From the October-December 2009 Issue
Threefold ministry in Wloclawek
Krzysztof and Aneta Rutkowski
IT ALL STARTED…
When a married couple, Rutkowscy, were converted, their three children began to read and listen to the Word of God during a family time for Bible study and prayer. A few years later, together with other believers, the parents formed an evangelical church in Włocławek, giving an opportunity for regular fellowship with those who shared the same faith. Soon afterwards Sławomir Rutkowski became pastor of that congregation. His eldest son, Krzysztof, was converted as a teenager and began to be an active part of the church. He would share the Gospel with his friends and take part in a youth group and camps. A couple of years later he started giving simple messages from the Scripture, first at youth meetings and later during Sunday services. He realized the need for more knowledge of the Bible and doctrine; therefore, still doing engineering studies, he joined a Bible school which operated every other weekend. In God’s providence, when he completed those studies a new opportunity opened up. The European Missionary Fellowship made it possible for him to go to the UK and do theological studies at their School of Evangelism. Soon after his return to Poland in 1989, it was agreed that he would be supported by EMF and share the ministry with his father Sławomir.
THE FIRST DECADE
Krzysztof, equipped with some training and a good command of English, first of all engaged in the preaching and teaching ministry in his father’s church. In his preparation for sermons and lectures he greatly appreciated the ability to read good Christian literature that had been written during the last few centuries in the language of Shakespeare. Trying to reach people outside the church, he began to make and distribute little posters and invitations to attract their attention to special evangelistic meetings. He also managed to translate and write some tracts. His father was very much involved with Christian summer camps. A little campsite in a village called Teodorowo had been used for a considerable time to share the Gospel and teach children and young people. The needs and challenges were great, so the son readily agreed to take part in them. During that period a lot of young people and children were able to hear the Good News and have biblical teaching, but also the camp premises were developed with the help of believers in the UK.
THE SECOND DECADE
The next decade brought some new opportunities. There were funds made available through EMF to produce sound Christian literature in the Polish language. This challenge was welcomed with great enthusiasm in Poland by people who would be involved, like Elzbieta Modnicka, who translated the first book, Losing Touch with the Living God by John Benton. Krzysztof took overall responsibility for the work of LEGATIO (the new Polish publishing house) and was involved in checking translations, sales and all other necessary work. Meantime, he carried on preaching and in the responsibility of an elder, while also doing further studies in theology. His wife, Aneta, helped him a lot, doing most of the proof reading, as well as looking after their two daughters and doing a full-time job. The overall effort of many in the UK and in Poland has produced over fifty new titles in the Polish language and put several thousand books in the hands of our Polish brethren.
THE THIRD DECADE
This has just started and it seems it may bring some noticeable changes in Krzysztof’s ministry. In a few years’ time the elders of the church in Włocławek and the congregation will need to call a new pastor. Sławomir is sixty-seven years old. He carries on pastoral responsibilities, still manages the campsite in Teodorowo and organizes the summer camps. But, needless to say, he is thinking about the future leadership in the church and who could take over the ministry of the summer camps. Also, if new books are going to be published under the name of LEGATIO, the publishing house needs to be able to raise funds in what is rather a difficult time. Our prayer goes out to the Lord, that he would use these challenges for even greater growth in His work in Włocławek – the church, the camp and the publishing ministry.