Reaching Poland with Gospel Joy

2/1/2006

Due to their past culture, the influence of Communism, religious misinformation and a harsh climate, the people of Poland are generally closed mentally, socially and spiritually to the idea of a relationship with Jesus. They believe that evangelical churches are a dangerous sect. Church attendance is declining as people begin to feel that their search to fill the “God-shaped hole” inside them may be more fruitful elsewhere. This is a problem that must be overcome. It is urgent that more people have the opportunity to hear about Jesus’ extravagant love for them: a love so extravagant that He willingly laid down His life in their place.

A lover this intense will do anything in pursuit of His beloved. He cannot bear the thought of the object of His love never even knowing about it. In the case of the Polish people, Jesus has put an insatiable desire to learn “Black Gospel Music” in their hearts. Music has always been a large part of Polish culture. Up until now, the style has been predominantly classical, but Jesus has caused “Black Gospel Music” to become popular as an avenue for His chosen ones to hear of His love for them. The popularity of this music has caused many Poles to want to learn how to sing and perform this style of music, although they don’t really have an understanding of what it means or what it is about.

This is where the Gospel Joy Workshops and ITMI come in. The Gospel Joy Workshops are put on by people in Poland who love Jesus and are passionate about seeing their countrymen find a personal relationship with Him. Staff members such as Maggie and Andrew have worked long hours to learn the music themselves so that during the workshops they can teach participants how to perform and sing it. People come to learn the music, but leave having experienced Jesus through the worship aspect of this particular style of music.

More than ninety percent of the participants are non-believers. They come because they enjoy the clapping and moving to the music, as well as the informal atmosphere. (If these people attend church on Sunday, it is usually in a dark and serious atmosphere.) At first, the staff was surprised by the participants’ positive reactions to the explanations of the songs, since a positive reaction to evangelism is rare in Poland, but they found that the participants truly want to know what they are singing about, and even seem surprised that the Bible can be interesting and applicable. One of the participants shared that if they could have worship this meaningful in thier church, they would go more often. During the course of the workshops, it’s very natural for the instructor to present the gospel. Everyone is interested in listening since they usually look up to the instructor, who is usually a Black Gospel Instructor from the U.S, as this person is like a role model to them.

The workshops are so popular that they sometimes have to turn people away. We know that this is not the desire of our Great Lover. He yearns for those he died for to know about this incredible gift. For this reason, the Gospel Joy Choirs are striving to reproduce their workshops in other locations in Poland and increase the frequency of the workshops. By 2010, they hope to occupy a total of 12 cities. However, the staff is careful about offering a workshop that is desirable to the participants, and this takes a great deal of time, planning and work. In order to accomplish their plan, in the next fiver years, the Gospel Joy Workshops will need to raise approximately $220,000 USD. Some of their other needs include: prayer support, musical equipment, a vehicle for transportation, guest Artists (black choir directors or leading singers who can lead the choirs), and choirs or groups of believers who would like to attend the workshops and blend with the non-believers.

The Gospel Joy Workshops are melting cold hearts and bringing them closer to a personal relationship with Jesus while moving them further and further from the emptiness of religion without this relationship. However, the time to act is now. The popularity of this music has been growing for the last 8 years, and we hope will last a long time, but trends come and go, so the best time to this open window is NOW. In addition, gospel music workshops are being organized in other cities by other organizations with no evangelical focus. If someone else sets up a workshop in a city first, the opportunity to reach that city will be lost, since each city will really only support one workshop. Will you be apart of delivering the Lover’s message to His beloved? Will you aid in opening wider the creative window that the Lord has opened that people might find Him? His desire to love these people is so intense that He gave His life. Will you consider giving us your partnership?