Genesis church...a great encouragement

For the majority of our time here (going on 3 1/2 years now) I could be heard saying the same word over and over to describe the state of ministry here in Poznan...potential. Really, I said it all the time and with good reason. We spent our first two years working with about three main different groups, all of which were brimming with potential....dynamic leaders, great vision, contacts outside of the church. But the potential never seemed to go anywhere.

There comes a time in any project that evaluation is necessary as you just can't continue working for work's sake. If nothing is happening...if you're not seeing any fruit then there has to be a reason. Or it's even sometimes possible that there is fruit although it's of a different nature than that which you thought was going to be produced (maybe a different post?). But in the case of each of those projects it was determined that the strategy was pretty much the issue in the end. And upon that realization all participants seemed to agree that there was not much point in continuing. So, we sought what else God had for us.

Last summer the opportunity presented itself to begin working again with our friends Tomek and Damaris Otremba from Genesis Church (link's in Polish...but at least you can check it out). These guys were/are good friends and actually the first Poles we ever had contact with...even before we arrived here. So, it was great to get back together with them and begin working with them to see their church develop to the point of being able to plant more churches, a strong vision God has given Tomek. Well, we're not there yet, but...

God has been working deeply in the hearts of the people who are involved with Genesis. There is evident growth both in believers and seekers (although we're all seekers in a way, huh?). It's extremely encouraging seeing many young believers growing and maturing and beginning to see the need to explore ways to share The Message with others around them. Here are some specifics that we're seeing:

• One family who has been attending Genesis for several years now has been feeling God leading them into full-time missions! How incredible is that?! It is a dream of ours to see the need for foreign missionaries in Poland to come to end because of the number of Polish missionaries taking the Gospel to their people. They continue to seek out God's specifics with this because it would involve some rather drastic changes in career tract and family life.
• There are a couple guys who are part of a core group of leaders which are about to open a coffeehouse ministry geared toward helping the homeless and others in need to social help. The coffeehouse will be a first point of contact for people to come and speak with trained listeners (they are not counselors). As they gain insight into the visitors' needs, they will be able to offer them assistance through partnerships with other organizations in town. They are passionate about making a difference in these peoples lives...meeting their physical AND spiritual needs.
• Several I have talked to personally recently are feeling like God is calling them to "more" in life. It is no coincidence that this is happening in more than just one person...and even separately they are hearing the same direction from the Father. God is taking these willing hearts and molding them...not as individuals but as His Church...in order to make a difference in this city.
• There are three small groups that have been meeting. One is studying Experiencing God (of course in Polish), another is following their own course of study and growing vibrantly together, and our group recently finished working through the Alpha Course (our friends' schedules haven't allowed them to meet recently but they continue to want to study the Word together as time allows).
  
• Tomek and his wife have been in the states for awhile and will not be back for a few more months. We anticipated that this would be a difficult time for the church as there would not be a consistent leader. However, again, we have seen God taking that possible dire situation and completely turning it around. In Tomek's place has been a very godly man, Chris (his English equivalent). He has been leading the church ever closer in their service and "followship" of Christ and showing us that God is the true leader of the church. Growth does not depend on us, thankfully. But, as now, when His followers seek Him with open hearts they will find Him...and He will lead them to the lush pastures that He promises.

This is a long post but I wanted to share these things with you all as they are extremely encouraging. We are fortunate to be working alongside many of these people, doing what we can to encourage them to even greater commitment. Of course, the incredible thing is that all too often we are the ones being encouraged, lifted up by our brothers and sisters here. That is a beautiful thing. It's The Family...serving one another...working together to be Christ to those around us.