Christ For the Nations - Poland

Christ for the Nations Poland is a two year education program based on the Holy Scriptures for believers from every denomination.

Jesus Christ said to his followers “...you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”(John 8: 32). Recognition of truth brings liberty to an individual and all society. Only free people can realize that they are special and only after that can they complete their calling.

Jesus also called education a key (Luke 11: 52). It is a key to new solutions, to a bigger influence, and a creation of the future. History shows us that the continuation and the strength of revival depend on the quality of Christian education.

The Bible school mission is accomplished through biblical education and the development of a personal relationship with God which helps believers fulfill their calling in the Church and community. In this way we wish to serve our students and also the churches and communities from which they come.

History of CFN - Poland

In the spring of 1998, Mrs. Freda Lindsay, President and co-founder of Christ for the Nations International in Dallas, Texas, brought a team of people to Poland to see if God was leading to start a CFN school there. Dave and Eileen Kadlec, graduates of Christ for the Nations, Dallas were there working with Operation Mobilization, and they hosted a leadership conference in Gdansk, with key leaders from the North of Poland invited. There was much interest in a school being founded in Poland.

The next year, Dave brought two leading pastors from the Gdansk region to the mission’s conference in Dallas. There they met with staff from Dallas and with Roger and Myrna Eilers who had worked with the Bible school in Belarus for 4 years, and whom Dallas had asked to direct the school in Poland. (Dave and Eileen had declined, but were willing to work with them.)

The Eilers moved to the Gdansk-Gdynia region in January of 2000. They traveled around Poland to meet with church leaders from various denominations, formed curriculum, added a translation and management team, did the promo necessary to start the school, and rented a building. Of course, prayer in Poland and from other links was crucial to its development! School started in late September, 2000 with 48 students, including a day and Saturday school. Teachers came from the US, Belarus, and Poland to teach and to impart godly character. God gave the Eilers Isaiah 43:4-10 as the founding verses for the school, and from this passage has come the establishment of a ministry that is international, develops witnesses for the Lord and His power through the teaching of the fullness of His Word.

In March of 2001, Mrs. Lindsay and Randy Bozarth again brought a team from the U.S. to promote the purchase of a building for the school. Leaders from across Poland came on a very snowy evening to hear Mrs. Lindsay and Dr. Bozarth and hear about the plans. A lovely building in the city of Gdynia next to a national park reserve was found and agreed upon. Stan and Helen Walters donated the money for the building. The Polish people, Bible school students, the missionaries and staff of the school, and the visiting team contributed $10,000 for the renovation of the house to make it into a school with dormitories and classrooms. It was ready for the school’s opening that fall of 2001.

In August 2001, Dennis and Linda Sheehan arrived from Illinois to serve as missionary teachers in the school. They helped load and carry boxes and furniture from the first building into the new building. Soon after CHDN finalized the building sale, they moved in to live in the building and finish construction of the third floor and basement which were made into dorm rooms.

In spring of 2001, a visiting CFN Creative Musical Drama team and Mrs. Rayanna Fields sparked the formation of a similar program at CHDN Poland and also the start of an annual summer school of the arts in ministry for ages 16 and above. Joshua Cagle and Lelen Skellenger, members of the CFN team, came to live in Poland and directed this program for its first two years. It still continues today with former Polish graduates leading the teams. This ministry has been very influential in bringing young people to Christ and has also attracted nations to come and participate in the summer program. The following years have seen the student body go on several outreaches in Poland until January of 2004 when the drama group went to the USA to minister in drama, dance and flags. In December, Roger experienced physical problems which culminated in the Eilers’ decision to return to the USA. When second semester began the end of January 2004, Dennis and Linda Sheehan were newly appointed as directors.

The focus of reaching the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ intensified, and the following year, 2004/05, a team went to Bradford, England to Harvest Church to minister on the same streets where Smith Wigglesworth ministered. The teams also continued to reach out to churches, youth gatherings, and summer camps in Poland. The following year a team returned to Bradford, England again. This time several from England decided to also attend our Summer School of the Arts in Ministry the next year. Ministry of the gospel continued the following year as a team traveled to Ruda Slanska and Krakow in south Poland in January. In june a small team went to France to hold drama workshops in Abergenville, a town outside of Paris. Several students from France also joined the English that year at Summer School of the Arts, making for a truly international Christ for the Nations.

2007/2008 saw a multiplication of ministry opportunities both overseas and in Poland. The month of January was set aside for a team of 9 to go to Texas and Mexico where they joined Dennis and Linda Sheehan, Josh and Iza Cagle, and Paul and Kathy Cagle for an 18 day tour of churches. During this time three other teams from CHDN ministered in Poland. One team went to an alcoholic recovery center in south Poland; another team worked with kids club in Gdynia, and a third team went to Kosczerzyna to work with the national youth leaders of Poland at an orphanage and church.

Graduates of CHDN have gone on to pastor churches, begin their own ministries in music, business, and children’s ministry, to mention a few. It is evident that CHDN and its graduates have had an impact in Poland.

The school’s enrollment continues to increase each year, and we are now looking for a larger building or expanding our present facility. We expect the doors of opportunity to continue to open for our teams, students and graduates. They are always so excited and full of the Life of God when they have a chance to share what the Lord has done. The healing that we see in the students year after year is amazing, and it is evidence that the Holy Spirit is working in our midst. We are honored that we can build a habitation of praise where the Lord can dwell in our hearts and make changes only He can make as we study His word and learn of His ways. We pray that His River of Life will continue to flow in the students, staff and graduates of CHDN so that His Life can flow through us to the nation of Poland and to the world.

Roger and Myrna Eilers

First school's building

Dennis and Linda Sheehan

Present school's building