May 29, 2008

Dear Friends in Christ,

I could shout with joy as I write this newsletter!

Almost five years ago one of our partners in Europe, the Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland, asked the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) if we might appoint a mission co-worker to accompany them on their journey of renewal. Today, their prayers have been answered. God has called the Reverend Doug Searles and Dr. Elizabeth Searles to come alongside our Reformed brothers and sisters in Poland.

Doug and Liz are experienced missionaries, and they will bring their considerable gifts to Poland. From 1997 to 1999, they taught at the Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India. Since 2001, they have served in Chengdu, China, training teachers, many of them Tibetans in the west of Sichuan province. They bring evangelism gifts and skills to their ministry, which have been requested specifically by our partner church in Poland, including English as a Second Language (ESL), computer training, church music, and more. In their last international call, the Searles were commissioned by Global Ministries, the combined global mission of the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Christian Church/Disciples of Christ (DOC). In a shining example of ecumenical cooperation, Doug and Liz will serve in Poland jointly appointed by the PC(USA), the UCC, and the DOC.

So how was it that this couple, steeped in the culture and religious issues in south and East Asia, would hear God calling them to a former communist country in Central Europe?  Turns out that this adventuresome family of four chose to take “the long way home” in a return visit to the States. Onboard the Trans-Siberian Railroad, they traversed China, Mongolia, and Russia in six days then traveled on into Central Europe. Doug and Liz report they “fell in love with the Polish people!”

The Reformed church in Zelow recently celebrated their 200th anniversary.

Now the Searles have the opportunity to serve those very people. The Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland is a “minority church” with deep and historic roots. Founded in 1551, the church was shaped by the teachings of Jan Hus, Huldrych Zwingli, and John Calvin. Through the many partitions of Poland, devastating wars and occupations of the twentieth century, and decades of communist rule, the Reformed Church survived, but has dwindled to a core of faithful believers. Today, the denomination consists of nine congregations and a handful of smaller gathering places. Of Poland’s 38 million people, 95 percent say they are Roman Catholic. Yet, these worshipers have witnessed steadfastly to their Reformation faith for more than 450 years.

Like the immigrant nation that is America, the Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland describes its roots like this: “Our members have Polish, Czech, German, Scottish, Huguenot, Lithuanian, Swiss, Ukrainian and other roots. We hope to serve as witnesses of Christ’s Gospel and God’s love also in the third millennium.”

Learn more about our partner at the Reformed Church's Web site. (Click on the flags for the English version.)

Doug and Liz will make their home in Lodz, the “second city” of Poland. From this central city, they will be well positioned to travel to the capital of Warsaw (where the denomination’s largest congregation and its central offices are), to the village of Zelow (where there’s an elementary school and teacher training program sponsored by the Reformed Church), and to the new church development in the border city of Wroclaw (Wroclaw, formerly, Breslau, is the birthplace of theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer). In the beginning months, the Searles will concentrate on Polish language skills and gradually develop relationships in the congregations of our partner. 

I ask for your prayers for our partner church in Poland and for Doug and Liz, their college daughter, Mackenzie, and their high school son, Mick. In June, Doug and Liz will be commissioned to this new ministry at General Assembly in San Jose, California. In July, they will participate in mission orientation in Louisville and Chicago. And, then in August they are off to Poland to begin settling in! In July, 2008, you will be able to read all about the Searles on their home page at Mission Connections.

It is a great joy to share the news about this new opportunity for service.  May the work of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland and of the Searles continue to glorify God!

Your brother in Christ,

Gary Payton
Regional Liaison for Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.158