s.

ijO th Aniversaiy of the Church of Christ in Poland

With a great Joy we i-jelcomed the decision of Churches of Chri^ in Poland to celebrate the 40th aniversary of preaching the Gospel of Christ in Poland and the begi-ning of the Restoration Movement in Poland.

i'lay 28 - 29, 19^1 many hundreds of believers, elders, deacons and ministers gatheredtogether In the Eastern paii: of Poland, the original place of the birth of . the Church ofof Clirist in Poland to comemmorate the wonderful development and histoiy of the Churchof Christ in Poland and preaching the Gospel.Poland with the 36 millions of people before the Second World War i-ras, 98 per centRoman Catholic which was the state religion. Polish people were faithfoli to R. C.Church and that church kept the people in spiritual darkness. People were alwaysunder the fear of the "lake of fire". Priest was the highest authority, whom peoplebelieved blindly and paid money for all rituals and ceremonies. It ^vjas prohibitedto read the Bible and only priests had the authority to read and interpret the Bible.But ^ years ago the true light sbcsx started to shine in Poland thanks to BrotherKonstantin Jaroshevich, a Polish imniigrant to U.S.A. and graduate of Johnscai BibleCollege in Term. IXiring that aniversary a special tribute was given to Bro. and Sister Jaroshevich, who started the Churches of Christ in Poland and preached the Gospelso faithfully for many years. It was revealed at that gathering by still livingpioniers of Restoration Itovement in Poland that after 18 years of preaching, from1921 to 1939 liad 85 churches registered by provincial authorities, /in order tobe register as the church there had to be not less than 50 baptized members -with ovmminister/ and over I50 mission places /churches below 50 members which were not registered but were under supervision of larger congregations/.Many capable ministers, song leaders and Sunday school teachers were trained everyyear at special training courses and there were mai^ rallies and great gatherings ofthousands of people. Thousands of people have been baptized into Christ and wereadded to the Church.

Also during that celebration they mentioned the work of the churches during the warwhen many people were killed, buildings burned or destroyed, ministers arrested andkilled or died. With great love one of the ministers read the names of those ministers -who are already with the Lord.The most impresive service was when all those present gathered around Lords Tablecommsmorating the death of Christ, His Second Coniming, the Unity of the Church andfellov-rship with all other churches of Christ all over the World.Ehen was recalled the fruitful ministry after the Second World War when in 8 years

30 churches and 80 mission places were established with 3OOO baptized' believers.

During that celebration 10 prominent ministers brought very inspiring messages andmany souls vjere touched ty the Gospel of Christ. Also Xouth took very active partin that Kw^tw'hk.MPiL celebration giving special program and later presented the Bibleto the oldest minister vjith the words:"Because of your faitful preaching we are Christians may Lord use you many more years in His service". It moved all to tears.

Also they read a special message from us and letter ffom North American ChristianConvention wchich vras sent by secretary of the Convention. Brethren ffcom Poland t-Troteus that it was one of the greatest gatherings in the last 20 years. They send their warmgreetings to the Brotherhood in United States and they thabkE for the assistancewhich is given to them in preaching the gospel.

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Church of Christ in Poland cont«

Since 1953 we assist our Churches in Poland "her:

1. Sending Bibles and Hew Testaments2. Publishing Polish magazine every month.3» Published song book with music.

Published Life of Christ Vizualized.5* Train Polish students at Eastern Christian College.6« Raise full support for 7 ministers and partime support for other 20.7* Send used clothing and medicine.8. Buy bicycles for evangelists.

Writing many letters every month with special messages10.Visited Poland in Summer I96O and plans are made for another visit in I963

if Lord's willing.11.Together with Brother and Sister Coble we try to start Polish Broadcast to

Poland with the Gospel of Christ.

All this ministry we are able to do because of fauthful support by Brethren in thi^country but i-re need much more funds than we have in order to do more to the Lord.We need your prayers and material assistance.

Please T^rite us Paul BajkoSastem Christian CollegeBel Air. I-Id.

REACHING OUT TO POLAND

PAUL AND DELA BAJKO"After centuries of spiritual darkness and

sovereign rule of the Roman Catholic Church, in1921 the light of Christ started to shine in mycountry of Poland. Hundreds of peopleresponded to the invitation of Christ. In 1922, theyear of my birth, my father became a Christian,and soon after that he started to preach the Gospeland became a minister of one of the largestchurches of Christ in Poland. I grew up in aChristian atmosphere. Every Lord's Day I was inthe Lord's house and I liked the preaching of myfather. My greatest desire was to become apreacher in the future."

"fk^y father was proud of me and of my decisionand he prayed that that decision would not bechanged. Years were passing by. I started goingto school, and there, although Iwas merely a child,I already suffered persecution from the RomanCatholic Church .... There I realized that theChristian life is not easy. But Istill had the greatestdesire to become a preacher. If was a greatchallenge for me."

In spite of difficult times, Paul Bajko was able lofulfill his desire to become a preacher. At the ageof 16, Paul was baptized into Christ, while he was astudent at the Polish State High School- He wasactive in Christian work, played in the churchband, worked among young people, and took partin missionary journeys which were performed bythe Christian band.

In 1939, World War II came, bringingdestruction to Poland. Many, many cities weredestroyed and many lives were lost. Paul relates,"I was separated from my family and my church bythe Germans, who sent me to a labor camp inGermany, where 1worked in a factory like a slavefor two slicesof bread and a bowl of cabbage soupevery day ... but in that hardest time of my lifeChrist did not leave me alone. He was not only myComforter and Helper, but He had a job for me todo. There, He opened my eyes to the great harvest

Isaw thousands of young souls who had goneastray in this world not knowing the way of life,because they had never heard about Christ andHis wonderful Gospel. I saw thousands beingkilled, going into dark eternity, perishingeternally, not reaching heaven. Isaw thousands ofyoung souis from Poland, Russia, and othercountries without a hope or home, dying fromhunger, starvation, hard work, sickness, andbombs. There I realized that the Lord sent me topreach, to do mission work by winning souls forChrist. It was not an easy job. especially in thoseconditions, but nothing was able to stop me frompreaching, after 1 had seen the fruits of mywitnessing,"

After the war, Paul found refuge in Displaced

Persons Camps until 1950. Finding people therewithout a country and without hope, he devotedhimself to voluntary Christian work. While in thecamps, Paul entered the Slavic EvangelicalBaptist Seminary, graduating in 1947. In thatsame year, Paul became engaged to AdelaSurghardt, whom he had met in the camp.

While working and preaching in Germany. Paulmet Earl Stuckenbruck, an American missionarywith the European Evangelistic Society. Mr.Stuckenbruck recommended that Paul go to theU.S. for further studies. In December, 1950, Paularrived in the U.S. as a Displaced Person andimmediately entered Eastern Christian Institute inOrange. New Jersey (now Eastern ChristianCollege in Bel Air. Maryland). He graduated fromthe Institute in 1952 and was ordained for theministry that same year.

In 1951, Paul and Dels were married in Toronto,Canada, where Dela had immigrated fromGermany and England in 1949. Adela was born inRussia on October 21, 1920. Paul and Dela have

three children: Yvonne, born in 1952. George,born in 1954; and Andrew, born in 1957, All three

children attended Miltigan College in Tennessee.Paul. Dela. and Yvonne moved to Tennessee in

September, 1952, where Paul enrolled in MilliganCollege. While Paul was pursuing his studies.Dela was teaching German at Milligan. Paulgraduated with a BA degree in 1953.

Eastern Christian institute called Paul and Dela

in 1954(0 establish the Department of Missions, inorder to train students for missionary activitiesand to carry the Gospel of Christ around theworld. Since 1962. they have operated as anindependent mission under the incorporation ofEastern Christian College. Paul and Dela havehelped establish churches among foreign people(started the Slavic work in Baltimore whichdeveloped into a self-supporti,ig congregation)and have raised support for Polish preachers. Paulis responsible for bringing Kostek Jakoniuk andGeorge Bajenski to the U.S. from Poland, so theycould go to Bible college. George is Radio andYouth Minister with the Polish Ministry. TheBajkos are also translating many materials,preparing publications to be distributed in Poland,working with a radio ministry (now in its 19thyear), have started a cassette ministry, and speakat many rallies and meetings.

Many souls have been led to Christ throughthe ministries of Paul and Dela Bajko. Havingexperienced testing and hardship, the Bajkos canrelate to others in similar situations. Paul and Dela

know and have shared with others the burningdesire to spread the Gospel throughout the world.Pray for a successful harvest.

Address: Paul and Adela Bajko, Department of Missions- Polish Ministry, Eastern Christian College, POBox 629, Bel Air, MD 21014.

)

PAUL AND DELA BAJKO

DEPARTMENT OF MISSIONSEastern Christian College March, I96I

Bel Air, Md.

Dear Christian Friends:

We are anxious again to share with you some e3q)eriences £rom our ministry in thepast tvro--months.The New Year we started with prayer, Iiord's Supper and Christian fellowship in oursmall Slavic congregation in Baltimore. We thanked God for all blessings and askedfor His guidance in the new year» The church in Baltimore maintains a good spirit.January 22nd we organized officially a Slavic Church of Christ in Baltimore ifith 10chartered members. With God's help we were serving this congregation till now, butbecause I travel very much /will be awgiy all summer working in the summey camps/, wewere praying for somebocJy to take that work over. So at the same meeting the congregation extended an invitation to Bro.& Sister Adam Korenczuk to come to Baltimoreand minister for them.The whole month of January and till late in February we had lots of snow in Baltdjnore,Although we live 27 miles out of Baltimore no one meeting was missed. We drov^ thereeven in the hardest storm and had wonderful services. Our Saturday nighjb prayer meetings in Baltimore were most encouraging and inspiririg meetings. We hold them in private homes and many times beside our members we had 8-1? persons pr09ent who arenot Christians and there we have a wonderful opport\inity to preach the Gospel forthem. At those meetings we have also 1-2 hours of singi^ and discussions.Baltmore is a great mission field and we are happy that in June Bro. A^Korenczukwill take this work over. He will be engaged in full time ministry, what will giveus more time for other activities.

Our Polish magazme gains popularity among Polish and some Ru$?ian pepple# Lettersfrom readers indicate that there is a great need for such a magazine, which carries;^e Gospel of Christ to Polish people scattered in U.S.A., Canada, Poland, Germai^,.^ance, Belgium, England, Argentina, Paraguay, Lebanon, Switzerland, Australia.Though this magazine we are able to reach many souls with the New Testament Christianity.Bibles are still sent to Poland and Russia and re^ch the hungry spuls^

y^tters from Poland djidicate about our succeaful trip last summer to Poland. M^I of those letters move us to tears and we are thankful God and our American brethren

for making that trip possible. We only wish we had more time to stay there and topreach the simple Gospel.Hundreds of letters are written by us to Polish friends encouraging them to b^ faith-

m the time of trail and discouragements. Sometimes just few words written topeople in Poland makes them feel good that somebody remembers them. Parcels to Poland^e doing a great service. Some hearts of unbelievers were touched and now theirhe^s ^e opened for the Word of God. Medicine is asked for mapy times and we neverre^se to send it to those in need of it. It is the ministiy of love,A^ these small factors touch the hearts of people. People ask for "Life of Christ"vizualized and we are sorry that we must refuse their petitions because we are out

T ^ the pubXloationcost aboutf 5^.00 dol. but we do not have this money at the present time.pi January ^ addition to heavd schedule I x^as able to spend 10 days in Col-umbus.O.

? Cheches and speaking every d^. I had some wonderftil and blessed^ Christ, Beeohwold Church of Christ, Northeast Churchn' Church, Qrove City Church of Christ, Fifth Ave. Church at Lan- '

of Christ and tHjierva Park Church of Christ. The hearts

tiLl^ inessag^a and that feUowship was mu-during the missionaiy Eal3y and^CoUege Park Chraeh, Buffinton Road Church, Carlenton Church, Grand PaS^Church.GrOTe ParChinch. -Also I ^ a wonderful opportuni-ty to speak for a group of Chris-

^h^oS sliderrsSa^^^^^^,I,t^ Sge"?Fo^teS'cLy ^ ^ ^

had the most wonderful fellowship, attention and interest. I thankM that Christxans in this country are vit^ interested in missions.

m=,!° totensified course of the Book of Acts and Church Histoiy.^ longer than they are in order to catch upWith the work and do what i^e want to do for our Lord.

are thankful to our living-link churches for their faithful support of our mini-rtiy aiid also we thank those churches and individuals who support ministers in Poland and enable us to send parcels, literature. Bibles and medicine,