Just being there for people - like Jesus
Bożena Daszuta, a member of the church council in Poland, was a guest at the Connexio Mission Talk on January 20. She talked about summer camps, the invitation from the Polish president and the growing fear of war. And she thinks The church needs to become more authentic.
Bożena Daszuta is widowed, has two children and lives in Kielce, in the south of Poland. She teaches English, is a member of the church council of the Methodist Church in Poland, manages the treasury in her congregation and is involved in work with children. In the one-hour Zoom meeting, she gave an exciting and personal insight into the issues facing society and the church. And the 16 participants - one person each came from the USA and Estonia - took away food for thought for their own work.
Becoming a Methodist - just not
The Methodist Church in Poland has been recognized by the state since 1925. «Especially after the Second World War, we were very socially committed,» says Bożena Daszuta, «and I hope that we will do more of that again.» But there was also marginalization: «There are still people who became Methodist when missionaries came after the war. The neighbors threw stones at them and some of them had a really hard time at school as children.» Bożena Daszuta grew up Catholic and decided to join the Methodist Church as a young woman. Her father only thought she was an adult and should make her own choice. But her mother was afraid and said: «You were born and raised Catholic. What will people say?»
Giving children a good time
Today it's different: «We don't ask about it, but most of the children who come to the summer camp are Catholic. People are more open and our community is known because of the camp.» Bożena Daszuta is delighted: «We started in 2007 with 16 children, now there are 400; only 20 of them are from our parishes and all the others are from the villages - even the authorities appreciate us. We support families who can't afford the costs. All children should be able to have a good time.» The church is also involved with therapeutic camps for people with addictions and their families. And English, Spanish and Ukrainian-speaking congregations open their doors to people who are foreigners in Poland.
Taking in people from Ukraine
The congregation in Kielce includes four people who have fled Ukraine; two live in the church. «They belong to us. They are independent and have a job.» Will they return? Bożena Daszuta ponders: «One is a single mother with her daughter: they will stay. In the other family, the father can't leave Ukraine; his wife travels back and forth. They are waiting for the war to end.» Ukrainian refugees have been taken in by the church in several places. Some move on, for example to Germany. «We support them and they are allowed to stay until they have completed their paperwork.»
War on the doorstep
Poland borders Ukraine and Russia. Many people are worried that there could be war in Poland. «We're not exactly paralyzed with fear, but it's in the back of our minds,» says Bożena Daszuta. «There are people who lived through the Second World War. Others say: ‘No, no, nothing will happen’. Many build and buy apartments in Spain. But it's like this: The war is on our borders, on our doorstep.»
Church loses importance
In Poland, 90% of the population are Roman Catholic, 1-2% Protestant and around 1% Orthodox. In January, as every year, a representative of the Methodist Church was invited to the Polish President, together with all recognized churches and other religious communities. However, Bożena Daszuta says that many people are leaving the Catholic Church because of grievances, something that also happens in other churches. «And people seem less interested. Other things, such as material prosperity, are more important.» With the fall of communism around 1990, a hopeful development began: «There was freedom for people: the freedom to go where they want, to think what they want. But society strives to have more. Many may say to themselves: we don't need God.»
«Just» being there
All churches have to face up to these developments. «It has also become more difficult for us to keep people. Maybe it's our fault. We should be more authentic, be witnesses worthy of being called that,» says Bożena Daszuta thoughtfully. Because people - and especially children and young people - are looking for authenticity. «We shouldn't just preach on Sunday. We should be with people, stand by them when things go wrong and pass on hope. We just have to be there. Just like Jesus was there for the people: he was there and listened to them and talked to them.»
In brief:
Poland needs the Methodist Church, ...because of the diversity of the churches. People need us because of our social commitment. And I would like to hope that Poland needs us because of our witness.
Please pray for it.... that there will be peace.
My hope is, ...that people have an open heart for the gospel; a gospel that we preach not only with words, but with authentic deeds.
At the Connexio Mission Talk...
...come into personal contact with people from the global church via Zoom. You are cordially invited! You can find more information here:
Your donation counts!
Connexio hope is the organization for church cooperation among Methodists in Switzerland. It supports the church in Poland with contributions to pastors' salaries, media work and social diaconal activities, among other things.
Zurich, CH09 0900 0000 1574 7657 4, reference «Poland»
