Poland: Saving a Seaside Church

Not long ago ITMI’s Piotr Zaremba received an urgent call for “help” from the Baptist Church in Swinoujscie, in the northwest corner of Poland. It’s a tourist-port city on the Baltic Sea. Five years ago the previous Pastor had unwisely cut down some trees on the Church property to pitch tents for summer camps. It was really only ten small saplings, but cutting trees in this lovely resort without permission (even if you own the property) is illegal. The Mayor and City Fathers are demanding accrued fines of approximately $170,000 on the tiny congregation which is far beyond their means to pay.

To satisfy the fine the authorities are in the process of confiscating the Church building and property, which is located in a beautiful wooded area, adjacent to a proposed city park. It’s obvious why the City wants to seize this prime piece of real estate. It’s Naboth’s vineyard all over again. (I Kings 21)

Zaremba had lots of experience in 1995 reclaiming a Baptist Church in Poznan, which had been confiscated by the communists during the Cold War days. ITMI helped at that time and today the Church is thriving. Piotr told us about the situation, whereupon ITMI’s diplomatic Director Steve Evers jetted to Berlin, linked up with Jason Courley of PROJECT CURE and went to Swinoujscie with members of the Church who’d driven down to meet them.

How does PROJECT CURE fit in? Their ministry is supplying medical equipment to Third World and developing nations. We’ve worked with them previously. Steve spoke with the Mayor and other City officials about providing needed medical equipment to their hospital and hospice facilities in order to meet the costs of the $170,000 “fine.” Negotiations are delicate and Steve feels like he’s walking on eggs.

Please pray that the Lord will put together a package that is satisfactory to all parties. The Swinoujscie officials want the latest and best equipment; PROJECT CURE will have difficulty meeting that high standard with surplus supplies. Preparation and shipping the container will be approximately $25,000.

But our joint effort will be worth it to save this lovely little Church with its young and vibrant congregation. They’ve worked so hard to build these beautiful facilities. ITMI believes they shouldn’t lose them because of a careless act of a previous pastor resulting in an outrageously unjust fine. Ahab would love to get his hands on these grapes.