From the September-December 2010 Issue
REMEMBERING HIS FAITHFULLNESS
Henryk and Daniela Karzelek
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Sitting at my desk with a sheet of paper in front of me, ready to write, I closed my eyes and for a while I started to remind myself of all the years of faithfulness of my Saviour and Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ. In my thoughts I went back to the past, to once again marvel at the grace of God who saved me, shaped me and prepared me for the work in his church in Wodzisław Śląski. At that time I was in secular work; I was building my house and also worked in the church. It was a time of strong communism, so the ways we worked for the Lord were very much limited. Even the simple things like posters or distribution of invitations for evangelistic meetings could cause an arrest or visit to the police station. There were similar consequences for those who distributed Christian literature, books or tracts. This side of communistic times was very dark and unpleasant. Looking from the other side, people were much more open then and willing to receive invitations; they had time to stop and listen. Materialism wasn’t the main thing that people focused on.
NEW FREEDOMS
In the 70s and 80s we gained much more freedom. Although the borders were still quite well guarded, we could welcome many more visitors from abroad. The coming of guests, believers from the West, was a big event in the life of the church. Very often we used it as an opportunity to invite people to come to our church. They were willing to come and listen to anyone who came behind the ‘Iron Curtain’. We opened our home for many guests. One of such visits was very important for us as a family and church. It was Erny Palnoch’s visit. He preached with great humility and power in our church, and then as the messenger or ‘angel’ of the Lord, he proposed to me full-time ministry in my church with support via EMF. Since that time we have experienced many unforgettable periods, including local revival in the church, establishing new meeting places, mission stations… Of course we weren’t free from tears and difficulties, but in everything we have seen God’s care, His presence and guidance.
NEW ATTITUDES
Then again we experienced something new in our situation. The fall of communism, open borders and internet access have brought further freedom and new trends marked by immorality and spiritual coldness. The Roman Catholic Church, with its Polish Pope as ‘head’, gained unlimited influence upon the new democracy, and the saying that a Pole is always Catholic regained fresh meaning. The new situation, and the presence of Catholicism in every area of life, rapidly changed the general opinion about everyone who wasn’t Catholic; we started to be perceived as members of the cults. That harmful name for Protestant churches gained favour not only in ordinary people’s minds, but also in the media.
Together with that new attitude towards Protestant churches came a growing desire for riches. People who were for many years limited by communism saw new opportunities and became materialistically minded. This mixture of beliefs and priorities make it hard to work among Polish people now. On one hand they seem to be content with their Catholic position, on the other hand their goal number one is to be rich. They have no time or desire for God, just spiritual coldness. Somehow it has touched Protestant churches too. In the desperate pursuit for new members and big numbers, many of them are using modernistic methods, compromising with the world, changing their understanding of the Gospel. It seems that some of them have lost their Christian identity.
NEW CHALLENGES
This new situation brings new challenges for the Protestant Church today, and that requires more attention from the workers and members of our churches. It is my delight that as the church in Wodzisław Śląski we may continue in the ministry of the Gospel among unbelievers and focus on biblical teaching, so much needed today. Our evangelistic work in which we try to use the gifts of our church members, brings us joy and encourages us to continue with it. Our various involvements in the work with children (via the Children’s Club), the youth work led by Aleksander Karzełek, and evangelistic services, have brought some encouraging fruits. In June two people who recently started to come to our church were baptised, giving their testimony of salvation. For me this is definitely a testimony of God’s saving grace in times when our nation serves other gods instead of the Living One. It has been and is such a great privilege to serve Him, the One who has power to save, not only in the past but also in the present.