Things so far - Gryfow church, youth ministry and wonderful fellowship
Saturday morning at the ARC conference in Poland. Here we are beginning to worship, and shortly after this I gave a talk on Sonship and revival. People seemed to really be blessed by it. We took a short break and then began again with Ned giving an absolutely glorious teaching on the Cross of Jesus. Everyone was blessed and we shared the Lord’s Table with our new Polish brothers and sisters.
The Polish are a really hospitable, very warm and welcoming people. They have treated us so kindly and have really expressed gratitude that we would come and be interested in what their lives are like. I think Vinnie and Maryanne have also enjoyed themselves. Vinnie, along with other went on Friday afternoon to a local prison. There each of them shared their testimony and at the end of the time of sharing 10 men came forward to give their lives to Jesus. Rumor is that Vinnie gave a stirring talk & testimony.
Here I am, with my indomitable translator, Andrew (who speaks fluent english, polish and russian) speaking to the youth of the Gryfow church. Tom and Jamie were with me along with our friend Josh from Austin, Texas. The three of them shared their testimonies, and I shared my own and a brief word from the scriptures. Four young people came forward at the invitation for prayer. We were blessed by the gathering. We meet the sweetest 19 year old named Sonja. She became a Christian only 2 years ago. She said that she had first been led toward inquiring about 
Jesus from the lifestyle of one of her classmates. He had witnessed to her without words, but by his diligence in avoiding drunkeness, drugs and other things common to youth culture today. Sonja was delightful and full of the love of Jesus. She felt that the Lord was calling her to go to the mission field. Neither of her parents are Christians and so the full weight of following Jesus is on her, without any family support. Sonja is the girl in the lower left hand corner of this picture with the red jacket, and grey sweatshirt.
Not everything is preaching, teaching or testifying here. Here to the left you find yours truely conversing with these fine young persons Josh, from Austin and our own dear Jamie. We are discussing the finer points of train travel through Eastern Europe and they are sharing the experiences of sleeping in a sleeper car on an overnight train. Now that is interesting. No, really it is. At least when you get to be the age of the Black Dwarf - sleeping, sitting - things of a supine nature become quite significant. There is one other subject deserving of a bit of consideration and that is eating. Though sleeping or comfortable sitting is also worthy of deep thought, eating competes often in my mind for real estate. Although eating with sitting in a comfortable chair is also a worthy of mind space.
Forgive my digression. Its 5:58 P.M., which means you are probably just getting finished with church. (its noon jersey time) So I am slightly bummed because the stupid Cleveland Indians got their butts kicked by the Sox. (If you are a Cleveland fan your used to saying to yourself - hey, we don’t deserve to win, were probably gonna lose anyway, we don’t deserve to be in the playoffs anyway. That’s the psyche of a cleveland fan.) But in the larger scheme of life I’m not really that bummed. It is wonderful to be here with Vinnie and Maryanne, Tom and Jamie, and Josh as well as all our brothers and sisters from the ARC (there are even a few Brazilians here). I believe that God is going to take us into Poland. In fact I’m am a very big advocate of a youth mission trip here. The facilities are incredible and the ministry opportunities are great. Polish is not an easy language, but lots of the kids here seemed to speak English. So Troy, Noelle, and all of you associated with youth group - you gotta think about coming here.
October 21st, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Hey Scott!
Sounds like things are going great there!
I have to admit that I am jealous that you are there and I am NOT!
Good jealousy… I just wish I could be a part of all that. Oh great now I feel guilty.
Nah!
But you know me. I want to be everywhere at once. I so wish that it was possible to go everywhere.
Since I can’t I need to tell you that we are with you in prayer and we are glad for the Brothers and Sisters who get to enjoy your fellowship and service. I, for one, know that you are a blessing in the mission field.
Keep up the good work my friend. It is really making a difference!
Miss all of you! Give Ned a hug for me and tell him he can keep the shirt (he knows what I mean).
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Actually, yes, we *were* just getting out of church…Ben preached a record-breaking short sermon. Nobody knew what to do with themselves, what with starting at 10 am and all…You’ve got to teach that assistant pastor how to fill a time slot…ha ha…
You look very at home there in the cooler climes of Eastern Europe…a little moreso than in Brazil…for instance, I don’t see any sweat dripping down your face…! :^) I wonder how you’d do in a sleeper car…that’s an…uh…interesting thought!
On a non-teasing, serious note–Please…I want to hear when you go to Auschwitz. Every day I wonder about that. You are going, right?
We miss you, Black Dwarf!