Turks

Many Turks immigrated following Poland’s entrance to the European Union and frequently Turks declare themselves as atheist or agnostic. The country of Turkey is almost entirely Islamic.

Turks living in Poland are entrepreneurial and have opened small businesses of their own. Turkish kebab (gyro) has become a mainstay on the Polish fast food scene. Whenever we’re in Poland these days, we make sure we visit a Turkish kebab restaurant at least once! We’re looking forward to locating a kebab shop in our neighborhood and building relationships with the owner and employees in order to bring the gospel into their lives.

Ultimately, our goal is not only to disciple them to become followers of Jesus Christ, but help them become mature believers, able to serve as missionaries to their own culture, taking the gospel with them as they may travel back to Turkey.

Please pray that we will take advantage of God-given opportunities with Turks to respectfully present the truth of God’s Word, and that they would understand that their economic success in Poland is temporal, causing them to seek a Savior for eternity.

Polish Jews (Ashkenazi)

Jews have lived in Poland for over 1,000 years. Poland was a center for Jewish culture and home of the largest concentration of Ashkenazi Jews in the world (Jews of Germanic origin). Poland was also a shelter for Jews persecuted and expelled from other European countries. World War II brought about the destruction of 90% of Poland’s Jewish population. In recent years, Jewish life has been revitalized in Poland, which has recently been home to one of the fastest-growing Jewish populations in the world. Accurate statistics on the number of Ashkenazi Jews in Poland isn’t available as many of them either continue to conceal their Jewish ancestry or simply aren’t aware of it. Most Jews in Poland are non-religious.

When I (Hope) lived in Poland, 2002-2007, my apartment was located in the area of the WW II Jewish ghetto in my city. Just down the street, at the other end of the block, was the location of the Jewish synagogue before it was destroyed in the war. As I walked past the memorial, sometimes multiple times a day, I found it impossible to not have compassion for today’s Jews in Poland. We have also been to Auschwitz-Birkenau, which is very sobering, but gives us a heart for unreached Jews in Poland.

As it is all around the world, the Jews of Poland need to realize their need for a Savior. They believe the Old Testament is God’s word, but do not realize Jesus fulfilled many of the prophecies of the coming Messiah. Please pray that God would open their eyes, minds, and hearts to the truth of God, and for their understanding to be opened to welcome and accept their Messiah.

South Asians

South Asians in Poland are mainly from India and Pakistan.

Indians came to Poland just after the fall of Communism, searching for better employment opportunities. Many also immigrated as businesspeople after Poland became a member of the European Union. Indians in Poland are Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims. They speak Hindi, and worship in temples and mosques. Poland is home to the only Sikh place of worship in Eastern Europe.

Pakistanis in Poland mainly speak Urdu and follow Islam.

Please pray for God to give us entry into lives of South Asians in Poland, and to help us build strong relationships with them so that we may respectfully explain Jesus, the Bible, and Christianity to them. Please pray for God to open their hearts to the gospel.

Karaites

Karaites are a small subset of Judaism. They reject the authority of the Oral Law of the Talmud and Mishnah, which are considered essential to other Jews. Most Karaites migrated to Israel after 1948, but a small group remains in Poland. They speak Polish as their primary language and are very well integrated into Polish society.

Karaites claim to be true Jews, but only follow the Tanakh as authoritative. They reject rabbinic interpretations on the Torah, but instead allow each believer to make their own interpretation.

Please pray for the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of Karaites as they read the Torah to see the Prophet greater than Moses. We pray as well that God will bring many Polish Karaites to the knowledge of Jesus as their Messiah.

Tatars

Islam first entered Poland in the 14th century with the arrival of Tatars from Mongolia. They were invited as mercenaries by the King of Poland, mainly due to their archery prowess on the battlefield. Tatar solders married Polish girls, adopted the Polish language as their heart language, and integrated many Polish customs. In spite of this adaptation, Tatars have maintained their Sunni Muslim religion for 600 years, although in some opinions, it is “Islam light”. Polish Tatars have translated the Quran into Polish, and mosques resemble Othodox churches.

Poland’s Tatars live in the eastern part of the country, near the Belorussian border. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to send workers to this area and begin a church planting movement that grows into a powerful Tatar evangelical church where Tatars place their hope and identify in Christ alone.