Inside Missions: Nungessers on Short-term Missions

Richard and Brooke Nungesser are ITMI resident missionaries in Poland, whose ability to accomplish things for the kingdom of God is simply remarkable. In just over five years, God has used them to found and grow Bread of Life, a ministry that allows Polish nationals to share the gospel with the homeless in their communities. Bread of Life has expanded to three cities and several multi-faceted projects, including the New Life Center, a transition home for homeless men. The Nungessers have overseen this process, all in while ministering as pastor and pastor's wife to the Poznan International Church.
The Nungessers have a special gift for enabling others to serve the Lord, and have been able to offer many service opportunities for Short-term missionaries and teams. Perhaps this is in part due to their own extensive experience with short-term missions prior to being called to Poland, or perhaps it is just their natural gregarious love for Jesus and His family that allows them to be such quality enablers of others. Either way, its only natural that when we want the inside scoop on Short-term missions, we turn to them.

ITMI: What is a typical day in your life? (if there is such a thing!)

Brooke: There isn’t a typical day, but there is always the groundwork for the upcoming projects…and then the events! Having Adelyne [Brooke and Richard's daughter] at home while I work is hard, so I do most of my work really late into the nights (until about 2 am). My responsibilities include Bread of Life newsletters, planning for PIC events, Ladies Fests, raising funds from within Poland for Bread of Life, and anything else that needs to be done. But it gets done and all is well. It makes for a tired living, but I cherish being able to raise my daughter. So sleep is a sacrifice.

Richard: My typical day is filled with what I think I need to do and then finishes with what God wanted done. I plan my day and then I try to work my plan remembering that God might have something else planned for me. So I usually start my work day around 8:30am-9:00am and finish sometime in the evening, 6:00 pm-1:00am…depending on the day. Since I work for Bread of Life and Pastor the Poznan International Church my weekends tend to run longer trying to start and finish my sermon. From meetings, administration, planning and preparing I’m kept pretty busy. Prayer is also very important. I’m praying throughout the day but at the end of the day I wonder if I pray enough. I guess you can’t pray too much. I usually focus on one chapter a day in my devotions to the word.

ITMI: How did you know God was calling you to serve in Poland?

Brooke: We didn’t. We both had a great passion for Mexico. It was when we called the ITMI office and Harriet Bathman told us that she was praying for us by name that we realized God had other plans for our lives.

Richard: I don’t know if I knew that God was calling me to Poland right off hand. Since my first trip to Africa in 1995 I wanted to make myself available to be used by God in any way He chooses. So when Brooke and I decided to marry we thought we could focus, develop and enjoy our marriage for 1 year and then be available to serve for 2 years. We looked at Mexico, Japan and S. Korea. We found out that ITMI (which we never heard of before) needed native English speakers to help at a small Christian language school in Poland. We said, “Ok, we are available.” God provided and showed his artwork in many different ways as he opened doors and made provisions for us to go. So from that point of view, God called, we answered, and here we are.

ITMI: What do you enjoy most about ministering in Poland?

Brooke: We love our work. We thank God every day for the opportunities He gives us to serve Him in Poland. Just yesterday I had the opportunity to speak at a university club, Foundation of Faith, about Independence from Sin. One girl, when leaving, said to me, “I don’t regret coming tonight!” I know that it may seem like an interesting compliment, but I was completely flattered. It’s so exciting to know that our opportunity to serve God reaches out to those who don’t know Him.

Richard: I love to work hard. Something my family instilled in me from parents to grandparents- the work ethic of a Christian. So between Bread of Life and Poznan International Church, I find many different challenges and opportunities to minister and grow as well. Often I hear or see a man, woman, or family turn their life upside down for the better by repenting of their sins and placing their faith in Jesus Christ. Watching this happen is amazing. Not only is the person changing for the better, but they are influencing their families and society for Jesus. This is really exciting.

ITMI: What do you miss most about America?

Brooke: Family and friends and being from Arizona…the SUN!!! I miss my jeep, camping, 4-wheeling, fishing. Just the opportunity to enjoy nature’s activities. In Europe, most of the activities in nature are regulated. It’s just not as fun!

Richard: Family and friends are what I miss most in America. It can get very lonely at times working here. It’s a different culture with different languages and ways of doing things. I miss saying hello to people on the street or tram without getting a rude stare back. A simple smile or hello would be nice. Now that we have Adelyne I would love for her to see her
grandparents, aunts and uncles more often then once a year when we are back for business raising support for Bread of Life. Coming from Arizona I miss the sunshine and blue skies. It’s the 6th of July and it’s raining, cloudy and the highs have been in the high 50’s to low 60’s. I keep thinking,“It’s summer time it should be 105-115F! =) And last but not least, all of the wonderful outdoor adventures, rock climbing, mountaineering, white water Kayaking, skiing, snowboarding.

ITMI: Before you were serving in Poland, did you serve as a short-term missionary to any other parts of the world? Where did you serve?

Brooke: Mexico…multiple times from junior high throughout university. Most of my mission work was in my community. And that’s what I especially love about Bread of Life-it was started so that the Polish people could serve their communities! It’s so important that we reach out to those in need around us.

Richard: In high school youth group we served in D.C. That’s kind of a different country...? I took my first short-term trip in 1995 to Kenya, where I served street children. After that, I served in Mexico with the Baptist Student Union; in Malta doing sports evangelism; in Washington; in Colorado as a Christian wilderness guide; in Yosemite National Park as a Rock Climbing missionary; and in Hong Kong doing sports evangelism again before moving to Poland in 2001.

ITMI: How did those trips mold you and prepare you for your work in Poland?

Brooke: I would say that the greatest thing that the short-term mission trip did for me was show me a different country, people, and need. One of the greatest things was simply the introduction of the new cultures and the realization that God spans borders. It’s extremely important for people to learn about and begin to understand the country that they are coming to serve. If you come without the desire to learn about the country, then your desire to serve the people is futile. A huge part of who we are comes from our origins…our country. And coming to serve such a unique country such as Poland, one especially needs to know about its volatile past, its changing present and its struggle for its future. I believe it’s a must in serving the people to the best of your ability.

Richard: I saw how God works in many different ways rather then just in church on a Sunday morning. I was able to experience and gain insight and understanding to the importance of Christians going and making disciples. If the Christians don’t go and MAKE Godly disciples, then no one else will.

ITMI: Talk about some of the benefits your ministry has received from short-term missionaries.

Richard: With many hands, the work load becomes a little lighter. Short-termers have been able to assist with different construction projects as well as leading conferences, Bible studies, preaching, music, sports, etc… Short-termers also help to bridge relationships with communities that consider us a cult. They break down the walls of prejudice.

Brooke: Well, an obvious one is Coralanne Nungesser. She came 3 different summers to serve in Poland during university.
Now she is here for a minimum of a year working with the university students through the Poznan International Church. She has already established a club recognized by the university and started a weekly service for students. It’s so neat to see her go from created jobs (the ones we created for her during her shorter trips) to her creating a club that became registered at the university! God is good!

Other short term missionaries or teams have done absolutely vital foundation work…either literally or figuratively. Literally, many of the short-term teams that come through Rich and myself or through Bob and Sue [Taber], physically help with projects at the New Life Center (such as building the garage). Figuratively, let’s take the team of Sun Valley [Community Church, Gilbert, AZ] for instance, they came and helped us start to chip away at a huge barrier that exists in the town where the New Life Center resides. They participated in a lot of community outreach. Simply the interaction of the team with the community of Dluga Goslina was a blessing for Bread of Life. As evangelical Christians, we are considered a cult in Poland. The local priest has on multiple occasions warned the community about us. So, to be able to reach the community in a positive way and see a positive response was very rewarding.

Poland is steeped in tradition. To try to share with people that they can know a personal God is beyond comprehension. And to share that concept of a personal God goes against what they’ve learned their whole lives. So, ultimately, to be an evangelical Christian is not seen in a positive light. In fact, we are seen as a threat.

ITMI: Sometimes, short-term missionaries don’t get to see the end results or full fruits of their labor. What are some of the long-term benefits that you’ve observed that the short-term missionaries who came and served in Poland may not have gotten to see?

Brooke: Well, of course the greatest effect they hope to have is on the eternal salvation of those they come to serve. We have seen Jacek at the New Life Center give his life to Christ after his interaction and conversations with short-term missionaries/teams.

Richard: Yes, we do get to experience long-term results from short-term missionaries. Each brick that is laid is built upon. I do have to say that I think that the greatest benefit of short-term missions is not necessarily the recipients, but the short-term missionaries themselves. Many people, including myself, saw the need and made ourselves available to God. Who knows what this high school or college student, working professional with or without a family will do in the next few years? Chances are you might see them serving God in the same location they served before or in a different country. I would say the greatest results are seeing short-term missionaries going short-term again or long term in the future, or understanding even more the importance of prayer and financial giving to missions.

Brooke: There is the completion of projects that also occur after a team goes that are so important to the ministry. A team may come and only see the first phases of the project and not get to see the final results. It, like the garage at the New Life Center, takes many teams and many months later before it is ever finished. But it should be so rewarding to think that the Educational Building is partially standing because of the efforts of the people who labored for it. The fact that we will be able to instruct individuals in job-skill trades through the Educational Garage should excite those who have come and worked on the project.

I know that when Dave and Wendy Jackson were here in Poland in April of 2007, they really worked hard simply shoveling dirt and leveling the floor at the New Life Center. But if it wasn’t for their time and effort in helping Bob Taber with the floor, he would have had that much more to do…

Next month, we ask the Nungessers what upcoming needs Bread of Life and PIC might have, some challenges resident missionaries experience while hosting short-term missionaries, and what short-term missionaries can contribute that even long-term workers cannot.