Missions in Europe

“We all owe an incredible debt of gratitude to Campus Crusade.” My colleague, Dennis, was reflecting on the first years of WorldVenture in Poland. And he’s right. Although WorldVenture is one of of the oldest North American missions in Poland – I think we were second – Campus Crusade arrived ten years before we did. And Crusade personnel helped our first people get apartments, language teachers, visas, connections with church leaders, and on and on. Every mission organization in Poland owes Crusade a debt of gratitude, because most of us have continued to help one another, in a kind of “Pay It Forward” ethos.

Poland has one of the lowest percentages of evangelicals in the whole world – at 0.15%. It’s number of missionaries per capita is among the lowest in the world, as well. Wladyslaw Dwulat, president of the Evangelical Alliance of Poland, estimates the total number of missionaries at 120, out of a total population in Poland of 38.5 million. The number of missionaries is down, from a high of 180 in the early 2000’s. Perhaps these low numbers have helped all of us be more cooperative and less competitive.

In any case, our team in Poland has also experienced the rich blessing of being able to partner closely with several other organizations: TEAM, SEND International, Fellowship of Evangelical Baptists International, and Josiah Venture. In each case we have seconded or received seconded people into our team. In addition to Campus Crusade, we have been able to work closely with Greater Europe Mission, Christian Missionary Alliance, International Mission Board, Pioneers, Reach Global, European Christian Mission, International Messengers and probably several others that I never knew about.

Of course, probably even more important than our cooperation with other North American missions has been our opportunity to work closely with Polish evangelical organizations. We have primarily been connected with the Polish Baptist Union, reflecting our heritage as a historically Baptist mission organization. In addition, we have worked with the Church of Evangelical Christians, the Church of Free Christians, independent fellowships, and the Evangelical Alliance itself. Our first personnel modeled a pattern of ministry that subordinated their/our agendas to the agendas of our Polish partners. Based on their model, our team worked to continue that ethos. Thankfully, we have an international structure that allows us to set strategy at the field level, and enables us to be supportive of national workers’ agendas, as opposed to finding nationals to support our agendas.

So – Paul said it best in Philippians 1:3

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (KJV). As we reflect on 25 years of our organization in Poland, we continually come across memories of people from other organizations and churches who have been vital in our ministry. Thank you, God for our brothers and sisters.

Hopefully, just as so many others have been helpful for us, we have been faithful in serving others.

25 Years of WorldVenture in Poland I

25 Years of WorldVenture in Poland III