LESZEK AND ELA JANUS, together with their son Nikodem, are part of an 80-member Baptist church called Kosciol Chrzescijan Baptystow in Glogow, west Poland. Leszek is an elder, and Ela runs the Sunday School and is secretary of the church’s English School.

“I was born again 20 years ago, through a group in the Catholic Church who taught the way of salvation to me,” explains Leszek. “It was a process over many months and, later, I made many friends at the local Pentecostal Church: this is where I started to speak in tongues.

“I had big problems with alcohol and smoking and, in 1993, I decided that the best way to change my life was to go to the interdenominational Bible School in Cracow.

“After our wedding, Ela and I returned to Glogow where we met a young pastor and his wife and decided to join them in helping to grow a small Baptist church. Maybe 1 per cent of the 40 million people in Poland are Christians – it is a spiritual desert.”

In 2004, when Leszek lost his job in a foundry, he came over to the UK to work. It was here that he first met the Jesus Army. In April 2005, he and Ela were reunited in Poland and their visit to the European Multiply Conference a few weeks later was their first time in the the UK as a family.

“Before I met the Jesus Army,” says Leszek, “I had never thought about Christian community, although Ela and I had both found living with other Christians at Bible School a very good experience.

“The Multiply Conference has helped us to feel clear about several aspects of our vision: first, that church needs to be open 24/7; second, that it must be absolutely radical; third, that it’s only through friendship that the church can be built.

“Our visits to the businesses showed us how to make money and give it to God to use. Our church is opening a coffee house in Lubin, about 40 kilometres from our town. It’s a big challenge – please pray for us!”

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