A mission to Poland
Serving on staff with Proem Ministries, I’ll be able to use my talents and skills to enhance their work for the gospel in a country where more people today have only nominal faith.
As I partner to serve with Proem, you too are invited into the incredible story God is writing in Poland.
Proem Ministries was created to reach, strengthen and connect people in Poland to the hope, love and freedom found in Jesus.
Here are some of the places where I serve within Proem:
Shine Café
Shine Café is an opportunity for people with a variety of mental and physical levels of ability to learn on-the-job skills in Proem's coffee shop/cafe to become baristas and servers. The goal is that everyone is seen, dignified, and gains confidence.
I am very blessed to participate in this growing segment of ministry. We continue to meet more people in our region with varying levels of abilities who are looking for jobs, training and the joy of interacting with customers.
My husband, Robert, and I are also blessed to be able to travel every couple of months to the nearby village of Niedabyl to visit a special group of friends that Proem has developed a relationship with—a nursing home for adults with disabilities.
Camps
Proem offers outreach programs for youth and families at the 15-acre Christian Center in Zakosciele. Through hosting profiled-outreach camps, conferences, retreats and school field trips throughout the year, Proem provides a quality camping experience with well-developed programs. Each interaction affords the opportunity to share the gospel with adults and kids alike. Much of my ministry time is focused on these opportunities
Since the war in Ukraine began, Proem has been able to begin each summer season offering 3 weeks of camps focused on the needs of Ukrainian children, plus lots of fun for them to enjoy a getaway from the continued trauma of war. You can see a video here. Then specialized camps for kids and teenagers fill the calendar—some weeks focus on art, some on sports, some on robotics. All of the camps include times of worship and Bible study to learn more about Jesus.
Then as fall begins, our campground is rented out by organizations from cities all over the surrounding region hosting their retreats. This is also a time where we work hard on projects to rejuvenate the campgrounds and facilities. This regular maintenance is vital each off-season when fewer people are here so that all of our facilities will be ready for next year’s large groups
Animal Therapy
If you know me well, you know that I have a natural connection to animals and I have volunteered as a community trainer in training service and hearing dogs for mobility assistance and facility dogs for schools and care facilities. During camp season, the Proem Christian Center has started to leverage interaction with horses, alpacas and other livestock to reach people with the love of Jesus at Zako Rancho.
Children especially begin to open up and communicate as they learn to care for God’s creatures great and small. I’m completing courses and becoming certified in this exciting new work of Animal Assisted Therapy.
Plus I enjoy providing continued care for the animals throughout the year.
Church Service Translation
I am a member of the team that translates church services at Tomy Christian Church (SCh TOMY). We often have visitors and groups who don’t speak Polish, yet they understand English. Once or twice a month I take a turn in our tech booth, translating all parts of our Sunday worship service—live as it is happening—so that guests can listen through headphones.
Robert and I also enjoy sharing our time with the after-school program hosted by the church. Kids ages 6-13 can spend time together, enjoy a meal, and get help with their homework.
Outreach Events
When camps and retreats end, our Christian Center transforms into the little town of Bethlehem. For 10 years, Proem has created a program that invites people to walk through reenactments of Christ’s birth. At each station, Proem volunteers depict a different scene from the Bible or allow guests to interact with the way ancient Israel may have looked. In 2022, we had over 8,000 people Journey to Bethlehem with us, arriving from surrounding towns and even other countries.
Then in the spring, we take the Road to Jerusalem, reenacting Jesus’ sacrifice—from Palm Sunday to resurrection morning. These opportunities are such a beautiful way to open hearts toward the redeeming hope that Jesus brings.
I have the honor of participating in these programs, both behind the scenes (so many costumes to prepare!) and with our guests.