It’s an honor to be able to share with past, present, and future alumni of LCU, our ministry work in Poland!
Josh (LCC ’01) and Ann (Wachter, LCC ’98) Winans and their two daughters are heading to Poland to serve long-term with PROeM Ministries in July 2016. Fellow alumnus John Crozier (LCC ’95) along with his wife, Agnieszka, oversee PROeM’s education initiatives, which is the primary area in which the Winans will be focusing their work.
Josh says, “Poland and our work with PRoEm has been a part of our lives since our time at Lincoln Christian, so it’s no surprise to those who know us well that the day has arrived for us to leave our lives and ministries in New Hampshire to go long-term. After numerous mission trips, a summer of serving at PROeM’s camp as a family, and living in Poland for a year in 2013, it’s time for us to return long-term!”
PROeM is a Polish national ministry organization with a stateside office in Louisville, KY and just celebrated 25 years of ministry in Poland. It’s hard to explain all that PROeM does as so much of their story has grown and changed over the years as God continues to reveal His plans for the ministry and its various outreach areas. What has never changed is their commitment to sharing the Gospel message. Everything the ministry does points back to God. PROeM has three main areas of outreach: Recreation, Inspiration, and Education.
“Since our passion and skill set is within education and teaching, it makes perfect sense for us to be involved with PROeM’s education outreach initiatives,” Josh continues, “A new education center is being built in Tomaszow Mazowieki, a city of 70,000 southwest of Warsaw. When we lived there three years ago, the school was comprised of a thriving pre-K program up to sixth grade. Now the school goes all the way through middle school with possible plans to offer a high school program! There is a growing waiting list and great excitement within the ministry as we have seen how God has been bringing students, staff, and their families into a personal relationship with Himself.”
Josh will teach upper grades in physical education and work on developing sports activities after school. Ann will teach English and work on creating and developing a Professional Learning Group (PLC) with other Polish English teachers in the community. There has been a growing and thriving after school program that reaches the neediest students and families in the community that they anticipate working with as well. Josh and Ann’s daughters will be entering seventh and eighth grades and will be students at the school. They are looking forward to reconnecting with friends and meeting those who are new to the school!
“One tremendous asset in working with PROeM is that they encourage us to dream… and dream big! We know that God will continue to reveal other ways that we can come alongside the community we will be serving in order to bring God the glory! This is essentially our primary objective: To live our lives in a way that glorifies God. We feel we can best do this by serving in Poland with PROeM and building deep relationships with students and families in Tomaszow Mazowieki.”
The Winans invite past, present and future LCU alumni to visit and see firsthand what God is doing in Poland. “We’ve only shared one small part in what He’s doing in Poland through education, and there’s just so much more that could be shared. The best way to truly understand it all is to come, and we’re pretty sure we could plug you in to serve in some way while you are there!”