"Ring the Bells . . .

let the whole world know"

News from George and Vera BaJenakI

FEBRUARY 1973

Dear Christian Friends,

We wish to bring you up to date with our life and work here in Poland.
Thanks to your prayers and His leading, we have come through another year.
This was not an easy year for the Bajenski family. It was our first year of
working and living here without our parents. Three years ago my mother
died, and last year father was called home after 43 years of serving Christ
here in Poland. This new situation gave me many new responsibilities in
relation to church property management, and office administration and paper
work which my father was handling himself. During this past year much of
my time was given to the ministry of the Warsaw Christian Church, with
strong emphasis on our youth programme. The youth work in our local
churches and in connection with our camp activities is the most rewarding
and promising undertaking in our work. From these ranks of young Chris
tians a new leadership is forthcoming for the Church of Christ. Vera is
doing fine-becoming very fluent in the Polish language and at the same
time helping me to keep my English fluent. She has assumed the duties
collectively as a mission here in Poland. This past year,
of organist in Warsaw church and is working closely with
the choir and young people. We have recently
:ently had 2
after a very successful youth programme of camp activities in Ostruda, our programme has been expanded not
baptisms and in our camp work in Ostruda\ there have
3ast summer.
only for young people but to include accommodation and
been over thirty decisions for Christ this past
activities for senior citizens on this existing twelveWe cannot at this time summarize for you allII of our day
acre campsite. We see this as a good decision and a
by day work during this last year, only Godd knows that
one day we will be able to share with you inn a more full
very timely one. Needless to say it is in need of much
prayer and support. We daily pray to God for wisdom and
way our activities. At this particular time we wish for
ividually and
strength to follow through this undertaking. I personally
you to know that we need your prayers individually

A group of young people with Dewey Thackston leading

in a "sing-song" at the campsite in Ostruda.

mssvmcmm

Polish young people pose for a group picture on a camp

excursion.

recall from some time past a message given by President

Earl Hargrove of Lincoln Christian College at the dedica
tion of a new sanctuary at Eastview Christian Church,
he said . . . "Christian . . . if God is with us let us

plan big" . . . I feel He is with us, therefore we move

into this new year with big plans and big hopes so that

here in Poland all of our daily efforts may not be in vain

but people of all ages may come to know Him and Christ

INCOME

We feel in a very real way

In Christ and His service,

Vera and George Bajenski

DISBURSEMENTS

Balance forward August 15. 1972

Receipts August 15-December 31
Total

Note:

be glorified in everything.

that God is on His Throne and we wish you dear friends

His strength and blessings.

$1965.00
3663.00
$5628.00

The above total does not include

Living Link 3 months @ $600

Printing
Postage
Display materials for missionary

$1800.00

112.00
15.00

conventions

deposits for December as they were not

received for banking until after the new

$1965.64

year.

Less total Disbursements

$1965.64

Balance on hand

$3662.36

Lincoln Christian Church

8ulk Rate; Non-Profit

U.S. POSTAGE

Box 147

PAID

Lincoln, Illinois 62656

Permit No. 148

Lincoln. Illinois

Mission Services
Box X77

(ADDRESS RETURN REQUESTED)

Keapton, Ind*

46049

WAY 1 5 1973

"Ring
the

Bells . . .
let the whole world know'
News from George and Vera Bajenskl

SPRING 1973

Dear Christian Friends,

We greet all of our dear Christian Friends in the

name of our risen Saviour. We are well, thanking God that
He is with us, and also thanking you all for your concern,
prayers and support. We thank all of you who have not
given up on us due to sparse communications.
Our Christian labours here in Poland are progressing
slowly. We do not have any fantastic figures or statistics

Our Youth Center work is now combined with the

Home for the Aged and is situated on the same property.

Funds are needed for this project and much prayer that
government approval may soon be given allowing us to
start major construction. We pray and believe that this
approval will soon come and we would ask you all to es
pecially remember this part of our work in prayer.

to announce but we are here and the Churches of Christ

are here in Poland working day by day, still preparing

ground for the Lord's harvest. Seed of the word of God is
sown by our mouths and our lives and through the very
effective medium of radio. Tapes are prepared here in
Warsaw and broadcast from Monte Carlo. The response
has been greater than we could imagine. Letters are com
ing in from all over the country. People are asking for
Bibles, prayer and other requests. Just 2 weeks ago we
were with a group of young people of our congregation
visiting a village where a new congregation was formed
through the radio ministry. This new group made re
quests for Christian Music. I did leave them a copy of our

Plans have already been made for ^ht-weeks of

camp activities this summer.

We do hope there will be

some groups of college age young people visiting us this

summer as in previous years.

We would like to share many more things with you

but in time when we will have the opportunity to meet face
to face we will be able to relate things to you in more
detail.

Sincerely In His Service,

Polish record but there is a definite need in this area of

'producing and distributing Christian music in Poland.

People are anxious and eager to hear the Gospel.
Naturally we are not without our own growing pains.
Many of our elders and preachers are dying and those

that are still actively preaching are reluctant to pass this

work along to the younger generation. There is a tremen. dous need for training a new leadership. There has been
a start in this area but due to prevailing conditions
progress is very slow.

Editor's note:

Shortly after receiving this letter, word

was received that papers have been
processed and George and Vera will be
visiting the U.S. and Canada this
summer. After confirmation of details,
dates will be announced.

J. Huk

INCOME
Balance forward Dec. 31/72

DISBURSEMENTS

$3662.36

Living link support 3 months @$600

Receipts Dec. 31/Mar. 31/72

4377.65

Newsletter and Christmas letter

Less total disbursements

Balance on hand

1972.70

Postage
Total

6067.31

145.70

27.00
1972.70

Bulk Rate; Non-Profit

U.S. POSTAGE

Lincoln Christian Church

Box 147

PAID

Permit No. 148

Lincoln, Illinois 62656

Lincoir), Illinois

Mission Services
Box 177

Ke.Tipton,
(ADDRESS RETURN REQUESTED)

$1800.00

Ind,

46049

^13

"Ring the Bells . . . let the whole world know'

News from George and Vera Bajenski

arrival, to these three points mentioned, with more to be

shared with you by personal visits, and future letters.

Concerning our personal life and planning our future

work, a new development is taking place in relation to
my official status with the United States Government.
For a period of two years it was possible for both of us to
live and work together in Poland, being subject to two
different governments.
Vera was subject to the
American Government, and I was subject to the Polish
Government. It seemed that all went well for this period
of time. God provided and protected from all evil. But to
exist like this for a longer period of time was impossible.
The regulations of the government of the United States
did not permit me to stay out of the United States for a
longer period of time, since I am not a citizen, but only
hold resident privileges of the United States. These
privileges were given to me after our marriage in 1969.
After prayerful consideration of all the facts, and after
consulting the consul at the American Embassy in War

saw, we decided to settle this matter of my visa and ap

ply for naturalization papers with the government of the
United States. This decision will have significant in
fluence on our personal life and future work with
Christians in Poland. During the time which is needed to

"To God be the glory,

great things He hath done."
The words of this great hymn so beautifully express
our feelings upon returning to the United States, after
spending two years of living and working with Christians
in Poland. God has been good to us, and we thank Him
for all of you dear friends, and for your prayers and sup
port which made it possible for us to be in Poland at an
important time in church growth. For me personally, as

a citizen of a foreign country, it is a special feeling and

privilege to be able to return to the United States, where

the best years of my life were spent. For Vera it is also a

special feeling to come home after some time spent in
communist Poland.

Christian churches, and churches of Christ in Poland

send you their Christian greetings and salutations, as

was practiced in the days of Paul the apostle. If to be
measured by time, the time we spent in Poland was two
years, but if to be measured In experience and In
development of the work, I believe that more happened
in these two years, than could have been expected in five
or more. These new developments were taking place in
our church work, and our Polish family life, and personal
life. We would like to limit our first newsletter, since our

complete this process we will be serving our Lord here in

the United States, visiting churches, preaching and sing

ing Christ's message, telling of the growing church in
communist Poland, and the other East European coun
tries, also sharing our latest mission developments. We
will also be helping our Christian friends who have left
Poland and are presently living in the United States.
There are many of them, but not many churches where
they can worship together winning others for Jesus. The
Polish brethren have also asked us to speak on their
behalf concerning two important developing projects,
which will still be mentioned.
Some other news which we would like to share with

you is from our Polish family life. During our stay in

Poland we experienced a death in our family. My father,
Paul Bajenski, was called Home by God. He was my
father, but for the last forty-four years he was God's

faithful servant. For many years he worked among his

people in Eastern Poland, but for the last twenty years he
travelled all over the country with the Gospel, with coun
cil, and with advice, strengthening churches in their
needs. He was a great help and source of encourage
ment for me in my ministry. It was very difficult for me to
stand helplessly by his bedside and watch him go home,
where just two years previous my mother had gone. God

is an Almighty God. He is now my father. He loves and

He cares.

It is for Him alone that we want to live, and

serve, and go wherever He needs us. As sad and as dif

ficult as it was for us to take, we accepted it from God, for
He knows the best.

Since father's death, many new

responsibilities were passed on to me. But God was with

us, and those empty places in our Warsaw church were
being taken by other Christians. Everyone in church was
happy to hear the words of a convert during a recent
baptism, "Through the witness of Brother Bajenski, who
is today with Jesus, I am now a Christian." Also there
were the words of my younger nephew, Andrew, who liv
ed with my parents since 1961, "I want to work for Jesus
as my grandfather did." Andrew keeps his promise. An
drew is still young, only eighteen years of age, but he is
active in church life, singing, witnessing, and travelling to
other churches with young people telling of his faith. His
Christian-life is effectivejo that .he is_bringing .manxof
his school friends to our youth meetings, summer and
winter camps, and It was at the summer camp in
Ostruda, last year, that one of his friends, Ursula,
stepped forward and accepted Christ. Today she is a
faithful member in our Warsaw congregation. Next year
Andrew is planning to enroll in the only Theological
Academy there is in Poland. The other members of the
Bajenski family in Warsaw are also Christians. My sister
Donna, who was our choir director, is temporarily living

in Prague, Czechoslovakia. My eldest nephew Leszek,

just recently was called to serve his term in the Polish ar
my. My young niece, Dorota, is still in high school, but
also active in the church's youth work.
Generally speaking, the Church In Poland is a young
Church, composed of many young people, although
there are still some older brethren who started the work

in Poland fifty-two years ago. This is a difficult time of

Christian work in Poland, a time of transitiona time

when the younger generation, younger in age and ex

perience, is taking the place of the older generation. In
some cases this creates growing pains! Much wisdom
and patience is required until fruitful results of this work
are seen. Pray with us, dear friends, that both our older
brethren may be able to see clearly their place in Christ's
work, and that our younger generation may have the
courage and wisdom to make decisions for the benefit of
CtrrlstrPray in parttctrtar for -Kostic Jakoniuk, who
received his Seminary training here in the United States,
that God will give him the strength needed in leading
others in this growing process.
At present, the Christian churches in Poland, together
with other Evangelical churches are undertaking a very
important project that will help our churches grow. As of

September, 1973 the churches are sponsoring a Bible

training programme lasting six to eight months. For

about twenty-six young men from all over tine country

this will be the beginning of a future regular Bible school
in Poland. This is one of the two projects that the
brethren have asked us to remember, for there still may

be some unexpected difficulties and need for financial

assistance. Another large undertaking of our churches
is the expansion of our Ostruda youth camp. Grounds
have been purchased and rp_ughjy adapted for our pre
sent camp activities. But in order to build new facilities
for living and for teaching on a permanent basis, we
could not receive all the needed permits. Then the idea
came-to transfer to our camp ground the church's Senior

Citizens Home. New buildings would be built according

to government requirements, at the same time enlarging
the home to provide for about sixty people. Also during
this construction it would be possible to build additional
rooms for our youth programnrve. The project meets
church and government approval, and plans are being
made for construction. This undertaking will demand
much work, financial backing, and constant prayer that
in all decisions God will lead the proper people in

government who will make the building of this project

possible.

I believe that we will have more to tell you about these

projects and many other things as we will meet. Now we

must close our newsletter. We would like for you to know

about our joys and sorrows, and to make ourselves

available to you by visiting your churches, your homes
where we could tell more how God is making His plans in
our life come true.

You can contact us by mail at:

Ring the BellsPolish Mission

Box 147

Lincoln, Illinois 62656

Or directly through our forwarding address:

George BajenskI
% John Huk Jr.
833 Miriam Road

Bay Ridges, Pickering

Ontario, Canada

We will be anticipating to hear from you soon, as your

prayers and support are needed. At the present we do

not have any other means for living, and continuing our
Polish mission work. Only your prayers and support will
make it possible for us to help Christ's work in Poland
and to help Christian Churches in America.

We would still like to share one more piece of happy

news with you. While working with a group of Christians

in one part of Poland, we were able to help them start a
new independent congregation which meets presently in
a private home but is already adapting our old home for
church use.

In His Name,

/t-

oik

aieMs^

Vera and George BajenskI