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We are excited to be returning to Lekina, Poland. My first experience with the Polish team was as Public Service Manager of the Teen Challenge Training Center in 1986. I met Michael Hjdzdik and Miroslav Melskiki of Slupsk. I gave them a tour of the center.They told us that government leaders had heard of the success of Teen Challenge through the book, The Jesus Factor.
They wondered if, as long as we did not get into politics or government, they could use this Jesus factor to help addicts in a communist country. We prayed what seemed an impossible prayer at that time ... the reproduction of the Christ-centered discipleship model in a communist nation. To see how God answered that prayer is nothing short of miraculous. |
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Some say that the 1979 visit of Polish-born Pope John Paul gave ordinary Polish people courage to face up to their rulers. A year later, Eastern Europe's first free trade union, Solidarity, was born. Poland blazed the trail for freedom as communism fell, but more than that, they were trail blazers for Teen Challenge in Eastern Europe.
The vision for Teen Challenge Poland grew out of 2 weeks of David Wilkerson meetings in 5 major Polish cities in 1986. His visit, sponsored by the Evangelical Union of Polish Churches, had an incredible impact. Over 27,500 attended meetings and 11,700 came forward for prayer and to publicly confess Jesus Christ as Lord. God used Bro. Dave to challenge the church to engage those trapped in the bondage of addiction. They took the challenge. The first center in Slupsk started in Broczyna for both men and women. |
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The Netherlands Teen Challenge program in Haarlem sent their entire center (20 people) to build, train, teach and equip this emerging miracle in Poland. They opened with 4 students. Within one year, they had grown to over 25 Students. Under the leadership of Zbginiew Urbaniak, this ministry has grown to a thriving complex of centers across the Polish landscape with residential treatment, reentry, and prevention. In addition, evangelism is still at the heart of Poland Teen Challenge. With an army of sacrificial volunteers, they oversee and operate 32 coffeehouse outreaches impacting lives across Poland. |
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God is changing lives in Poland
Due to political changes over the last decade, availability of imported heroin has increased and has overtaken homemade opiates known as ‘kompot’ or ‘Polish heroin’.The European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) reports that problem drug use has tripled in the last decade. The escalating problem of drug addiction has created a crisis that calls for people of vision & ministries like Teen Challenge to step into the gap and meet the need. With 34 Coffee houses and a netwrok ofr residential care Cetners they are impacinting Polcand for Jesus Christ |
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WSZYSTKO NA CHWAŁĘ PANA!
(All for the Glory of God)
Thank you so much for investing your time and hearts in prayer for this time of ministry.
Poland Teen Challenge is a strategic Teen Challenge resource for the Kingdom in Eastern Europe. They carry a real message of Freedom! Not just freedom "from" but FREEDOM "for" and "to!" ... To take hold of destiny, walk with Jesus, change their nation, to impact the world.
Dear Polska family - we put 800 pictures in our dropbox-click to find yours |
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We had a tremendous time with the staff, students and alumni at the TC Training Center in Lekina, Poland. This facility, once a military base- part of a cold war arsenal, is now an outpost for Freedom, as lives are changed by the power of God. Leaders and workers from 32 coffee houses, 3 hostels & residential treatment programs came for fellowship, worship, praise and ministry in the word. We are so blessed because God really showed up in a very powerful way. |
This week in
E-ntercession
click links |
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It was a tremendous season of ministry. Cathy and I had the opportunity to sing, minister the word, and pray for the needs of people as God sent fresh fire.
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| Niebiańska Radość, Polish words of TCP Staff to describe this Altar call - Heavenly Joy. I know all heaven rejoiced with us as many confessed Jesus or drew closer in fresh surrender. |
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| GWEN WILKERSON |
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Gwen Wilkerson, the wife our founder David Wilkerson passed away at 10:30 am CST July 5. DL Moody once said, "You will one day hear that Moody is dead, don't believe a word of it. Where I am going I will be more alive than ever." Gwen Wilkerson is more alive than ever. Mission accomplished. Her children, Debbie, Bonnie, Greg and Gary Wilkerson, share, Mom was 81 and went with great peace and even anticipation. She had an amazing resolve and unshakable faith, exemplified throughout her life in her numerous battles with cancer. Our dad, her husband of 58 years, passed away in April of 2011. Ever since then mom has longed to go to be with Christ in heaven. We are comforted knowing she has entered her reward. |
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| TEEN CHALLENGE POLSKA |
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The TC ministry across Poland is miraculous. Every facility is a testimony of God's power. In post communist Poland, a Colonel sought help for his addicted son. Janusz. He saw the TC waiting list. Desperate to get help, he said, "Get my son in your program, I will find you a place to help others." He found a military base Ośrodek w Łękini. Over a decade later his son is married, has a wonderful wife and son. He directs a centre in the south of Poland. That military base, is now the main Training Center with over a decade of service and facilities to care for 100 men. |
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On Sunday we walked through the streets, rejoicing and singing to a lake in the center of the village with students, staff, alumni & over 30 baptismal candidates. Brother Zbigniew shared as acoustic guitars led the praise and worship.
What a time in the Lord. |
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SOME FUN POLISH FACEBOOK PAGES & POSTS
http://zjazdy.teenchallenge.pl/,
http://www.coffeehouse.com.pl/ ,
http://www.teenchallenge.pl/ |
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For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless
in
His sight. In
love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ,
in accordance with his pleasure and will, to the praise of His glorious grace,
which He has freely given us in the One He loves Ephesians 1:3-6
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The beauty of the gospel is that it is a love story. The God who had it all and needed nothing, chose to express His love by offering Himself to us. There is a distinct difference between Christianity and religion. The central difference is that religion is man's search for God. The good news of the gospel is that the initiative does not begin with us, because Christianity is God's search for a man (or a woman, or a child, or anyone in need).
In religion, you spend your effort trying to appease the displeasure of an angry God, to make yourself acceptable. In Jesus, acceptance is not based on your goodness and your effort. In the message of the gospel, relationship is based not on our effort, but in accepting HIS GIFT. |
I love the words of A W Tozer:
It is a strange and beautiful eccentricity of the free God that He has allowed His heart to be identified with men. Omniscient and Self-sufficient as He is, He wants our love and will not be satisfied till He gets it. Free as He is, He has let His heart be bound to us forever.
... In this is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins. I John
If you are tired of trying to earn God's goodness, perhaps it's time to realize that righteousness is not our doing, but in our believing ... trusting the finished work of Christ. That is where freedom is found. Here, in the United States, Fourth of July is a tremendous celebration. People remember the birth of our nation from under the despotism and oppression of a wicked king. People will celebrate, shoot fireworks, gather huge family picnics to talk about freedom. No amount of political independence can begin to approach the "freedom" that Jesus offers.
You see, the freedom that Jesus Christ offers is more than relief from political tyranny. He offers more than freedom from the tyranny of sin ... the tyranny of self ... tyranny of governments. Most importantly, Jesus does not just set us free … from, He sets us free ... for! Jesus frees me to be all God created me to be.
There is incredible release in knowing that God stooped down and chose to love us. It was not our goodness. It was not name, blame, game, or fame that drew Him to us. It was His love for us.
Think about it. What do we have that He lacks? What could attract Him to us?
We are dust, and He is the Almighty,
We live in time, He lives in eternity
Transcendent, Infinite, Living God.
Yet He not only chose to save us, He loves us and delights in those who are His. What a magnificent truth!
REST DEAR ONE, HIS LOVE FOR YOU IS CERTAIN. YOU ARE FREE!
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