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Bringing an abandoned 19th century church back to life
Janikowo, Poland

Janikowo, a small town 40 miles south-east from Bydgoszcz. Some 8,000 people living without hope of hearing the good news of the life-changing Saviour… Until not so long ago! See the new video.

A few months ago one of the Elders of Bydgoszcz Evangelical Church commenced a home Bible study group in that town. Also some other Christians leaving nearby started to run similar meetings. Then one day Darek (the Elder) realized that there was an old Luther church building. Abandoned and almost totally demolished… However, a perfect place for a new Evangelical church – situated by one of the town’s main roads and a significant train station.

We started to pray for the project – both in the Bydgoszcz church and on the spot, in Janikowo at the old building. We met with the mayor of Janikowo.

impromptu praise session outside the church

Christians from local churches hold an impromptu service outside the church at Janikowo prior to the beginning of the restoration work.

In the meantime a number of times some teams from the Bydgoszcz church went to Janikowo to clean up the old building. And we continued to pray... The town hall (the county) seems to be willing to sell this building (with the ground lot) to us for less than $6.500. We continue to pray for the funds or significantly lower price…

There are over 20 people who want to attend the new Evangelical church. Some of them are Christians with no church connection at this stage as they became God’s children through the outreach of the home groups. Others still attend the Catholic Church but miss a real Christian church fellowship. These people and Darek who is the leader of this church plant make up a new church already!

Update from Pastor Muranty: December 2003

Just to let you know - yesterday we got an official invitation from the major of Janikowo to come to sign papers and get the old church building there! I’ll appreciate your prayers for a smooth legal process in this area and our vision of church planting there. On this Monday I have called a special meeting of our church board to discuss and pray for our further steps…

If you could think if there are any ways you could support our ministry in this small town I’ll appreciate it. I don’t mean anything specific right now. Just leaving this topic for our and your prayers… You know some of the needs.

Video Footage of Janikowo

Never been to Eastern Europe? What does the region look and feel like? Chris Jones shot 1 minute 45 seconds of footage driving through Janikowo, to arrive at the 19th Century church that is being restored by the railway station. Nothing special happens outside the car window, but it's evocative none the less. And what better than some Chopin to complete the atmosphere? (Download 4.2 Mb, WMV format)