"Ring the Bells . let the whole world know"News from George, Vera and Benjamin Bafenskl

February I9S8

Dear Friends and Supporters,It is our first letter to you this year.

We wish you therefore many happy days, abundant in God's "blessings. We also sincerelythank you for your faithful encouragementand support of our ministry.

The year I988 found us here in Toronto ingood spirits and good health with more workthan ever "before! This included radio andfollowup activities, more church invitations,involvements in church life in Poland andeven in Russia and on top of everything moreadjninistrative responsi"bilities and much morephysical labor in the construction of our newoffice and studio facilities. We thank Godfor strength and for all of your help andprayers.

One highlight still from last year, actually it was a highlight of many years of our"Ring the Bells" ministry. This short yet powerful song about Christ's birth in Bethlehem has a powerful ring of command - to tell the whole world about Christ's life, deathand resurrection, in other words the whole Gospel and this challenge we did accept as apriority in our life. With this theme, "Ring the Bells...let the whole world know," lastDecember I was invited to take part in a week's program of the Living Christmas Tree withthe Capitol City Christian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was truly an unforgetableexperience and I hope for many of us it will serve for years to come as a reminder of ourcommitment to our Lord. Thank you Bob, thank you Kay and all dear friends from Nebraska.

After all of last year's changes it seems as though we are still catching up with thework load here in Toronto. Our four language radio ministry continues without interruptionalthough now there is only three of us working with it. Our Russian work is done collectively. The office work with printing, mailing, bookkeeping, some correspondence and afew other things Vera is handling.

To complete these few words on our family up-date I will just mention that Benjaminhas grown about 8 inches since last year. Ever since our last summer's visit with theParkcrest Christian Church in Long Beach, California, Ben was impressed with California's life-style including surfing and the music of the Beach Boys. Also after spendinga week at the Word of Life camp in New York, he was inspired by some Christian musiciansand he started to play on the trumpet. Right now he is one more time involved in theschool's 8th grade public speaking competition and guess which topic is making winningperformances thus far - his "Nerd-a-raania" theme in which he challenges students totake a stand for what is right, be themselves and not be ruled by fads and peer pressures. Very interesting. I think we will hear more about him in the future.

Now a few more words from our actual mission field, Poland. Over the last severalyears we were developing a more regular working relationship with ray home church inWarsaw. Now I believe the time is coming that we'll be able to say safely that we areworking together, helping each other, extending ourselves beyond borders. Although weare not able to be there all throughout the year, together we are doing the ministrythat God has called us to do. Doors are being opened wider and wider. Freedom andopportunities for evangelism are just about limitless. Polish authorities are fullyaware and tolerating oxir mission involvements. People are ready and spiritually hungryto receive the Word of God. Friends, pray that the Lord will send forth laborers intohis harvest.

lS of February 12, all Christian and Evangelical Churches in.and are free and organizationally independent from eachher. The Union of Churches that existed for the past forty

ysars dissolved itself. May God now grant wisdom for our)lish brethren and may His spirit guide them in growing and

leading the rest of the nation to spiritual heights that werenotNmown before!

TluK^lawska Street Christian Church in V/arsaw, which likes"to be knbimias a Christian Petlowship, is leading in manycourageous iriirtiajjiyes that prove to be elective. Last year theYouth Conference with"'ov'er"~6;'00Q~rn attendance was largely theirinitiative. Starting on February 28 until March 26 they areleading a nation-wide month of prayer for repentance and aspiritual renewal for the Polish nation. Many local Evangelicaland Protestant Churches, even some Roman Catholic Parishesacross the nation committed themselves to this month of prayer.Special schedules of appropriate teaching and prayer requests have been prepared andsent to all churches and individuals. They really anticipate the results. God will notfail them.

Please remember them in your prayers. Especially remember Andrew Bajenski the youngpastor of this growing Warsaw Christian Church. Andrew is also the leading person inmany of this church's activities. Pray for his health, his family Urszula, Luke andOla. Pray for the Church in Warsaw sind many of our corelated mission activities inradio, youth work and benevolent programs.

May God bless you and be very close to you as together we reach out to help others.

POLAND SAYES YES - "TAK" TO JESUS I

Yours in His service,

S

Ring the Bells...let the whole world know*.J}= flews from George, \/era and Beryamin Bajenski

194S

1988 October 1908

Each summer season provides us with challenges in our East European missionary our- ^liltlllt^^reach. However, the summer of I968 was above all our anticipations! As soon as the grad-uation ceremony with all its awards and recognitions for Benjamin's 8th grade public ' |school career ended, we boarded the first available Polish 'Lot* flight taking us to JWarsaw. It was Wednesday, therefore we started our visit with regular prayer meeting mattendance with the Pulawaka Street Church. Then, after seeing to all necessary registra-tions and most important initial businesses, we wars off to Ostruda, where the first in- ^termediate youth camp was already in progress. There were about one hundred campers, goodpersonnel, a good spirit and visible good results of camp teaching, I could see in someof these campers potential for good leaders for the Church in Poland.

We were able to be with three similar groups of campers, each of them representinga different age level. The average attendance was about 120 people in each group. Whatwas really significant was the fact tliat over 30^ of these campers were young peoplewithout any true religious or church background at home. Yet here in Ostruda all of themfelt good being surrounded by a Christian atmosphere, studying the Bible, praying, sing- t''4ing and being together. In the oldest group one third of all campers expressed a desire HlI.to follow Jesus. No wonder that tears were filling the eyes of many at the time of depar-ture. Returning home to no church and no Christian friends was not much fun. What a tra- .:?rgedyl Since the summer we have heard already that many of these campers in differentplaces continue in the way of the Lord. In the Warsaw church, for instance, twelve of wM 'them were recently baptized and became involved in regular church life. But we can notstop thinking about the others. We would like for them also to find a good Christian ||H|||Vhome atmosphere, V?hat a challenge and opportunity to be involved in directing the life ^ Iof young people in Poland to Jesus. \

Actually this summer we visited several places in eastern, northern and southern Poland, However, most of thetime we did spend in Warsaw. I had several meetings with the elders and different leaders of the Pulawska congregation, With Maly Dwulat we discussed the need for further development of the Ostruda Camp. With Michal Werejeraiewiczwe were discussing the new program of the Correspondence Bible Seminary, With Krzysztof Pietrzak we discussed ourmissionary radio outreach. I was meeting with the Committee of Chriotian Benevolent V^orkers who oversee the distribution of all articles sent to them through our ministry. Overall we spent many hours discussing all activities ofthe Christian Fellowship of Warsaw Church. In conclusion I can say, Cod still has something beautiful for us to seein the life and Christian witness of this group of believers in Poland,

The highlight of our summer activities in Poland came at the conclusion of our visit. In the first week ofSeptember the Warsaw Church celebrated its 40th Anniversary. It was a true time of reminissing. Personally I sawmy childhood. I remembered my parents, the time of sickness, the time of imprisoniaent, the time of my decision forCtoist and ^ baptism in the Vistula, the largest Polish river. I believe everyone was doijig the same. But laoat-of -ail we looked with great anticipation into the future, knowing that the mission is not finished as long as thereare those who have never heard about the Christ, There was a simple but symbolic decoration in the sanctuary whereservices were being held. A large cross, ",..where it all began," said pastor Andrew Bajenski. Then there were threenumbers. The year I948 symbolized the starting point for this group of believers. The year I988 in larger print wasto be a reflection of the present day. The largest number, the year 2000 was a symbolic look into the futiire. Onethought from this Anniversary service I would like to share with you. It was shared with us by Andrew and was basedon the scripture from Ilumbers 14,",*,a one lost day of opportunity is as a whole year waisted in the desert." Opportunities for evangelizing Poland are before us. Only twelve more years and this turbulant century will end. May Godhelp us so that truly each day of our life will be counted for the Lord.

Then came a few statistics. In a 60 mile radius siurounding V/arsaw, live over 4.5 million people. In the samearea there are over 60 cities in which there are no Christian, Evangelical or any Protestant churches whatsoever."Will we allow our faith to act now?" Viliat a challenge! The response was immediate. As a plan of reaching these 60communities was outlined (each year an evangelistic crusade is to be conducted under a tent in five different communities) the whole congregation in a prayerful attitude joined in saying, "So help us Cod!" Sixty new places withthe possibilities of starting new churches in such a short time will take many people, much work and many prayers.It was a true 'Faith Promise' commitment made by the Warsaw Church. We were not only present during this service,but we were also commiting ourselves into this mission endeavour. We will be informing you concerning all progressin this undertaking.

Many other beautiful things happened during this summer's mission trip to Poland and Russia, but time for justa few more reflections from our visit to Russia. We already mentioned our xmusual visit with family in Russia. Thesame village where 12 years ago father Huk and I were not able to even participate in the village church service,now, all three of us spoke and when the 3 hour service was over nobody even moved to leave! They wanted to hearmorel So we spoke again, telling them about our work and church life here in America. I told them of our missionaryradio outreach, about printing Bibles and our new Russian songbook that brother Huk prepared. People were visiblyhappy, relaxed and very receptive. Many asked us to send them Bibles, Bible Dictionaries, songbooks, or otherChristian literature. Many spoke with appreciation for our radio ministry. Finally after hours of fellowshipended, we ate at the table of the preacher's home. It was well after midnight that we managed to reach the home ofUncle Bill where we slept for a few hours. The next day at noon another service in a nearby city.Here we met another family knoTO to us, the two brothers and three sisters of brother Paul Bajko from Maryland. Again preaching,beautiful singing, choir numbers, recitations, I was asked to conduct their choir and sing in Russian! Childrenplayed various musical instruments and sang one very familiar Polish melody. It was very difficult to part withse^ices were^wa^tlng for us in another city^of Mi^k. Here^close

Friends, we thank God for what He is doing in the East. Actually, 'perestroika' and 'solidarity' for us Christians simply means more opportunities to preach the Gospel. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being withus with your prayers and financial support while we were in Poland and Russia!