Poland Update Special Edition!
Dear Poland Partners:
For some time now we have been working with the wonderful pastor and people from the Greve Church of the Nazarene in Denmark. They have been looking for creative ways to reach out to the people of Denmark with the gospel story of Christ’s redeeming love. After much prayer and consultation, they believe that the concept that we have used in Poland, the Sweet Surrender Coffee Shop, could work well in Denmark where there is a rich “coffee culture” among the people there.
Over the course of time, God led us to offer one of our key and most trusted volunteers, Katie Fitch, to move to Denmark to assist them in such a project. God graciously called Katie to this work and she moved to Denmark to work with the Greve Church of the Nazarene. The research and planning phases of this new adventure have brought the church to a place of readiness to move ahead this year, 2012. The following article contains the information that Katie has shared with her own prayer partners in her volunteer work. It occurred to Rhonda and me that our Poland Partners would not only want to know about this new “offspring” of the Sweet Surrender Coffee Shop ministry, but might also want to participate in this new venture for the Lord. There are ongoing needs and plans in Poland, but we believe that our Poland Partners are uniquely prepared to understand, pray for and support such a ministry as it expands to Denmark.
I wholeheartedly commend this future Sweet Surrender Coffee Shop ministry to you and urge you to join this outreach endeavor in any way that God may lead you.
Our prayers are with Katie and the Greve Church as the move forward under God’s direction.
In His service,
Ev Tustin
From Katie:
Katie Fitch with Palace Guard, Copenhagen |
Typical Danish Transportation |
Copenhagen Street Scene |
Greve Nazarene Church |
Poland Update #13
The past weeks have been very busy ones as we change seasons with the rest of the world! Time has slipped by, and there are so many things to tell you about what God is doing in Poland. Most of what we share with you in the Update is about our work and how God is blessing and challenging us with His grand purpose for the Sweet Surrender Coffee Shop ministry in Poland. Outreach events, days with happy people visiting the shop, worship experiences with those who become a part of our fellowship are just a few of the things that keep us all very busy and fulfilled with what God is doing in Poland.
Team in Poznan Old Town |
For our first Update of the fall we thought it would be a good idea to say “THANKS!” to many people by featuring a Work & Witness team from Spokane, Washington, this past July. And we also thought it would be interesting to you to hear directly from the team members themselves. Jeff Shea, Team Leader, sent us wonderful photos of them on the job.
Here are some of the team members’ thoughts about their experience and about what God is doing:
Doug Jones |
“I went to the community outreach to observe how people from another culture worship. Instead God touched me at the core of who I am to help me come to a point of forgiving the most painful moment in my life.” – Doug Jones
Kathy Jones |
“I am so excited that the Lord is working among the young adults in Poland. The worship service at the Mercury Hotel was so incredible. The reGeneration choir and Ev’s preaching really touched so many people, including Doug and me.”
“My highlight was being able to use my skills to reach out and help our family in Christ, also the different opportunities to share Christ with others in many ways.”
Vic in Kitchen before renovation. |
Kitchen after renovation |
Barry and Debbie |
“After the Saturday evening service at Sweet Surrender Poznan, visiting with the young people in our broken/non-existent Polish, and laughing and learning a bit about their lives, is a very vivid/fond memory. “
“It was so rewarding to work so hard in the shop to be ready to ‘open’ for the Saturday night service. We were able to see the main reason Sweet Surrender exists, which was inspiring and encouraging knowing the Gospel is being preached in Poland.”
Jeannie |
“The church service at the hotel was inspiring. It was also inspiring that the girl in the seat next to me flying home wanted to talk about her feelings/rejection of God and her catholic religion. I’m not good with words but the Lord was there to give me words and thoughts for her.”
Jana, Jeff & Tyler |
“It was an honor and privilege to see firsthand how the Lord is working in people’s hearts in Poland. We were blessed to make wonderful new friends, and to be an encouragement to our missionaries and volunteers.”
– Jana Shea
Tyler and Garrett |
God blessed the Sweet Surrender ministry in Poznan in very special ways through this dedicated team from Spokane First Nazarene Church. We are so grateful to them.
One of the creative things they did, in addition to the work on the Poznan shop, was to sponsor one of our Outreach Events. They fully funded the cost for the hotel venue where the event was held and also covered the expenses for other necessary arrangements for special music, PA equipment, etc. How wonderful for them to have caught the vision of how our work can be made more effective through these outreach events. We are happy to add them to the growing list of people and churches that have helped in the past and for those who will take up the challenge to help us in the future.
*Pray for future financial resources for outreach events and Krakow building payments.