Month of Prayer and Giving Day 1- Alone, Yet Not Alone

“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.”
2 Timothy 4:16-17 ESV
When Mariusz Bartkowski visited Poland with Ali McLachlan in April 2017 they were in search of the right place to plant a new church and the right people to partner with in the endeavour. When an old seminary friend expressed an interest in helping Mariusz plant a new church in Bydgoszcz, that settled it. The Bartkowski family would move to Bydgoszcz and they would begin the work in July.
However, in June the old friend let Mariusz know he would not be helping him after all. He, Mariusz would later learn, had chosen to get involved in the ministry of a larger church in that same city. So the Bartkowski’s would find themselves in an unknown city planting a church – alone.
Yet, they have had regular reminders that they are not alone after all. Their sending church in West Edinburgh is in regular contact with them and faithfully prays for them. Financial support via Grace Baptist Partnership means they can devote themselves fully to the work of the gospel in their needy city. A visit from friends from Warsaw who helped them evangelise for a few days was greatly encouraging. Through these efforts 22 people began reading the Gospel of John.
However, work in countries like Poland where non-Catholics are viewed with suspicion at best and with contempt at worst, is slow-going. Mariusz still desires someone to join with him in the work of the gospel in Bydgoszcz. Will you pray that the Lord will encourage the Bartkowski family in their work? Will you pray that those who are presently reading the Gospel of John will be converted by God’s grace? Will you pray that the Lord will raise up additional labourers for the work in Poland?
“Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”
3 John 8 ESV
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