To Poland with Love - Recalling the 1988 Mission during a Communist Era 4

The gathering in the Philharmonic Hall By Rev’d Paul Collings

Saturday Afternoon 10th September 1988

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

That afternoon we made our way to the grand setting of 1000 seater Philharmonic Hall. An early 20th-century Neo-Renaissance building adjacent to Collegium Minus, the University Hall is the official assembly place for students of Poznań's Adam Mickiewicz University. Due to excellent acoustics, the hall is regularly used by Poznań Philharmonic, and hosts various music festivals including the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition.

The auditorium was packed with people from across the city who had gathered to find out more about these strange uniformed christians from the UK. A few months before travelling to Poland, I had worked with a linguist, David Kent, who was also a member of the band, to find hymns sung in Polish churches that corresponded with the music the band had in it’s repertoire. Initially, this led to some interesting congregational singing.  Whilst our music and the polish hymnal on paper worked together, it soon became apparent that we had to adjust our normal tempo to correspond with that used during their worship services. 

Alongside our media crew who were working hard to capture the proceedings, the Polish National Television Broadcaster was there to film and report that evening on the National News programme. However, these were not the only people with a keen interest in what we were about. Our host pastor informed me that there were secret policemen otherwise known as the political police in the congregation taking note of everything.  (It is worth noting that 1988 saw the rise of the Solidarity Movement that within weeks of our visit, would come to ahead; more of this later in the week.) Throughout our visit, a member of the political police force was never far away.

It almost seems that our visit gave the various Protestant churches new strength to push the boundaries, unite together in spreading the gospel. The significance of our visit was beginning to dawn upon me and left me humbled that God could use us in such a far reaching way.

Following the gathering that contained hymn singing, musical contributions a gospel message and prayer, the Lt Colonel and I were interviewed by the television crews before we returned to Agape Evangelical Church for rest and refreshment.

That evening I pondered how God can use us in ways that we had never previously considered.

Questions

1. How ready am I to used by God in surprising ways?
2. What difference does my commitment to follow allow others to share God’s Way?
3. How ready am I to follow the Spirit’s leading, even when I cannot see the way ahead?

Thank you, Lord, for being there for me and allowing me to cry out to you in my times of need. It is amazing to me that the Lord of the Universe would take time to listen to me and to care about what I say. God, there are things happening around me right now that I do not understand. Some of these things make me feel weak, helpless and afraid. Even in the midst of this, I know that you are the Lord. I know that the situation is in Your hand, and I trust You. I beseech you for strength and for wisdom that I would be able to endure this situation and be able to handle it in a way that would bring glory to Your name. In Jesus name. Amen.

Tomorrow: Sunday Worship - Facing Difficult Situations