ECM International

The church in Rabka, which meets in a rented room in a local preschool.	One of the annual Baptisms in Rabka done together with other     churches in this area.	We use a public pool in Rabka for the baptisms. This is always a great testimony to friends, family and others.

Men's Breakfasts. One group that is very difficult to reach is middle-aged men.  They are a key group because we want to see whole families coming to Christ, and to reach families we need to reach the heads of these families.  One effective way we have found is American breakfasts for men.  The men really enjoy the pancakes (with real maple syrup) and bacon and it is a great way to talk about spiritual things in a relaxed, natural way.

Children's Work. Lila Groth has a "Saturday school" each week and does day camps in the winter and summer.  She also teaches Bible lessons at the new Christian grade school in Krakow.

The Christian grade school in Krakow stared in the Fall of 2006 with 19 students in two classes.

At present there is one ECM family, Doug and Lila Groth, and their two children, who have helped establish the church in Rabka. The Lord has blessed the work richly: six people have come to know the Lord in the past couple of years.

Several years ago the fellowship in Rabka was able to purchase a building.  We are waiting for building permission to be able to begin with the needed remodeling work.  People have expressed their desire to help us in the remodeling work when the building project begins.  We are looking to the Lord to provide the funds needed.  Please pray for this project.

The Podhale Region Vision

The Podhale region encompasses the foothills of the Tatry Mountains in South Poland and their approaches from the north. Less than 300 km East to West, this area is intensely Catholic and conservative, but with cities and towns that are fast growing, on new highways and are also centers of industry, tourism and commuting.

ECM’s vision is to start other church planting work in the needy Podhale region of southern Poland. Currently there are a half dozen churches and several church plants in progress in this region.

 Long term

Career missionaries.  Men and women who can commit themselves to church planting in interdenominational teams.

Primarily we are looking for people with a «heart after God», people who are:

Committed 100% to following the lord's leading in their lives and are decided on being flexible to the Lord's will.

a)      Willing to learn by mistakes.

b)      Willing to submit to the team leadership, team-culture and national Polish church leadership.

c)      Willing to commit themselves to learning Polish over their first two years. Most people will know zero Polish at the beginning. However, language is the number one «enabling factor» in effective missionary service.

d)     People who with God's help want to make a difference and help in the Lord's harvest-field.

e)      Bible College is most helpful to provide a basic ability to minister.

f)       Musical ability is always welcomed, though not required.

Tasks

These will be varied according to needs arising. Foreseeable are all local church ministries. We recognize that missionaries will also develop ministries and expertise on the field. Our strategy is to train and encourage Polish believers into leadership, preaching, house-group leaders and all normal church ministries. Missionaries will have opportunity to participate in these ministries, hopefully giving a leading example.

Short Term

Native English speakers are needed who are willing to teach English for one or two years at the Wroclaw language school (about three hours away).  The church in Rabka has an excellent relationship with the school. The school has approximately 10 teachers and need new ones each year (esp. native speakers).  They have 350 students. 

The school wants people to make a 1 to 2 year commitment and to have English as a Second Language (ESL) training (that can be done in Poland or before coming).  One great advantage to this ministry is that with the school’s great support system, those coming can actually be involved in ministry right from the start (they don't have to learn the language first).  It has been a really fruitful ministry through the years, and has proven to be a successful mmeans of bringing people to Christ.

It can be closed ended or a good first step to long term ministry (church planting) in Poland.  The monthly amount of support needed would be in the range of €1000, including apartment rent.

Contact

Please send us an email with your name, country of origin, and interest to  ecm.int@ecmi.org Be sure to include Poland on the subject line.

•    For the Rabka church plant:                 

o       That it will soon become a legally registered church. (Need 25 baptized members, now have 16 with three more ready for baptism.)

o       That the Lord will bring Polish leadership into place.

o       For the renovation of the church building.  We are waiting for building permission, a realistic building plan, funds to do the remodeling and work teams to help

·         For new church plants. That the Lord will lead us as we consider starting new church planting projects in other parts of the Podhale region of southeastern Poland where we are located.

·         For the Podhale concerts planned for September 2007.

o       Oneness and good working together for the 5 churches which are jointly planning the concerts.

o       The details involved in such a large outreach.

o       For the group from Proclaim! International in Croatia doing the concerts.

o       That the concerts would be a clear testimony to unbelievers.

o       New contacts and conversions.