Bread of Life Foundation
Location: Poznan, Kalisz, and Dluga Goslina
Timeline: On-going
Status: Currently operating
Topics: Homeless ministries, Addiction counseling, and Crisis Children’s Ministries.
Description:
Bread of Life demonstrates Christ to those suffering from poverty, unemployment, homelessness, substance abuse, prostitution, as well as to those who have been orphaned or widowed. They offer a wide variety of social services, soup kitchens, education and Biblical training to people in Poznan, Kalisz, and Dluga Goslina, which have a combined population of over one million.
Bread of Life is the only Christian organization reaching out to the homeless in these cities. Bread of Life uses these opportunities to meet the physical needs of these individuals as a way of ministering to their more important need: knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
“Its just past 10:00pm, after all the commuters have returned home. I sat alone with 80 homeless strangers in the Central Train Station of Poznan, Poland. A frigid, smelly, dank train station full of forgotten faces and empty eyes. I see them slouched over in chairs, laying on the windowsills or congregated in the hallways. Their smells permeate the air with a stench so rancid it churns my stomach. To this day I can vividly remember and identify the pungent aroma - urine, alcohol, and body odor. I am simultaneously frightened and exhilarated. A rustling sound is heard by the nearest trash can. A man’s blistered, red and dirty hands are digging through the bin in search of something. I watch intently focused on what he would produce and knowingly eat. He pulls out a McDonald’s cup with a swallow of tepid liquid left. He proceeds to remove the lid and greedily gulp the remainder. Nauseated by the extremes - and the decisions, choices and actions of the people here, I produce a thermos with enough tea for 3. I scrounge in my own pockets and pull out 2 granola bars and a small bag of trail mix. Before I proceed, I sit in the waiting room and pray, “Lord, please make this like the multiplying of the loaves and the fish.” I pray confidently, knowing that with God all things are possible. The Lord gave me enough strength to approach them that night and I was able to minister to three individuals. Nine months later, with the help of my wife and our Polish friends, God has multiplied the tea and snacks. We have since passed out over 10,500 cups of tea and over 6,100 meals at the Poznan Central Train Station during these first 9 months.”
Needs
- Financial and prayer support for Bread of Life missionaries.
- Workers who are willing to sow and to reap God’s “plentiful harvest” in Poland.
- Exposure to American churches who have a desire to see Poland revived for Christ.
Who’s Involved
- K5N Church in Poland.
- Piotr Zaremba, Polish native, as ITMI European Director.
- ITMI to provide oversight, exposure and support.
- Missionaries and nationals supported by ITMI:
- Richard and Brooke Nungesser, Founders and International Directors of Bread of Life
The Nungessers moved to Poland in 2000 to share the gospel by teaching English. But when they discovered the great needs of the destitute and homeless in Poland, they founded the Bread of Life ministry to help Polish people meet the needs of their fellow countrymen. Today, Bread of Life is still under their guidance. However, in keeping with ITMI’s philosophy, a great deal of the operations are carried out by Polish nationals. This has freed up the Nungessers to spend more time growing and overseeing Poznan International Church (PIC). The Nungesser’s love for life and for our Lord Jesus is contagious and absolutely vital in providing the foundational energy and enthusiasm for Bread of Life ministries and PIC. - Tomek Jezyk, Bread of Life’s - Kalisz Director
Formerly a Buddhist, Tomek met Jesus through Brooke Nungesser who was handing out tea and snacks to the homeless in the train station. As he translated her message of the gospel to the homeless in the station, his eyes were opened as well, and he gave his life to Jesus. Now the Director of Bread of Life - Kalisz, Tomek oversees Bread of Life’s outreach programs in the city of Kalisz. He also uses his karate skills to reach at-risk children in Kalisz’ schools with David’s Club. - Janusz Fredyk, Director of the New Life Center
Janusz Fredyk, pastor of Gniezno Baptist Church worked a day job for years to make ends meet. When Bread of Life was looking for a Director for the New Life Center, Janusz left his day job and began full-time ministry at the NLC while still involved in pastoral duties at Gniezno Baptist Church. As Director of the NLC, Janusz oversees daily operations and has a hands-on ministry to the homeless men who enroll in its program. - Kris Sielicki, Holy Start Breakfast and Services
Kris Sielicki was put in charge of Bread of Life’s Holy Start Breakfast. As a pastor, he was originally brought in to lead the homeless participants in prayer and worship, but eventually proved to be very effective at reaching them in their own comfort zone. When he saw that they were interested in pursuing our Lord Jesus and eager for fellowship with other believers, he began a Sunday morning worship service especially for the homeless. He also led additional Bible studies during the week where they could delve deeper into the Word of God. Kris and his wife Megi are also involved in planting a church in an area of Poznan where there are currently no churches. - Magda Dymel, New Life Center Therapist
- Magda Dymel serves as a therapist for the New Life Center (NLC), helping the men who are a part of the program. She walks them through any issue they might have, dealing with their questions from a Christian perspective: reuniting with family, battling recurrent addictions, working through the pain of the past. Magda also orchestrates children’s outreach programs through Gniezno Baptist Church. Her kindness and gentleness makes for lasting impressions on all who have had contact with her - including ITMI Director Steve Evers in a past visit. After attending one of her outreach events, as well as observing a counseling session at the NLC from a distance, Steve exuded admiration for Magda’s ability to reach the lost.
- Bob and Sue Taber
Bob and Sue Taber serve the Gniezno Baptist Church and Bread of Life’s New Life Center. Bob’s construction background has been a huge asset in the building the New Life Center with its education classrooms, as well as in the renovations of the nearby church building. Sue has used her time and efforts to write grant proposals for the Bread of Life ministry to enable Bread of Life to expand its current projects and open new ones in the future.
Ministry Components
Bread of Life’s soup kitchen called Holy Start offers hot breakfast, a Bible study every Friday morning with coffee and pastries, as well as “Friday Time to Shine” which includes haircuts and shaves for the homeless. Currently, Holy Start has the opportunity to partner with Teen Challenge to provide those suffering from alcoholism an opportunity to change their lives if they show a commitment to shedding the burden of alcohol and drug abuse.
Bread of Life’s Tabitha’s Clothing Closets in Poznan serve about 210 poor or homeless children per month. The homeless clothing closet is open multiple days of each week. When individuals come to the clothing closet, they are often referred by the city social services. Bread of Life invites individuals who utilize the clothing closet to participate in other events put on by the church, where they might hear the gospel. Bread of Life is in the process of starting a tutoring program for the children reached by Tabitha’s Clothing Closets.
Growing Giants God’s Way is the weekly discipleship opportunity for individuals in Poznan, Poland who were reached by Bread of Life’s ministry that are serious about growing in God’s truth and grace. This enables Bread of Life to go even deeper than simply providing for physical needs in the name of Jesus Christ. For those who are interested, there is a weekly opportunity to dig more deeply into God’s Word.
Bread of Life’s Coffee House is a weekly meeting in cooperation with Teen Challenge for individuals in Poznan or Kalisz that are struggling to overcome addictions to alcohol and drugs. The Coffee House meetings offer these individuals hope and healing.
Bread of Life’s Consultation Points is an opportunity for individuals in Poznan or Kalisz to seek help with medical help, family emergencies, physical needs, or desperate circumstances such as residential fires or other such crisis.
Bread of Life’s Train Station Outreach was the launching point of the Nungesser’s ministry to the homeless. Today, they continue to honor their roots and demonstrate the love of Jesus with a weekly program where individuals living on the streets or in the train stations of Poznan or Kalisz receive information about Bread of Life’s assistance, the Word of God, and hot tea.
Bread of Life Kalisz’s David’s Club is a dynamic karate club reaching 200 youth in the city of Kalisz through the discipline of karate. The youth come and either pay a small fee or perform community service to cover the costs of the lessons. Through the club, they learn discipline and respect, earn karate belts, and compete competitively. They also hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ clearly presented to them by Tomek. Their parents also have the opportunity to hear about Jesus at Christmas through the annual program entitled, “Carols by Candlelight”.
Bread of Life collects Christmas gifts from individuals in the US and Poland, with help from Samaritan’s Purse for their annual Christmas Package Distribution. The gifts are distributed to children in orphanages, crisis homes, through the clothing closets, and to impoverished families residing in local communities. An average of 400 gifts are distributed annually, bringing the hope and love of Jesus to those in need at Christmas.
Bread of Life’s New Life Center (NLC) is a transitional home with space for approximately 15 homeless men live in full-time while they complete a 3-phase program that equips them to reintegrate back into society with current job skills. With a full staff of professionals, including counselors and trainers, NLC offers its residents the necessary medical help as well as Christian counseling, where the men are guided through reconciliation with their families and introduced to the hope of eternal life in Christ Jesus. NLC staff teach trade skills such as: tiling, construction, mechanical, gardening, woodworking, and computer-related skills in their fully-equipped education center. There are even courses offered in the culinary arts. Before leaving the center, the men hold gainful employment and are held accountable by the staff to the demands of a normal work schedule. NLC staff also serve the community of Dluga Goslina with help in local restoration projects and ITMI missionaries, Bob and Sue Taber, teach English classes to those interested.
