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 Re: Warsaw Weekend Conference: Ron Bailey

Hey Ron,

I hope you can tell us what it was like in Poland and how your trip was, especially the details. I love true stories and experiences.

Karl

 2005/5/12 21:26
philologos
Member



Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK

 Re:

Hi all from Warsaw.
Just checking in. The meetings are going well. Spent about 9 hours in meetings today! My interpreter is looking a little worn! I will get some audio files and let you have them. We had a men's meeting this morning which I think could be helpful to many. More later. Thanks for your prayer and your love.


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Ron Bailey

 2005/5/14 16:05Profile
crsschk
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Joined: 2003/6/11
Posts: 9192
Santa Clara, CA

 Re:Poland

Hi Ron,

So good to hear from you and you have been in prayers as always. Wondering how you ...'read' the feedback from those listening, beyond the body language. Prayer as well towards your interpreter and all there, Can't wait to hear more!


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Mike Balog

 2005/5/14 21:01Profile
philologos
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Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK

 Re:

Hi MIke
Just a quick note. Faces are pretty much the same all over and you can see it you have folk's attention. Occasionally you see a 'glow' as something goes home! Usually people try to talk to me afterwards bringing their own interpretets with them! These interpreters are a mixed bunch and sometimes it is amusing to get into a really complicated discussion when the interpreter is struggling.

Sunday's meetings went well and people seem very receptive. I have lots of friends here now so they will tell me how they think.

An early start tomorrow and then a meeting tomorrow night about 200 km from here.. More when I get back. Thanks for all your support SIers!


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Ron Bailey

 2005/5/15 15:52Profile
dohzman
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Joined: 2004/10/13
Posts: 2132


 Re:

Just read this thread so I'll start praying for you and your meetings starting tonight (Sunday evening 9pm EST) God Bless. Bro. Daryl


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D.Miller

 2005/5/15 21:08Profile
sermonindex
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Joined: 2002/12/11
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Online!
 Re:


[b]Ron[/b]

Great to hear the updates! I love technology how it can work in this way. My prayers are with you as the Spirit leads. I am looking forward to getting the audio teachings and sharing them with others at SI here. It is wonderful to help support a fellow brother and user of SI in prayer and in ministry.

Ephesians 6:18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints:


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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon

 2005/5/15 21:43Profile
philologos
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Posts: 6566
Reading, UK

 Re:

Well, thank you all who prayed. The trip went well with smooth journeys. Perhaps a word or two about Poland first... On two separate historic occasions, as far as I can recall, Poland has been 'gifted' to the Virgin Mary. It was the clash of totalitarian communism and totalitarian catholicism which provided part the background for the later development of evangelicals in Poland. The communist authorities were more lenient than in most other communist countries. Simply because they saw the evangelicals as a tool with which to beat the catholics. Having said that they were great privations in Poland and Christians were constantly harassed by government who wanted to know every detail of church life. During the communist era I had an interested conversation with a pentecostal pastor. He remarked that 'we have more liberty under communism than we would ever have under catholicism; and 'solidarity' is catholic. These were the comments of the day. As it happened Poland's solidarity movement like its leader was seen to be good at protest but very feeble at putting something in its place. Last year Poland became part of the European Union with lots of celebrations and flag waving. One year later enthusiasm seems to be waning.

One of the most striking things in pre-free Poland was the abiding presence of World War II. This was partly a communist propaganda ploy, after all Hitler was a capitalist. According to the communist propaganda the communists had 'liberated' Poland from the grip of the capitalists and their films of the liberation of Auschwitz were all on this theme. The extermination camps were maintained as war memorials to the liberating Red Army. Poland has suffered centuries of foreign oppression.

A couple of years into free-Poland I travelled down a main highway which presented a graphic illustration of the battle for the heart of Poland. A huge catholic church had erected an enormous statue of Christ with arms outstretched to gather in Poland. Immediately opposite, on the other side of the highway, a huge Ronald MacDonald beamed back at the outreaching Christ. Between them the traffic of Poland sped with cursory glances at each. Poland has been locked in a battle between aggressive medieval catholicism and western commercialism since the fall of communism. Drugs and pornography flooded the streets in the post communist era and the battle for the soul of the young generation goes on.

Polish catholicism, in the main, is unlike catholicism anywhere else. It is medieval. The last Pope, a Pole, returned with a vengeance to the worship of Mary and the absolute supremacy of the Papacy. Some modern Polish catholics think he has set back the Roman Catholic church 200 years. But the countryside is very traditional catholic. The main part of Poland is a vast plain given over to the country and agriculture. This was part of its attraction to Hitler who saw it a his 'bread basket' complete with 'Slavs" to work it for him. It is poignant that the word Slav derives from the word 'slaves'. The farmsteads are usually set back a hundred yards or so from the roadside but almost every turn-off has its own Mary shrine bedecked with flowers and trailing ribbons. This is no catholicism as you have ever seen it in the USA; this is country-bred, priest fearing, paganism under a catholic skin.

The evangelical church in Poland has many expressions. As in much of ex-communist Europe the saints who suffered the persecutions are handing things on to a generation well versed in project management and there are constant eruptions as splintered groups take to the law courts over possession of the buildings. The charismatics have added to this mix with a froth and bubble that has the older generation suspicious and the younger generation open mouthed in wonder. There have been some expressions of catholicism and a return to the bible in catholic groups but the pattern is usually that the local hierarchy 'approve' the venture but insist that a priest join them. Whatever the direction the groups move in the ultimate call will be to final obedience to the mother church and hence the priest.

The churches that I visit are a tiny section of all this, and I have no doubt that many genuinely love the Lord in Poland. I will let you digest this background and then say more about my own tiny additions to the mix.


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Ron Bailey

 2005/5/24 11:50Profile
ZekeO
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Joined: 2004/7/4
Posts: 1014
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

 The polplexed poles

Ron, thanks for that, hope to hear your thoughts on the matter.


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Zeke Oosthuis

 2005/5/24 13:22Profile
dohzman
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Joined: 2004/10/13
Posts: 2132


 question

Do you see any evidence of a sweeping charismatic movement there , somewhat like what happened in the US even amoung the RC's in America???


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D.Miller

 2005/5/24 19:38Profile
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Joined: 2003/6/11
Posts: 9192
Santa Clara, CA

 Re: Poland

Thanks Ron,

Also looking forward to more on this. Had never heard anything of the sort of recent history like this. Sounds very oppressive, spiritually.

Very much appreciated.


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Mike Balog

 2005/5/24 23:19Profile





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