For several years our church in Poland has not enjoyed organizational contact with the rest of the Northern European Division, of which it is a part. Consequently, when the division officers were able to visit Poland recently, it was an event keenly anticipated by them and, we believe, by the worker group and our whole membership throughout the Polish Union.
In addition to a union conference session and three local conference sessions, a workers' meeting was held at our Polish Training School near the town of Bielsko, not far from the Czechoslovakian border. About sixty workers were in attendance, and throughout the two days that we were together a deep spirit of prayerful consecration was manifest.
It would be no exaggeration to state that an "atmosphere of Pentecost" prevailed throughout the whole meeting. Brethren long separated by reason of prevailing conditions during recent years expressed with tears of joy the heartfelt rejoicing that was theirs as they met for this time of fellowship and rededication.
While for obvious reasons the usual subjects related to the techniques of public evangelism were not discussed, it is true to say that the broad theme of evangelism was the main topic under discussion. These workers came together with a real consecrated desire to find ways and means to achieve a stronger witness for God's message. Above all, they sought a deeper in-filling of God's Spirit, which is the source of all true evangelism.
It was indeed a unique and most satisfying experience to be privileged to enjoy this time of fellowship with a band of workers who had for so long been separated from us, but who in their evangelistic fervor had been so faithful during the years of separation.
One was impressed with the fact that the workers in Poland had followed the apostolic pattern of evangelism as recorded in Acts 5:42.
Although some avenues of evangelistic service were denied to them, their spirits were undaunted and the witness of their evangelism had borne fruit. The reports rendered sounded like chapters from the book of Acts. Workers were able to give factual evidence of God's manifest blessing upon their methods of evangelism.
District leaders spoke appreciatively of the cooperation of church members in this program of witnessing. One leader reported fifty baptisms this year, with a further twenty-seven attending the baptismal classes. Another reported forty-eight baptisms, and yet another spoke of thirty-nine baptized. And so the story of God's leading and providential blessing on His work in Poland went on as the reports were given. It should be recorded also that in fulfilling their ministerial duties many of these workers, like the apostle Paul, labored with their "own hands," and were not chargeable to the church for their full support.
As we left Poland we felt confident that God will continue to bless and guide His faithful people in that great land.
