Piotrków-Trybunalski, Poland
Thursday, March 5, 2009
.
Homeless Shelter Ministry
I thought I would give you all an update on how the ministry at the homeless shelter is going. Yesterday, Daniel and I went together to the homeless shelter to make ourselves available to any of the men living there, if they wanted to talk to a pastor. First we talked to the homeless shelter manager. I asked her, “Gdzie jest Symon?” (Where is Simon? [the guy I had connected with when we first went to the homeless shelter]) She said that he disappeared two days ago. Feeling a bit bummed, I prayed for him under my breath. Symon had come to church that Sunday morning after we had first met. I was feeling excited as it seemed that God was stirring something in his heart. This is a huge feat for many people in Poland. I have heard that many devout Catholics in Poland consider it a sin to even step foot onto the premises of an Evangelical Church. Please pray for Symon, if the Lord brings him to your mind.
.
Then we saw that Mark was meeting with a guy that Daniel had talked to the previous week in another room. After that we went upstairs and talked to a few guys. One man, named Andrzej, we have talked to before. Andrzej is a mechanic. Not too long ago he had a job restoring an old Polish car from the ‘30’s called the “Warszawa” for someone. After he had finished the restoration, he was not given the money that he was promised for finishing the project. Then Andrzej was kicked out of the flat he was renting. And then, on top of that, he was in a terrible accident and shattered the bones in his lower leg (they had to do major surgery and put many pins in it to hold it all together). This is how he ended up in the homeless shelter. No home. No job. No good health. My heart went out to him, but I was glad that Daniel and I were able to just sit there, listen to him, talk to him, even laugh and tell some jokes with him. What a great ministry opportunity. Please. Also, pray for Andrzej as he hopes to get a job working on cars again after his leg gets healed up.
.
A few weeks ago, on a Saturday evening, Daniel and I went to the homeless shelter where I was able to put on a mini-concert for over twenty people from the shelter. I was able to play and sing five or six of the songs that I have written. During the first song I broke a string on my guitar (which I haven’t done on my Taylor for years). So I decided to take the opportunity to share a clear presentation of the gospel with Daniel translating as I changed out the string on my guitar. I challenged them to find a quiet place and talk to Jesus about this “personal, hand-holding relationship” with Him that has been offered to them as a free gift for salvation. It seemed as though they were just listening and taking it all in. I’m not sure if any of them did this, but the seed was planted. I continued to sing more of my songs, having Daniel translate the meaning of each song before I played them. I felt as though it was another great opportunity to minister here in Poland.
.
Homeless Shelter Ministry
I thought I would give you all an update on how the ministry at the homeless shelter is going. Yesterday, Daniel and I went together to the homeless shelter to make ourselves available to any of the men living there, if they wanted to talk to a pastor. First we talked to the homeless shelter manager. I asked her, “Gdzie jest Symon?” (Where is Simon? [the guy I had connected with when we first went to the homeless shelter]) She said that he disappeared two days ago. Feeling a bit bummed, I prayed for him under my breath. Symon had come to church that Sunday morning after we had first met. I was feeling excited as it seemed that God was stirring something in his heart. This is a huge feat for many people in Poland. I have heard that many devout Catholics in Poland consider it a sin to even step foot onto the premises of an Evangelical Church. Please pray for Symon, if the Lord brings him to your mind.
.
Then we saw that Mark was meeting with a guy that Daniel had talked to the previous week in another room. After that we went upstairs and talked to a few guys. One man, named Andrzej, we have talked to before. Andrzej is a mechanic. Not too long ago he had a job restoring an old Polish car from the ‘30’s called the “Warszawa” for someone. After he had finished the restoration, he was not given the money that he was promised for finishing the project. Then Andrzej was kicked out of the flat he was renting. And then, on top of that, he was in a terrible accident and shattered the bones in his lower leg (they had to do major surgery and put many pins in it to hold it all together). This is how he ended up in the homeless shelter. No home. No job. No good health. My heart went out to him, but I was glad that Daniel and I were able to just sit there, listen to him, talk to him, even laugh and tell some jokes with him. What a great ministry opportunity. Please. Also, pray for Andrzej as he hopes to get a job working on cars again after his leg gets healed up.
.A few weeks ago, on a Saturday evening, Daniel and I went to the homeless shelter where I was able to put on a mini-concert for over twenty people from the shelter. I was able to play and sing five or six of the songs that I have written. During the first song I broke a string on my guitar (which I haven’t done on my Taylor for years). So I decided to take the opportunity to share a clear presentation of the gospel with Daniel translating as I changed out the string on my guitar. I challenged them to find a quiet place and talk to Jesus about this “personal, hand-holding relationship” with Him that has been offered to them as a free gift for salvation. It seemed as though they were just listening and taking it all in. I’m not sure if any of them did this, but the seed was planted. I continued to sing more of my songs, having Daniel translate the meaning of each song before I played them. I felt as though it was another great opportunity to minister here in Poland.
.
Christian Young
No comments:
Post a Comment