Poland

Poland’s history as a state began near the middle of the 10th century. By the mid-16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ruled a vast tract of land in Central and Eastern Europe. During the 18th century, internal disorders weakened the nation, and in a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland among themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918, only to be overrun by Germany and later by the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war. Around the time when the Berlin Wall came down, free elections in 1989 and 1990 brought the communist era to a close. A “shock therapy” program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.

SGA/USA began working in Poland in response to assisting their evangelical churches with Ukrainian refugees. Today, we work with the Polish Baptist churches, one of which is pastored by SGA Missionary Chris Osiecki. There are 110 churches in their union, but this number is growing through new Ukrainian churches being added. SGA supports missionary pastors in Poland, and seeks support for more. Through partnership with Polish churches, SGA have shipped tons of aid into Ukraine. We helped establish an extension center of Irpen Biblical Seminary in Warsaw, with (50) students a year and a new one in Gdansk. SGA partners have supported summer camps, and will be supporting them through the Immanuel’s Child Christmas outreach. In addition, SGA also supports the Orphans Reborn ministry there.