October 2001
Dear
friends
This
October I am starting my 9th year of work here at the Warsaw Baptist
Seminary (“WBST”). Over the past 8
academic years more than 150 students have attended this institution. Many of these fine people are now working as
pastors and missionaries or in other full-time Christian service. Many have gone on to further education, and
others are making a difference in the secular workplace.
WBST has
formal recognition from the Polish State which means that the qualification we
issue (broadly equivalent to B.Th) is fully accepted in other institutions of
higher learning. Apart from our
full-time, part-time and evangelism programs, the seminary campus serves every
age-group in our churches, providing from children’s camps to a Senior
Citizens’ Conference.
It has been
our privilege to minister to literally thousands from all over the world.
All of this
has been accomplished through partnership in work, prayer and financial
support. We are deeply grateful for
all this help and praise our God for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Historically
Poland has been an important link between East and West. Today our society is becoming increasingly
multi-national; the seminary has always
had a vision to serve other national groups, both inside and outside its
borders, and we are seeing the realization of this never more so than now. This
new academic year has started with 61 students – full and part-time - of which
10% are from other Eastern European countries.
The ministerial training we offer is being sought by young people from
the Ukraine, Belarus and other former Soviet Union countries. We are ideally placed to help and our
facilities allow for us to cater for up to 100 full-time students. We aim to become a truly international
seminary with a ministry to Poland and beyond.
In
connection with this, I want to invite you to join us in a new step of faith –
that I am calling “Prepared for Tomorrow:
The Campaign for WBST”. The
aim is to put WBST in the position to offer a Master’s Program. In the attachment I explain why this is so
important and what it will take to get there.
I hope you will read it, pray over it, pass it on and join us in this
exciting new venture. Please contact me
if you think you can be a part of this, or if you need more information.
Wishing you
every blessing in Christ
Gustaw
Cieślar
President,
WBST