Across Eastern Europe and beyond, SGA-supported missionary pastors faithfully shepherd their congregations, disciple believers, and share the hope of the Gospel in their communities. These pastors serve on the front lines of ministry—often quietly and consistently—helping churches grow in God’s Word and reach people who need Christ.

Pastor Samuel is one such servant of the Lord. He ministers in Poland alongside his wife Dominika, who also serves as an SGA Storyteller. Their family and church are actively engaged in teaching Scripture, discipling believers, and reaching families in their community with the Gospel.

Recently, Samuel shared an encouraging update about how God is working in their church. Below is his report . . .

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Three months have already passed since my last message, in which I shared about our ministry and described what has been happening in the church. I am grateful to be able to do this once again and to share with you the goodness of God and the abundance of His grace that rests upon us.

I hope it will be a joy for you to read these few paragraphs, which are only a few snapshots from the past weeks.

Family Life

The past months have brought our family much joy, but also a few challenges. The Christmas season was a particularly warm and blessed time for us. Together with the children, we prepared two gift packages for children as part of a larger Christmas outreach organized by our church (which I describe below). It was a beautiful opportunity to talk with our children about the practical meaning of loving our neighbor and about the truth that Christmas is not about receiving gifts, but about the joy of giving to others.

After an intense end of the year and the beginning of a new school term, we were able to spend four days by the sea. It was a simple but very needed time of rest—walking, talking, and simply being together without the rush of daily responsibilities.

Basia finished her first semester in both primary school and music school with very good results, which is a reason for joy for her and gratitude for us. Hania and Tadeusz are also developing well, although the past weeks were not without illness. Tadeusz had chickenpox, but thanks to his strong body we went through that time relatively smoothly. Despite seasonal infections, we can say that the Lord faithfully sustains us.

In my previous report I mentioned our need for a larger car. Thank you for your prayers—after several months of searching, which I began in September, at the end of January we were able to purchase a [used car] at a good price. Twice we had nearly bought another car that later turned out to have hidden defects. All the more we are grateful to God for His protection and guidance in this matter.

Each day we experience the Lord’s faithfulness in ordinary family matters. We continue to seek to maintain a rhythm of family prayer and Bible reading, teaching our children—and ourselves—to trust God in both the joys and the challenges of daily life.

Church Life

We continue to be nourished by the Gospel of John and are slowly approaching the conclusion of this long series—we plan to finish it around Easter. It has been a remarkable experience to walk so consistently through one book together as a congregation, seeing how the revelation of Christ’s glory gradually shapes our thinking, our prayers, and our daily decisions.

The Bible study groups continue faithfully and steadily. The group I lead is currently studying 1 Samuel—we see there God’s sovereignty, the importance of obedience, and the drama of the human heart. Around 15 to 20 people attend regularly. It is encouraging to see how God’s Word builds genuine spiritual bonds among us.

I also continue regular meetings with two young men—Kamil and Olaf. Together we are reading Knowing God by J. I. Packer. It is demanding but deeply formative reading for them. I can see them growing in their understanding of God’s character, learning to pray, and taking their first responsible steps in service. This is one of the quieter yet deeply joyful aspects of pastoral ministry.

I have also set a goal to meet individually with every church member—to talk about their spiritual life and to ask for honest reflections regarding my ministry and the functioning of the church. These conversations have been very encouraging and humbling for me. So far, I have met with more than half of the members and intend to faithfully complete this process in the coming weeks.

At the beginning of January, we held a members’ meeting during which we welcomed Darek into church membership. Our congregation now has 45 members. Each new person is not just a number but a concrete story of God’s grace.

A particularly significant event was the founding meeting of the Ukrainian church on February 14. Until now it functioned as our church plant, but it has now become an independent congregation. Just a few years ago there was no Baptist church in Bydgoszcz—today there are two. This is a clear sign of God’s work!

As a result, Mykola, who was the pioneer of our church, has been appointed pastor and chairman of the elders of the newly established Ukrainian church. This means he will no longer be able to be as involved in our congregation as before. We are deeply grateful for his years of faithful service. At the end of March we will elect a new elder to replace him. This is an important and new chapter in the history of our church. Please pray for unity, wisdom, and discernment of God’s leading in this decision.

Christmas Evangelism

On December 20, we organized a Christmas meeting (Immanuel’s Child) in our chapel for families living in the city center of Bydgoszcz who receive ongoing support from the Christian Charity Association led by Michał and Olga from our church. Thirteen families participated—25 adults and 32 children.

Church members prepared Christmas packages for all the children (age-appropriate) as well as large food parcels for entire families. Each package also included evangelistic materials and Christian calendars. The meeting included refreshments, carol singing, a Bible quiz, and an evangelistic message that I had the opportunity to share based on John 3:16. About 30 members of our church were involved in organizing the event and speaking with the guests, creating a warm, family-like atmosphere and space for personal conversations and prayer.

Our relationship with these families does not end with one event. Many of them regularly attend activities at the “Narnia” Community Center, located near our chapel and supported by members of our church. It provides ongoing opportunities for relationship-building, discipleship, and spiritual care.

Darek’s Baptism

One of the most significant events of the past months was Darek’s baptism. On January 4, the first Sunday of the new year, he publicly confessed his faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized in our church. It was a deeply moving moment for both his family and the entire congregation.

For most of his life, Darek remained within the Catholic tradition. Over 20 years ago his wife came to faith and has faithfully prayed for his salvation ever since. For years he heard the Gospel, attended services, and gradually came to understand it more deeply, yet he postponed making a clear decision. A serious diagnosis—laryngeal cancer—became the moment of spiritual breakthrough for him. He himself says that the illness was God’s call to clearly and responsibly take his stand with Christ.

On January 11, just one week after his baptism, he underwent surgery to remove his larynx. The loss of his natural voice gave special weight to his public confession—while he still could, he wanted to proclaim with his own voice that Jesus is his Lord and Savior. Darek humbly emphasizes that everything he has is by God’s grace and that he desires his life—regardless of circumstances—to bring glory to God.

He is now recovering and learning to function in a new reality. We thank God for His sovereign work in Darek’s heart and for the visible fruit of his wife’s many years of prayer. Please continue to pray for his full recovery, peace of heart, and spiritual strength for him and his entire family.

Prayer Requests

• For our family—thanksgiving for God’s protection in recent months, for bringing us through illness, and for the purchase of the car. Please pray for continued health, unity in our marriage, wisdom in raising our children, and that our home would visibly reflect Christ.

• For Darek—for full recovery after surgery, strength in daily rehabilitation, and deep peace of heart. Please also pray for spiritual encouragement for his wife and entire family.

• For our church—for a faithful and fruitful conclusion to the series in the Gospel of John, for continued spiritual growth, and for unity in love. May God’s Word bear visible fruit in the daily lives of our members.

• For the election of a new elder—that the Lord would clearly indicate the right person, grant wisdom to the congregation, and prepare us for this new chapter.

• For the newly established Ukrainian church—for God’s blessing on their ministry, wisdom for Pastor Mykola, and good relationships between our congregations.

• For the families involved in the Christmas outreach and for ongoing evangelistic ministry—that the sown Word would bear fruit in conversion and that the relationships formed would lead to lasting life transformation.

With heartfelt gratitude in Christ,

Samuel