Everyone is set to arrive by Saturday, June 24 to Marek and Wanda's retreat center just outside of Wroclaw. Please pray for safe and peaceful travels for everyone.
(Pastor Matt and Joanne Kroll are leaving Tuesday, June 27).
The World Impact Leaders gathered on Saturday and started Sunday with worship in Gryfow, Poland. Mark & Abby shared about the importance of vision in our lives and fulfilling what we feel is our gifting to serve people. Each of the team members shared with those gathered how they felt they were serving people. It was very encouraging and humbling. We returned to the Conference Center and toured the facilities with our gracious hosts and gathered together in the evening to hear from our director and her husband. They were a great encouragement to us all. Mark & Abby shared the importance of staying on target and connected regarding our vision and making it personal in our own lives. The question ... How have you personally implement the vision forthis year was asked of each member and they were to return their answers to Abby.
Monday Todd & Bethany challenged us to look at our lives and discover where we felt fulfilled, what areas of our lives were not, and where we felt successful. We were challenged that regret and instrospection with condemnation was not acceptable. Our job was to evaluate and then refine vision and purpose to be able to serve people with more joy and enthusiasm as we work. To Listen carefully to the HS direction and voice as we press toward the future, forgetting what lies behind.
Tonight, Monday, was all about the heal;th and well being of the team. We had a very intimate and personal sharing time where all things were held in confidence and each member received personal prayer and had a time of waiting on the Lord to hear His voice through His servants. It proved to be very meaningful and powerful and helped many to cope and be healed from frustrations and disappointments as well. We went long into the night to be sure that each person was able to be encouraged and strengthened, and that vision was restored and refined by HS. Many tears and heartfelt emotions as we shared and gained strength from one another.
Today we visit Herrnutt, the place where the Moravian Prayer Movement started. The protestants were persecuted by the more established church (Catholic) and sought for a place of refuge. Count Zinzindorf was from nearby in Germany and gave refuge to believers. While enjoying the safety of his provision, there was conflict and differing beliefs and the people chose to seek the Lord with all their hearts and unite in the purpose as God revealed. The result was over a 100 year prayer meeting and the sending out of many to impact the world with the good news that they themselves had received! It was a long day of learning, culminated with a house of prayer just down the street that is operating today! They have separate rooms for the nations, Israel and healing prayer. They also have a worship prayer room they would like to operate 24/7 as we are familiar with. Very inspiring and humbling to see the devotion of these early protestants who loved not their lives unto death.
In. the evening Tuesday, Pastor Paula shared with us a challenge from the days learning field trip. We considered how to learn the lessons of these persecuted people and apply to our own lives and callings today. As we closed out our evening we took communion with another team member to strengthen and encourage and bless. Then we had an anointed time of prayer for the nations of the world.
We discovered that our time here had been where many of the early protestant believers started and were persecuted for their faith. The revelation of the word came after the Bible was published in the late 1300's and 1400's and people began to read for themselves and hear Holy Spirit for themselves. Martin Luther was able to make this common knowledge in the late 1500's and thus we have the reformation. Our roots were in this very part of the world. What a great place to be revitalized and stirred to impact the world with the Love that is shed in our hearts by HS. We also prayed for our team members who were not able to be with us.
Today we learned about the culture and beauty of Poland - we visited a waterfall in the mountains, enjoyed some of the local treats, fried cheese and sausages, and did some walking. The beauty and creativity of the people was amazing. For such a small country, so many different landscapes and building styles including cities with walls from the 11th center. Poland suffered at the hands of many oppressors and was passed back and forth by empires and nations. Since communism's demise in the early 1990's much prosperity and hope has come to the people.
Tonight Mark & Abby were scheduled to teach on Prayer, the Battlecry of Heaven! Alas, we were surprised with a special dinner that took all the evening with the team and several friends since our first visit to Poland in 1990. They blessed us by coming and participating in this celebration of our 43rd anniversary. A great time together.
We had several hours of traveling by Bus to Krakow for a visit to the oldest mining excavation of Salt in the world. Have salt in yourselves is the challenge. Do not lose your saltiness! So important to the service work that we all do. The history again was phenomenal and the spiritual application so real and our feet .... so tired!
Our last full day together we will travel to Aushwitz, the Polish town that was turned into a Concentration Camp b Adollf Hitler and the Nazi regime. Their dream to conquer and create the perfect empire was fueled by the destruction of minorities and any who opposed them. We spent several hours learning how polish political prisoners, then Russian dissidents, then Jews, then gypsies and homosexuals were interred at these places. Jews were hated most bitterly and because of their number, a final solution was determined ... they would all be killed and cremated and the largest of these camps was Aushwitz-Birkenau. Our hearts grieved as we looked at the faces recorded and numbered and realized that thousands were not - simply sent to the gas chambers and murdered. The torture chambers, the humiliation, the separation, dehumanization, extermination followed by the soldiers was horrifying to say the least. A very sobering realization of the depth of evil and hatred lodged against the people of God. The story is not over, God's heart of love is reaching toward us all to fill us with hope and courage to face difficult days and help others to know that God is for them and not against them! We cry for those lost and weep with those who remain and join with those who are determined to never allow this type of murder and barbarism to happen again! Not on our watch, HS help us to be faithful to love your people and all people with respect and honor as you would have us do!
It has been great and blessed time for us to have in Poland such a wonderful Team. God really spoke to us during these days and we were blessed. Thank you so much Pastor Mark and Abby.
This retreat was so necessary for the entire World Impact team. It was a time of sharing, growing, learning; being challenged, inspired, strengthened; seeking the Lord, and enjoying His presence. Our times together as a team were very enlightening and really brought better understanding of just what each member has had to endure and is currently going through. Relationally, it brought us closer and helped us to know how to better pray for and support one another. Thank you to the Lord's House of Prayer, Pastors Mark & Abby King, Charlie & Wendy Hess, Pastor Todd and Bethany Brown, Pastor Matt & Joanne Kroll, Pastor Paula Smith, and Shaun & Jessie Kauffman for all that you did to make this possible. It blessed us more than you will ever know!
Amazing leaders and world impactors, Gid doing big things!
ReplyDeleteThe World Impact Leaders gathered on Saturday and started Sunday with worship in Gryfow, Poland. Mark & Abby shared about the importance of vision in our lives and fulfilling what we feel is our gifting to serve people. Each of the team members shared with those gathered how they felt they were serving people. It was very encouraging and humbling. We returned to the Conference Center and toured the facilities with our gracious hosts and gathered together in the evening to hear from our director and her husband. They were a great encouragement to us all. Mark & Abby shared the importance of staying on target and connected regarding our vision and making it personal in our own lives. The question ... How have you personally implement the vision forthis year was asked of each member and they were to return their answers to Abby.
ReplyDeleteMonday Todd & Bethany challenged us to look at our lives and discover where we felt fulfilled, what areas of our lives were not, and where we felt successful. We were challenged that regret and instrospection with condemnation was not acceptable. Our job was to evaluate and then refine vision and purpose to be able to serve people with more joy and enthusiasm as we work. To Listen carefully to the HS direction and voice as we press toward the future, forgetting what lies behind.
ReplyDeleteTonight, Monday, was all about the heal;th and well being of the team. We had a very intimate and personal sharing time where all things were held in confidence and each member received personal prayer and had a time of waiting on the Lord to hear His voice through His servants. It proved to be very meaningful and powerful and helped many to cope and be healed from frustrations and disappointments as well. We went long into the night to be sure that each person was able to be encouraged and strengthened, and that vision was restored and refined by HS. Many tears and heartfelt emotions as we shared and gained strength from one another.
ReplyDeleteToday we visit Herrnutt, the place where the Moravian Prayer Movement started. The protestants were persecuted by the more established church (Catholic) and sought for a place of refuge. Count Zinzindorf was from nearby in Germany and gave refuge to believers. While enjoying the safety of his provision, there was conflict and differing beliefs and the people chose to seek the Lord with all their hearts and unite in the purpose as God revealed. The result was over a 100 year prayer meeting and the sending out of many to impact the world with the good news that they themselves had received! It was a long day of learning, culminated with a house of prayer just down the street that is operating today! They have separate rooms for the nations, Israel and healing prayer. They also have a worship prayer room they would like to operate 24/7 as we are familiar with. Very inspiring and humbling to see the devotion of these early protestants who loved not their lives unto death.
ReplyDeleteIn. the evening Tuesday, Pastor Paula shared with us a challenge from the days learning field trip. We considered how to learn the lessons of these persecuted people and apply to our own lives and callings today. As we closed out our evening we took communion with another team member to strengthen and encourage and bless. Then we had an anointed time of prayer for the nations of the world.
ReplyDeleteWe discovered that our time here had been where many of the early protestant believers started and were persecuted for their faith. The revelation of the word came after the Bible was published in the late 1300's and 1400's and people began to read for themselves and hear Holy Spirit for themselves. Martin Luther was able to make this common knowledge in the late 1500's and thus we have the reformation. Our roots were in this very part of the world. What a great place to be revitalized and stirred to impact the world with the Love that is shed in our hearts by HS. We also prayed for our team members who were not able to be with us.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteToday we learned about the culture and beauty of Poland - we visited a waterfall in the mountains, enjoyed some of the local treats, fried cheese and sausages, and did some walking. The beauty and creativity of the people was amazing. For such a small country, so many different landscapes and building styles including cities with walls from the 11th center. Poland suffered at the hands of many oppressors and was passed back and forth by empires and nations. Since communism's demise in the early 1990's much prosperity and hope has come to the people.
DeleteTonight Mark & Abby were scheduled to teach on Prayer, the Battlecry of Heaven! Alas, we were surprised with a special dinner that took all the evening with the team and several friends since our first visit to Poland in 1990. They blessed us by coming and participating in this celebration of our 43rd anniversary. A great time together.
ReplyDeleteWe had several hours of traveling by Bus to Krakow for a visit to the oldest mining excavation of Salt in the world. Have salt in yourselves is the challenge. Do not lose your saltiness! So important to the service work that we all do. The history again was phenomenal and the spiritual application so real and our feet .... so tired!
ReplyDeleteOur last full day together we will travel to Aushwitz, the Polish town that was turned into a Concentration Camp b Adollf Hitler and the Nazi regime. Their dream to conquer and create the perfect empire was fueled by the destruction of minorities and any who opposed them. We spent several hours learning how polish political prisoners, then Russian dissidents, then Jews, then gypsies and homosexuals were interred at these places. Jews were hated most bitterly and because of their number, a final solution was determined ... they would all be killed and cremated and the largest of these camps was Aushwitz-Birkenau. Our hearts grieved as we looked at the faces recorded and numbered and realized that thousands were not - simply sent to the gas chambers and murdered. The torture chambers, the humiliation, the separation, dehumanization, extermination followed by the soldiers was horrifying to say the least. A very sobering realization of the depth of evil and hatred lodged against the people of God. The story is not over, God's heart of love is reaching toward us all to fill us with hope and courage to face difficult days and help others to know that God is for them and not against them! We cry for those lost and weep with those who remain and join with those who are determined to never allow this type of murder and barbarism to happen again! Not on our watch, HS help us to be faithful to love your people and all people with respect and honor as you would have us do!
ReplyDeleteIt has been great and blessed time for us to have in Poland such a wonderful Team. God really spoke to us during these days and we were blessed. Thank you so much Pastor Mark and Abby.
ReplyDeleteThis retreat was so necessary for the entire World Impact team. It was a time of sharing, growing, learning; being challenged, inspired, strengthened; seeking the Lord, and enjoying His presence. Our times together as a team were very enlightening and really brought better understanding of just what each member has had to endure and is currently going through. Relationally, it brought us closer and helped us to know how to better pray for and support one another. Thank you to the Lord's House of Prayer, Pastors Mark & Abby King, Charlie & Wendy Hess, Pastor Todd and Bethany Brown, Pastor Matt & Joanne Kroll, Pastor Paula Smith, and Shaun & Jessie Kauffman for all that you did to make this possible. It blessed us more than you will ever know!
ReplyDelete