s.

ijO th Aniversaiy of the Church of Christ in Poland

With a great Joy we i-jelcomed the decision of Churches of Chri^ in Poland to celeb

rate the 40th aniversary of preaching the Gospel of Christ in Poland and the begining of the Restoration Movement in Poland.

i'lay 28 - 29, 19^1 many hundreds of believers, elders, deacons and ministers gathered
together In the Eastern paii: of Poland, the original place of the birth of . the Church of

of Clirist in Poland to comemmorate the wonderful development and histoiy of the Church
of Christ in Poland and preaching the Gospel.

Poland with the 36 millions of people before the Second World War i-ras, 98 per cent
Roman Catholic which was the state religion. Polish people were faithfoli to R. C.

Church and that church kept the people in spiritual darkness. People were always
under the fear of the "lake of fire". Priest was the highest authority, whom people
believed blindly and paid money for all rituals and ceremonies. It ^vjas prohibited
to read the Bible and only priests had the authority to read and interpret the Bible.
But ^ years ago the true light sbcsx started to shine in Poland thanks to Brother
Konstantin Jaroshevich, a Polish imniigrant to U.S.A. and graduate of Johnscai Bible
College in Term. IXiring that aniversary a special tribute was given to Bro. and Sis
ter Jaroshevich, who started the Churches of Christ in Poland and preached the Gospel
so faithfully for many years. It was revealed at that gathering by still living
pioniers of Restoration Itovement in Poland that after 18 years of preaching, from

1921 to 1939

liad 85 churches registered by provincial authorities, /in order to

be register as the church there had to be not less than 50 baptized members -with ovm

minister/ and over I50 mission places /churches below 50 members which were not re
gistered but were under supervision of larger congregations/.
Many capable ministers, song leaders and Sunday school teachers were trained every
year at special training courses and there were mai^ rallies and great gatherings of
thousands of people. Thousands of people have been baptized into Christ and were
added to the Church.

Also during that celebration they mentioned the work of the churches during the war
when many people were killed, buildings burned or destroyed, ministers arrested and
killed or died. With great love one of the ministers read the names of those minis
ters -who are already with the Lord.

The most impresive service was when all those present gathered around Lords Table
commsmorating the death of Christ, His Second Coniming, the Unity of the Church and
fellov-rship with all other churches of Christ all over the World.

Ehen was recalled the fruitful ministry after the Second World War when in 8 years
30 churches and 80 mission places were established with 3OOO baptized' believers.

During that celebration 10 prominent ministers brought very inspiring messages and
many souls vjere touched ty the Gospel of Christ. Also Xouth took very active part
in that Kw^tw'hk.MPiL celebration giving special program and later presented the Bible
to the oldest minister vjith the words:"Because of your faitful preaching we are Chris
tians may Lord use you many more years in His service". It moved all to tears.
Also they read a special message from us and letter ffom North American Christian
Convention wchich vras sent by secretary of the Convention. Brethren ffcom Poland t-Trote
us that it was one of the greatest gatherings in the last 20 years. They send their warm

greetings to the Brotherhood in United States and they thabkE for the assistance
which is given to them in preaching the gospel.

Church of Christ in Poland

cont

Since 1953 we assist our Churches in Poland "her:

1. Sending Bibles and Hew Testaments

2. Publishing Polish magazine every month.

3 Published song book with music.
Published Life of Christ Vizualized.

5* Train Polish students at Eastern Christian College.

6 Raise full support for 7 ministers and partime support for other 20.
7* Send used clothing and medicine.

8. Buy bicycles for evangelists.

Writing many letters every month with special messages

10.Visited Poland in Summer I96O and plans are made for another visit in I963
if Lord's willing.

11.Together with Brother and Sister Coble we try to start Polish Broadcast to
Poland with the Gospel of Christ.

All this ministry we are able to do because of fauthful support by Brethren in thi^
country but i-re need much more funds than we have in order to do more to the Lord.
We need your prayers and material assistance.

Please T^rite us

Paul Bajko
Sastem Christian College
Bel Air. I-Id.

REACHING

OUT TO

POLAND

PAUL AND DELA BAJKO

"After centuries of

spiritual darkness and

sovereign rule of the Roman Catholic Church, in

1921 the light of Christ started to shine in my

country of Poland.
Hundreds of people
responded to the invitation of Christ. In 1922, the
year of my birth, my father became a Christian,
and soon after that he started to preach the Gospel
and became a minister of one of the largest
churches of Christ in Poland. I grew up in a

Christian atmosphere. Every Lord's Day I was in

the Lord's house and I liked the preaching of my
father. My greatest desire was to become a
preacher in the future."

"fk^y father was proud of me and of my decision

and he prayed that that decision would not be
changed. Years were passing by. I started going
to school, and there, although Iwas merely a child,
I already suffered persecution from the Roman
Catholic Church . . . .

There I realized that the

Persons Camps until 1950. Finding people there

without a country and without hope, he devoted

himself to voluntary Christian work. While in the

camps,

Paul

entered

the Slavic Evangelical

Baptist Seminary, graduating in 1947.

In that

same year, Paul became engaged to Adela

Surghardt, whom he had met in the camp.

While working and preaching in Germany. Paul

met Earl Stuckenbruck, an American missionary
with the European Evangelistic Society.
Mr.
Stuckenbruck recommended that Paul go to the
U.S. for further studies. In December, 1950, Paul

arrived in the U.S. as a Displaced Person and

immediately entered Eastern Christian Institute in
Orange. New Jersey (now Eastern Christian

College in Bel Air. Maryland). He graduated from

the Institute in 1952 and was ordained for the

ministry that same year.

In 1951, Paul and Dels were married in Toronto,

Christian life is not easy. But Istill had the greatest

Canada,

desire to become a preacher.

Germany and England in 1949. Adela was born in

If was a great

where

Dela

had

immigrated

from

challenge for me."

In spite of difficult times, Paul Bajko was able lo
fulfill his desire to become a preacher. At the age

three children:

of 16, Paul was baptized into Christ, while he was a

children attended Miltigan College in Tennessee.

Russia on October 21, 1920. Paul and Dela have

Yvonne, born in 1952. George,

born in 1954; and Andrew, born in 1957, All three

student at the Polish State High School- He was

Paul. Dela. and Yvonne moved to Tennessee in

active in Christian work, played in the church

band, worked among young people, and took part
in missionary journeys which were performed by

September, 1952, where Paul enrolled in Milligan

College. While Paul was pursuing his studies.
Dela was teaching German at Milligan. Paul
graduated with a BA degree in 1953.

the Christian band.

In

1939,

World

War

destruction to Poland.

bringing

Eastern Christian institute called Paul and Dela

Many, many cities were

II

came,

in 1954(0 establish the Department of Missions, in

destroyed and many lives were lost. Paul relates,

"I was separated from my family and my church by
the Germans, who sent me to a labor camp in

Germany, where 1worked in a factory like a slave

for two slicesof bread and a bowl of cabbage soup

every day ... but in that hardest time of my life

order to train students for missionary activities

and to carry the Gospel of Christ around the
world. Since 1962. they have operated as an
independent mission under the incorporation of
Eastern Christian College. Paul and Dela have
helped establish churches among foreign people

Christ did not leave me alone. He was not only my

(started

Comforter and Helper, but He had a job for me to

the

Slavic work in

Baltimore which

I saw thousands of young souls who had gone

developed into a self-supporti,ig congregation)

and have raised support for Polish preachers. Paul
is responsible for bringing Kostek Jakoniuk and

astray in this world not knowing the way of life,

because they had never heard about Christ and

George Bajenski to the U.S. from Poland, so they

could go to Bible college. George is Radio and

His wonderful Gospel.

Youth Minister with the Polish Ministry. The

Bajkos are also translating many materials,
preparing publications to be distributed in Poland,
working with a radio ministry (now in its 19th

do. There, He opened my eyes to the great harvest

I saw thousands being

killed, going into dark eternity, perishing

eternally, not reaching heaven. Isaw thousands of
young souis from Poland, Russia, and other
countries without a hope or home, dying from

year), have started a cassette ministry, and speak

hunger, starvation, hard work, sickness, and

at many rallies and meetings.

bombs. There I realized that the Lord sent me to

Many souls have been led to Christ through

preach, to do mission work by winning souls for

the ministries of Paul and Dela Bajko. Having

experienced testing and hardship, the Bajkos can

Christ. It was not an easy job. especially in those

conditions, but nothing was able to stop me from

preaching, after 1 had seen the fruits of my
witnessing,"
After the war, Paul found refuge in Displaced

relate to others in similar situations. Paul and Dela

know and have shared with others the burning

desire to spread the Gospel throughout the world.
Pray for a successful harvest.

Address: Paul and Adela Bajko, Department of Missions- Polish Ministry, Eastern Christian College, PO
Box 629, Bel Air, MD 21014.

PAUL AND DELA BAJKO

DEPARTMENT OF MISSIONS

Eastern Christian College

March, I96I

Bel Air, Md.

Dear Christian Friends:

We are anxious again to share with you some e3q)eriences rom our ministry in the
past tvro--months.

The New Year we started with prayer, Iiord's Supper and Christian fellowship in our
small Slavic congregation in Baltimore. We thanked God for all blessings and asked
for His guidance in the new year The church in Baltimore maintains a good spirit.
January 22nd we organized officially a Slavic Church of Christ in Baltimore ifith 10

chartered members. With God's help we were serving this congregation till now, but

because I travel very much /will be awgiy all summer working in the summey camps/, we

were praying for somebocJy to take that work over. So at the same meeting the congre
gation extended an invitation to Bro.& Sister Adam Korenczuk to come to Baltimore
and minister for them.

The whole month of January and till late in February we had lots of snow in Baltdjnore,
Although we live 27 miles out of Baltimore no one meeting was missed. We drov^ there
even in the hardest storm and had wonderful services. Our Saturday nighjb prayer mee

tings in Baltimore were most encouraging and inspiririg meetings. We hold them in pri
vate homes and many times beside our members we had 8-1? persons pr09ent who are
not Christians and there we have a wonderful opport\inity to preach the Gospel for
them. At those meetings we have also 1-2 hours of singi^ and discussions.
Baltmore is a great mission field and we are happy that in June Bro. A^Korenczuk
will take this work over. He will be engaged in full time ministry, what will give
us more time for other activities.

Our Polish magazme gains popularity among Polish and some Ru$?ian pepple# Letters
from readers indicate that there is a great need for such a magazine, which carries

;^e Gospel of Christ to Polish people scattered in U.S.A., Canada, Poland, Germai^,.
^ance, Belgium, England, Argentina, Paraguay, Lebanon, Switzerland, Australia.

Though this magazine we are able to reach many souls with the New Testament Chris
tianity.

Bibles are still sent to Poland and Russia and re^ch the hungry spuls^

y^tters from Poland djidicate about our succeaful trip last summer to Poland. M^

I of those letters move us to tears and we are thankful God and our American brethren
for making that trip possible. We only wish we had more time to stay there and to
preach the simple Gospel.

Hundreds of letters are written by us to Polish friends encouraging them to b^ faith-

m the time of trail and discouragements. Sometimes just few words written to
people in Poland makes them feel good that somebody remembers them. Parcels to Poland

^e doing a great service. Some hearts of unbelievers were touched and now their
he^s ^e opened for the Word of God. Medicine is asked for mapy times and we never

re^se to send it to those in need of it. It is the ministiy of love,

A^ these small factors touch the hearts of people. People ask for "Life of Christ"
vizualized and we are sorry that we must refuse their petitions because we are out
T aboutf 5^.00 dol. but we^ do not have this money atthe
cost
thepubXloation
present time.

pi January ^ addition to heavd schedule I x^as able to spend 10 days in Col-umbus.O.

? Cheches and speaking every d^. I had some wonderftil and blessed
^
Christ, Beeohwold Church of Christ, Northeast Church
n'
Church,ofQrove
City Church of Christ, Fifth Ave. Church at Lan- '
Christ and tHjierva Park Church of Christ. The hearts

tiLl^

inessag^a and that feUowship was mu-

during the missionaiy Eal3y and

^CoUege Park Chraeh, Buffinton Road Church, Carlenton
Church, Grand PaS^Church.
GrOTe ParChinch. -Also I ^ a wonderful opportuni-ty to speak for a group of Chris-

^h^oS sliderrsSa^^^^^^,I,t^ Sge"?

Fo^teS'cLy

had the most wonderful fellowship, attention and interest. I thank

M that Christxans in this country are vit^ interested in missions.

m=,!
totensified course of the Book of Acts and Church Histoiy.

^ for
longer
With the work and do what i^e want to do
ourthan
Lord.they are in order to catch up

are thankful to our living-link churches for their faithful support of our minirtiy aiid also we thank those churches and individuals who support ministers in Po

land and enable us to send parcels, literature. Bibles and medicine,