Eastern European Baptist History: New Perspectives, 2007

sprung up in cities such as Bialystok, Grodno, Wilno and Réwno, as well as in villages. In Galicia, the new churches were usually the result of people returning from deportation to Russia, where they had come to know the Baptist movement. Polish people nonetheless visited German congregations regularly. Many became believers during worship services in which the Gospel was preached. This was how the first Polish Baptist Church in Warsaw was estab- lished. After Poles converted in the German Baptist Church, they asked the German pastors to hold services in Polish. The Polish service began after the German service ended. It was in the same building and the method of worship was similar to that of the Germans. Worship in the early services was characterised by the use of songs translated from German. Once each month, the service was led by the youth. During these services there were solos, duets or quartets accompanied by the piano, as well as recitation of poetry.”° Printed word helped to create a sense of unity. Because of the variety of nationalities, the task of the Baptist publishing house Kompas was large, as it sought to publish books, journals and tracts in various languages.'* To have an impact throughout Polish society, the publishers strove not to miss any of these groups. The purpose of Kompas was to share the Gospel with every person in Poland - Pole, Jew, Ukrainian or German. Everyone needed to know Christ. This was possible using literature in different languages. 'S Alicja Leibrandt, “Burzliwe dzieje zboru warszawskiego’, Slowo Prawdy, no. 9 (2001), pp. 21-22. '© Waldemar Gutsche, “Poczatek pracy w Polsce’, translated by Siegmund Karczewski; cited in Robert L. Kluttig, Geschichte der deutschen Baptisten in Polen von 1858-1945 ({Edmon- ton]: self-published, [1973]), pp. 17-18. 169 The Baptists did not face the difficult times in silence, but by speaking out the truth about hope.’” Slowo Prawdy was established as a monthly journal not only about the Baptist Church and ministry, but especially about true worship. Bible seminars and courses for choir directors were held in the city of Brzes¢. Youth activities helped the church to become known around the community. The church in Lédz, on Nawrot Street, had an active youth association, with young people from Lodz often publishing their poems, articles and stories in Sfowo Prawdy. This encouraged others to do so as well.'® Youth associations in Katowice and Warsaw held activities during the week. A popular form of worship and ministry was the founding of new orchestras. Also, youth organised Bible hours at different peoples homes, while they listened to lectures, sang in quartets and recited poems.” These youth meetings were special occasions using different tools to worship God. We notice the order and variety of means used to make the celebration spiritually attractive, including orchestra, mens choir, soloists, duets and congregational