ind.Adam J. Korenczuk, Sparks, Md.Robert G. Martin, Knoxville,Tenn.Gerald O. Moreland, Markle, Ind.BillOates, Brownstown, Ind.Ivan Odor, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.BillSmith, Cumberland, Ind.John Todd, West Chester, Oh.

P.O. Box 629

Bel Air. Maryland 21014-0629Phone: (410)734-7250

March, 1994

Dear Faithful Friends,

STAFF

Paul Bajko, DirectorAdela Bajko, Secretary/Bookkeeper

C. Wayne Murphy, Director-elect65 Deep Dale Dr. East

Levittown, Pa 19056-1004Ph. 215-945-1481

This year we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Polish Christian Ministries, formerly Department of Missions-Polish Ministry!

Forty years ago it was a very small beginning with much uncertainty and many doubts. Wedid not know what the Lord had in store for us and how He would lead us. By faith, withmuch praying and searching, we started working and the Lord did great things in Polandthrough us and through YOU.

The Second World War ruined Poland physically and spiritually. Ten million people died,including two million children. Our churches of Christ, located mostly in the eastern part ofPoland, were annexed to the Soviet Union and only a few churches remained in the post-warPoland. These few churches were without Bibles, buildings, song books, Christian literature,and trained preachers. We had to start from the beginning and we needed money.

We began by raising money to support the preachers and to train youth for the ministry.They needed Bibles and literatures. Church buildings were needed. Soon our work expandedto a radio ministry, a Christian service camp, supplying clothing, and supplying medicines.

A need arose for song books. Songs were translated from English into Polish and we published 11 song books, as well as eight books of poems. The Ufe of Christ. Visualized and theBook of Acts were translated along with four books and booklets.

In January, 1960, we started a regular monthly publication of the Polish magazine "Guide-posts" which is now in its 35 th year of publication.

Through the years we purchased or built 18 church buildings and remodeled or enlarged sixother buildings. At the present time we support 40 preachers and evangelists, a SeniorCitizens Home, students who study for the ministry, VBS programs, a Polish Ministry Conference, publications in Poland, building programs, and provide for new churches to be established. There are 22 churches and 15 mission stations in Poland today with a combinedattendance each Lord's Day numbering near 5000.

Today we can say with Samuel: "Thus far has the Lord helped us" (1 Samuel 7:12, NIV).BUT, the work is not finished. We must move on.

After throwing off the yoke of Communism, Poland plunged into political, economical, andspiritual crises. Although people are free physically, they are still in the bondage of sin.With their new freedom, new cults and false religions flooded Poland. People are disoriented

"For What We Preach Is Not Ourselves, But Jesus Christ As Lord,With Ourselves As Your Servants For Jesus' Sake" 2 Cor. 4:5

and lost. We must double our efforts in preaching the Gospel, leading people to Christ, andplanting new churches.

We face some financial shortages in the mission work today. There are many open doors inthe countries of the former Soviet Union. We are grateful that preachers, missionaries, andstudents from the United States,are answering the calls there. However, offerings and giftsfrom some of our supporting churches and individuals diminished in order to help thoseworks. That has created a shortfall for the work we are trying to accomplish in 1994. Weneed your help in accomplishing five very important and urgent projects THIS YEAR:

1. Enlargement of the building in Kolobrzeg for a congregation that is $10,000growing very fast.

2. A building in Dabrowa Gornicza was purchased in 1993. Now we need to $ 10,000help the congregation completely remodel it.

3. We are sponsoring a promising young man, David Karel, son of Polish $ 5,000preacher, Piotr Karel, for a year at Johnson Bible College. JBC providedhalf of his costs through scholarship and work programs and themission is covering the balance plus his round trip travel costs fromPoland. (We are grateful for three congregations who have alreadycommitted and/or given a large part of the funds for this project!)

4. Last year our Polish Ministry Conference was so successful the Polish $ 10,000people requested another this year. We expect 200 people in attendancefor whom we provide meals and lodging. (Glenn Bourne and Lyle Bundyof Florida Christian College and Richard Bourne of England will be theguest speakers this year, traveling at their own costs.)

5. High unemployment exists in Poland creating a need for food, clothing, $ 5,000and medicines for many families.

As a means of saying "Thank You, Lord" for the great things done in Poland in the last 40years, would you be willing to express your appreciation by providing a love gift towards ourgoal of $40,000 to see that the above mentioned projects are completed for the Lord's workthis year?

Thank you very much for your faithful support of Polish Christian Ministries. May the Lordbless you as you serve Him.

Yours in His ministry,

Executive Committee of

Polish Christian Ministries