Eastern European Baptist History: New Perspectives, 2007

e church's activities as profitable.”’ However, Baptists still endured the stigma of being viewed as a sect or cult. It was very difh- cult for Baptists in Poland to be seen as a healthy, acceptable church. The new era of social, economic and political changes prompted changes in the Baptist Church as well. The new economic situation forced people to work more hours than had previously been necessary. Before 1991, a typical Polish man or woman worked for eight hours a day and had time in the evenings for church work. Now the hours spent at work are much longer, and jobs require more energy and dedication. It is no surprise that people do not have as much time to spend on church activities and ministry. At the same time, Baptists in Poland sometimes act as if nothing has changed since the 1980s. This puts much pressure on those who have many responsibilities at their workplace. An alternative method would be to view everyday work as part of worship, and to address the needs of whole families, avoiding separation of “spiritual things” from “earthly things”. Baptist worship would gain much if it would learn to integrate different groups: families, youth, children, and elderly. | One means of practical evangelism has been to provide a quality educa- tion attractive to outsiders. This happened before World War II, when Baptist churches became the first centres of education in the Polish language and music for many residents. Such educational methods are well recognised and welcome in a society that continues to seek the best possible education. The language, however, has changed. This time the English language, rather than Polish, has become a tool. Society is now influenced by politicians who speak English, rather than Russian, as well as English-speaking firms and corporations. The Baptist Church in Poland progressively grew in number after 1980 (especially starting in 1989, when about 320 people were baptised in one year, about 10% of all church members at that time). In 1995, the Baptist Church in Poland had about 3,680 members, most between the ages of nineteen and forty. Nevertheless, local churches averaged fewer than sixty members.” I concur with the harsh words of American missionary Harry L. Moore, written in 1996: ”| Gowin, Kosciét w czasach wolnosci: 1989-1999, p. 6. ” Ryszard Gutkowski, “Informacje Statystyczne’, Bég powolat nas do ewangelizowania Pol- ski, (Warsaw, 1995), pp. 10-11. 183 Long and historic antagonisms still flourish between Baptists and established Orthodox and dominant Cath- olic groups! With freedom, the influx of an estimated more than 1,000 religious and quasi-religious groups into eastern Europe brings some judgement upon Baptists as being a part of this phenomena. The invasive presence of a myriad of para- church groups with their independent programs and financial resources brought many temptations to pastors and churches after decades-long lack of sufficient ski