Family chooses Polish ministry because the people are highly religious but least-reached

Poland is a land of people where roughly 90% consider themselves to be Christian — yet most do not know Jesus. Only three out of every thousand are evangelical in this land where organized religion is increasingly rejected.

Brittany and Lemuel Martinez and their three young children recently arrived to join our Converge team that has a big vision to reach Poland and nearby Slavic nations.

"It's a very religious country that has very few followers of Christ," Brittany said.

Several years ago, the young couple learned from Converge leaders that 70,000 people die every day without hearing a credible presentation of the gospel. As they explored options of missionary service with Converge, they learned about the 15:5 Initiative, a team that asks God for a gospel movement among the 15 largest cities in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The initiative's desire includes planting gospel communities in at least five unreached villages around these 15 cities.

The Martinez family arrived the first week of June, buoyed by answered prayers. Their hearts were encouraged when God provided their house the day they arrived. 

Brittany and Lemuel’s first phase of ministry is supporting a national pastor, Robert Merecz, in Szczecin. His church established a gospel center with a Christian bookstore, coffee shop and training center for church leaders. They offer English classes as an outreach tool.

"God's already opening doors and huge opportunities to accomplish our vision," Lemuel said. "We love to develop transformational leaders."

At a Polish man's baptism in October, he shared how organized religion clouded his faith and dissatisfied him.

"People understand there's something missing. There's a hunger to know a real God," Brittany said. "We believe that God is getting ready to do amazing things, and he wanted us to be part of the work He already started,” she said.

As they begin language training and adjust to a new culture, the Martinez’ would be so encouraged to have you pray for them. You can join a prayer network to pray for the 15:5 Initiative or any of Converge’s many teams around the world.