Baptistic Theologies, 2009

e, economic crises, the time that was required to raise the educational level in the country, and a shortage of social help. The socio-economic infrastructure was characterised by backwardness and underdevelopment. It was against this background that Baptists undertook their mission, seeking to play their part in renewal. Baptist Renewal The fact that Poland was now a free country had a huge impact on Baptist identity. One of the priorities for Baptist believers was to establish a genuinely Slavic but also multicultural Baptist community. This was greatly needed because of the multiculturalism of the Polish nation. The serious differences which existed between Poles, Russians, Germans and other Slavic minorities living on Polish soil could, Baptists believed, be overcome. But it was one thing to be aware of this challenge; it was another thing to find a solution. Baptists had to travel a long and often painfully sacrificial road. Yet it seems that this unfavourable situation helped to release the potential of members of the hundreds of Baptist churches scattered across the nation. This period of Polish history was in fact characterised by the rapid growth of the Slavic Baptist movement. Why was this? A crucial factor was that Baptist churches reached out to the surrounding society and this helped in the development of Baptist life. Social help from the Baptist churches was a well-known feature of the period; this help was generally expressed by assistance to the poor, especially to those regions where war destruction had been greatest. Within this outreach, the role of education was significant. Education was used both for strengthening the churches and as a major tool for mission. The opposition that Baptists faced from the Catholic Church did not diminish 12 Janusz Falowski, Protestantyzm na Kresach Wschodnich Rzeczypospolitej 1921-1939, Mysl Protestacka, no.2, 2001, pp. 86-87. 13 Kloczowski, A History of Polish Christianity, pp. 274-275. Between the Wars: Golden Years of Polish Baptists 89 the eagerness of the Baptists to play a part in the society around them. Indeed opposition could in fact be counted as another strengthening factor. They were stimulated to show that they could engage in relevant mission within Polish society. 14 To be a member of a Baptist church was not a matter of cultural heritage or ideology; it had a personal effect in which a person’s life was changed. Each person was invited to believe in Christ and be converted. It was necessary that a true change of life and of moral behaviour be clearly perceived. In particular there were certain elements seen as crucial when people wished to become members of a Baptist church: personal relationship with Christ, personal witness, including baptism, and a committed Christian lifestyle. For Baptists the place of the Bible was also central. Scripture became not only a source of nourishment for Christians but also an instrume