This presentation was given in early August 2024 at the “OnHoliday 5” Conference for Sword of the Sprit communities in Europe and the Middle East. – ed.
Introduction
It is a great honour and privilege to be here with you today to share a presentation on “Disciples on Mission” and the current situation in Poland. Let me first introduce myself briefly. My name is Rafał, and I have been the coordinator of the Time for Families community in Gdansk for two years. My family and I have been part of this community since 2007, which is when we moved to Gdansk.
As a community, we are probably the youngest group within the Sword of the Spirit in Europe, although our connections with Sword of the Spirit have been ongoing for about 10 years. Before I delve into what it means to be a disciple on a mission in Poland, I’d like to briefly describe the broader context. I will explain three macro trends that are shaping the reality of the Church today.
A brief snapshot of Poland today
When communism fell in 1989, we felt great joy in our hearts. It’s important to understand that my country had not been independent since the 18th century, except for a brief 20-year period between the First and Second World Wars. Regaining independence was monumental for us, but it also marked the beginning of a very challenging period for our economy. We undertook difficult economic reforms to transform our economy from a centrally planned system, where the state owned most of the factories and enterprises, to a market economy with private ownership. This transition led to a deep recession and extremely high inflation, exceeding 1000%. Unemployment emerged, and the standard of living dropped drastically.
At that time, Lech Wałęsa, the leader of the Solidarity movement and anti-communist opposition, was elected president of Poland. When he was elected (I was a young man at the time), one of his promises was that Poland could become “another Japan.” Some of you may remember that in the 1970s and 1980s, Japan was seen as an economic miracle on a global scale. Everyone wanted Japanese products, whether it was electronics or cars, so the idea of Poland becoming the next Japan sounded like a dream.
Rapid economic growth and prosperity
Recently, I came across an article analysing GDP per capita in terms of purchasing power parity in both countries. The article projected that Poland would catch up with Japan by 2026, just two years from now. While we may earn less nominally (in dollars), considering our lower price levels, the standard of living in Poland will be on par with Japan’s in two years. We already have a higher standard of living than in Portugal or Greece.
Over the last 30 years, we have experienced a golden age in Polish history. Never before have we had such a period of economic growth and prosperity. So, the first aspect of the situation in Poland is that we are becoming wealthier. And as history often shows, when people become wealthier, they tend to be less religious.
Rapid secularization
The second aspect is the rapid secularization, particularly among the younger generation.
In 2019, a Polish documentary film titled “Just Don’t Tell Anyone” was released on YouTube. The film focuses on the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests in Poland and the lack of proper response to these practices by Polish bishops. It was the most popular Polish film on YouTube in 2019.
The film tells the stories of several priests, often well-known figures, and their relationships with minors. I personally knew some of them. The film was a shock to many in Poland. Within a few days, it garnered millions of views – 24 million to date. It was a shock to me as well. We had thought that the scandals that shook the United States or Ireland, which we had heard about, didn’t concern us here in Poland.
Another event that significantly influenced the secularization process was the so-called Women’s Strike. During the pandemic in 2020, our constitutional court ruled that certain provisions of the anti-abortion law were inconsistent with our constitution. Until then, it had been possible to terminate a pregnancy when the child was seriously ill. The constitutional court ruled that abortion in such cases was not consistent with the constitution.
Following this court ruling, many people took to the streets to protest – not only against the ruling party but also against the Church, which was seen as the initiator of these changes. The protests were mainly led by young people.
As a result, secularization in Poland is happening at a very rapid pace. I’ve read studies that show there is nowhere else in the world with such a large disparity between religious practices among the older and younger generations. This is a significant gap in Poland.
A new wave of charismatic communities and new leaders
Our community is 25 years old, and the community in Bielsko-Biała is even older. However, we are witnessing the emergence of a new wave of charismatic communities and a group of new leaders. Let me share a few words about this phenomenon.
One of the most recognizable young leaders is Marcin Zieliński, the leader of the Lord’s Voice community in a medium-sized city in central Poland. Despite his young age – he’s now 32 years old – Marcin has become a prominent figure since his conversion in 2007. Today, he is the most well-known evangelist in Poland, primarily due to the strong gift of healing that accompanies his ministry. Thousands of people, including many young individuals, attend his meetings. In my opinion, Marcin is a great gift to the Church in Poland. I don’t believe we have ever had someone in our history with as strong a gift of healing as Marcin. He and his community organize annual worship events called “Praise Him.” The most recent concert in Wrocław attracted 15,000 people. He will also be a guest at an event in Gdańsk, which our community is co-organizing with some Protestant groups in October.
Another influential Christian leader is Adam Szustak OP, a Polish Dominican vlogger, writer, and popular retreat leader. Thousands of people attend his meetings. Szustak has several popular vlog series and is highly creative, publishing hundreds of episodes each year. His influence on the youth within the Church today surpasses that of any bishop in Poland. His YouTube channel has nearly 1 million subscribers. For comparison, Bishop Robert Barron has 1.4 million subscribers.
There are many other recognizable Catholic leaders as well. What they have in common includes:
- They are often from the generation of 30- to 40-year-olds who do not remember communism and had little direct experience with Pope John Paul II.
- They are highly skilled in social media.
- They are usually ecumenically open, with many events organized in collaboration with Protestant groups.
- Many of them work full-time for the Lord.
- Their work is generally very professional – concerts, videos, books, and music are all of increasingly high quality.
- They usually maintain good or at least proper relations with the hierarchical Church.
This is a brief snapshot of Poland today.
A path to growth in Time for Families Community
Now, I would like to share the path our community, Time for Families, has taken over the last few years and how we are trying to be disciples on a mission in this evolving reality.
Just before the elections in which I was appointed to this position, we attended a Purpose Driven Church workshop with a group of leaders. During these workshops, the instructor emphasized that a healthy community should always grow, just as a healthy young person’s body grows and develops unless it is unwell. Therefore, if a community is not growing, it suggests that some essential elements are missing.
At that time, we noticed a certain stagnation in Time for Families. We had few new members, and those who did join often stayed only briefly.
During the workshops, the leaders were asked to diagnose their community. According to Rick Warren, a well-run community should pursue five goals: worship, service, fellowship, discipleship, and evangelism.
Focussing our community on evangelization
Our diagnosis was clear: we had most of these elements, but our weakest point was evangelism. So we decided to focus our community on evangelization.
First, we needed to define who we were sent to reach. We needed to identify our target group. A community is rarely for everyone; we are not able to reach everyone. Even Jesus knew His target group: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” The same was true for Saint Paul – he knew he was sent to the Gentiles, just as Peter was sent to the Jews. We cannot try to reach everyone because, if we do, we often reach no one.
I’m sure you have a favorite radio station. What kind of music does it play? Now imagine that your radio station wants to attract as many listeners as possible and starts playing different styles of music. One song is pop, then heavy metal, the next is country, and then classical music. Who would be able to listen to such a station? I wouldn’t.
So, who is our target group?
It is easiest to attract people who are similar to us. Similarities attract. Most likely, your community will attract people who are similar to those who are already participating.
When new people come, they subconsciously ask themselves: Are there people here who are like me? Do I have anything in common with them?
What kind of leaders do we have?
- Personality: Who we reach depends on the leaders we have. The openness of leaders is often why people stay in the community. Leaders also attract similar people in terms of interests, lifestyle, etc.
- Age: It is estimated that for a message to be well received, the leader should be at most 15 years older than the target group. If the difference is greater, it can be challenging for the listeners to identify with the leader.
We are very blessed that our youth group is led by Janek Witek, who is 21 years old. A month ago, he led a week-long retreat with several other young people. There were 80 participants. The elders only assisted with administrative and safety matters. This can be challenging for us elders because we feel we have a lot of experience to share with the young. However, much more valuable is the fact that a young leader attracts young people and serves as an example.
Who is God sending to us?
The third important question is: Who is God sending to us? On the day I was elected leader, we received a word from Isaiah 26:2: “Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.” We understood that God sends us first to people who already have some experience of faith. And this has indeed started to happen. People who used to be in student or youth groups and are now looking for their place in the Church with their families have begun coming to us.
Our target group is young families with children. What can we say about them? They are interested in sports and travel. They are 35-45 years old. They are usually office workers, and the man is often a software developer. They are well-educated. But as young married couples, they struggle with financial and family challenges. Most likely, they have already been in some community, but their relationship with God is not very deep today. They are searching for a deeper meaning in life. They are often at a stage of life where significant changes are happening – buying a flat, having a new child. Are they happy with their lives? Sometimes they have better days, sometimes worse. They have encountered a community or some religious movement. Their style of dress can be described as smart casual. They usually do not have much wealth, but they live relatively comfortably.
Recognizing the needs of our unbelieving friends
We have defined our target group. Now, it’s crucial to recognize the needs of this group. Jesus met the needs of people, and if we want to follow Him, we should also strive to understand the needs of our unbelieving friends.
It is often easiest to reach people who are going through significant life changes: getting married, having a child, starting school, moving to a new place, starting a new job, dealing with illness (either personally or within their family), facing challenges with their children, or experiencing financial difficulties.
For example, our family joined the community after moving to Gdansk. We were searching for a good environment for our children and ourselves.
“Go where the fish are – and learn to think like one”
The second piece of advice is to “go where the fish are.” I know that many of us are skeptical about social media, but we cannot deny that most young people spend long hours in front of screens. Therefore, we should be present on social media and use the technologies that people use today. Our community not only has profiles on Facebook but has also had its own mobile app for two years to make it easier to stay in touch with new participants.
Let’s learn to think like a fish. A good fisherman thinks like a fish. As St. Paul says, “Treat strangers wisely, making the most of every opportunity.”
But the challenge is that the longer we are believers, the less we think like non-believers. The longer you walk with the Lord, the less you understand the perspectives of people in the world. We often speak a different language in churches, using words that aren’t common in everyday speech.
I realized this recently. There was a major concert by Ed Sheeran in Gdańsk, drawing 55,000 people from all over Poland to the stadium. Many of my employees attended the concert. But who had heard of Ed Sheeran? I hadn’t. Until the day of the concert, I had no idea who he was.
So, I googled Ed Sheeran on my phone, saw his face, and realized I was seeing him for the first time! My son told me, “Surely, you must have heard his songs on the radio.” But the problem is that I don’t listen to the radio. When I get in the car, I turn on worship music. On YouTube, I mostly watch preachers. Most of my friends are believers. So here’s the takeaway: the longer we are Christians, the less we understand non-Christians.
Example of initiatives from Saddleback Community Church
When Rick Warren began building his church in Saddleback, California, he surveyed the people living in the area and asked them these questions, among others:
- What do you think is the greatest need in this area?
- Do you actively participate in the life of any parish?
- Why do you think most people don’t go to church?
- If you were to find a community, what would you look for in it?
- What could I do for you?
- What advice would you give to a leader who truly wants to help others?
Let’s take a moment for a short workshop. In pairs or groups of three, try to answer the questions you see on the slide. Remember to do it from the perspective of a “fish.”
Do you think your neighbours today would respond similarly to the residents of Saddleback?
Here are the most common answers they gave:
- The sermons preached do not relate to everyday life.
- People in the church are unfriendly toward guests or newcomers. I would like to feel welcomed, not embarrassed.
- The church is only interested in my money.
- In church, parents with children feel unwelcome; there is no opportunity to be with their children, and childcare is very poor.
Rick Warren has prepared a letter to the residents of Saddleback valley. Let’s read a part of the letter.
“Dear Neighbor,
At last, there’s something new!
A community designed for those who have given up on traditional services. Let’s be honest – many people today aren’t actively involved in the church. Why?
Because too often:
- Sermons are boring and don’t relate to everyday life.
- The church seems more interested in your wallet than in you.
- Church members are unfriendly toward guests.
- The quality of childcare leaves much to be desired.
Do you think going to church should be fun? We have great news for you! Saddleback Valley Church Community is a new group that aims to meet your needs in the 1980s.
Sounds familiar?
How we applied growth initiatives to our community
Now, let me share how we applied this approach in our community.
We asked ourselves: What are the challenges that our target group faces today? What do young couples struggle with? The first thing we did was to ask these couples directly. Their responses highlighted several key issues:
- Relationship problems, proper setting of life priorities, and how to protect marriages when surrounded by so many divorces.
- Raising children.
- Financial challenges.
- Instability, including frequent changes in life such as moving, changing schools, and changing jobs.
Our first pre-evangelization course was called “House on a Rock: How to Build a Family on Strong Foundations.” Each meeting focused on one of these topics.
We prepared visually appealing presentations, and the conferences and testimonies were delivered by relatively young couples. We aimed to ensure that the speakers were not more than 15 years older than the audience.
We also organized quality childcare.
Another initiative we launched was the “Good Stories” series, where community members or invited guests shared their testimonies in an interview format. We paid close attention to creating a welcoming atmosphere with nice décor, good music, professional childcare, and an environment of love and acceptance.
Leaders made themselves available to talk to newcomers before and after the meetings.
The best way to evangelize is to meet people’s deep needs, which vary between men and women.
Our Exodus 90 program
One of our community initiatives is the Exodus 90 program. “Exodus” signifies leaving behind slavery, and “90” represents the 90-day duration of the program. We organize this before Christmas and Easter. The program is built on three pillars: prayer (one hour of prayer each day), brotherhood (each participant has a brother – an anchor – to whom they are accountable), and asceticism. I won’t go into all the details of what you can’t do during Exodus because it would take too much time, but generally, if you’re a man thinking of some addiction or attachment, there’s a 99% chance you’re not allowed to practice it during Exodus. I’ve participated in this program twice, and it is really challenging, but it bears great fruit.
We also have meetings for women. I don’t know exactly what happens there – my wife could tell you more!
We evaluate each of these meetings, which is another lesson we took from Rick Warren. If we do something, we check if it works and ask how we can improve. We want to continually get better at what we do.
Our focus is on meeting the needs of non-believers. This community exists to address the spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs of people. If the community meets people’s needs, it will grow.
Do we as community members love non-believers?
But we must ask ourselves: Do we, as community members, love non-believers? It’s easy to love a brother or sister in the community whom we know and who is like us. Leaders should demonstrate this love in everyday situations – remembering names, being available before and after meetings, paying attention to touch (like a handshake), and understanding that we can’t expect non-believers to act like believers until they become believers.
We started making changes in our community two years ago, and there were many voices of doubt: “Why change anything? It was good as it was.” When new people began to join, many of the existing members felt lost: “There are so many new people that I don’t know,” or “How will we fit in our room?” There were even expressions of dissatisfaction: “The community has forgotten about us. All the energy is directed at the newcomers.”
When we participated in the Purpose Driven Church workshops, our leadership team set a goal to double the size of our community during my term, which lasts three years. At that time, we had about 100 people in sharing groups. Today, we have over 200. We achieved this goal in less than two years.
Create conditions that allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in mission
I want to testify that the Gospel is a powerful force, the love of God is a powerful force, and the Spirit touches the hearts of people if we simply create the opportunity. If we allow Him to work, He will do the work. We just have to create the conditions.
Brothers and sisters, we are the people of God, a royal priesthood. We possess a treasure that the world needs. We have the Good News that people long for, even if they don’t realize it.
Do you know what the biggest obstacle in evangelism and attracting new people to our community is? It’s us. It’s our beliefs, our habits, our need for stability, and our reluctance to step out of our comfort zones. Let’s not be afraid to hand over the leadership of our communities to the Holy Spirit once again.
Thank you for your attention, and may God bless you all.
Top image credit: Gdansk, Poland city street view, from Bigstock.com, photo © by alexmak72427, stock photo ID: 342593332. Used with permission.
Photo of Time for Families community in Gdansk, Poland. Courtesy of © Time for Families community.
Rafał Szporko is a coordinator of the Time for Families community in Gdansk, Poland.