“In Acts 1:8 Jesus promises that we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us to be His witnesses throughout the world. In Poland we saw His Spirit’s power in action constantly!” - Tom Hogan
Tom and Janet Hogan are two extraordinary Poland we saw His Spirit’s power in action individuals, living life and serving Jesus in the city of Annapolis. Yet, they also have a deep passion and love for a small country in Eastern Europe: Poland. They have gone three times, and are once again joining the Bay Area team that will travel to Poland in July.
Their relationship with Poland and its people started a little over three years ago. Tom and Janet set off for Poland, both going on their first mission trip. It was a place with a different history and culture than the ones they were used to, yet a place where they found people far more similar to themselves than they expected. It was in Poland that they were able to share their faith like never before, meet people with a true desire to figure out who Jesus is, and work with a team to, yet a place where they found people far more of unified believers from Bay Area - all while sharing the love and hope of the gospel.
While in Poland, the Hogans, their BACC team, and a ministry called International Messengers led a Family English Camp. These English camps provide Polish individuals a week away with their families and the opportunity to develop their English skills. However, this is also where the gospel comes in. As a means of teaching English, the Bible is used, giving team members the ability to share the hope and truth of Jesus with Polish nonbelievers. It is a unique and amazing opportunity to read through portions of scripture, giving these Polish campers the chance to discover hope and Jesus, often for the first time.
Tom and Janet shared that the schedule and nature of the camp provide many different opportunities to share Jesus and build relationships. Tom illustrated, “The campers get the opportunity to really study the gospel for themselves, and they get to see the evidence of God’s love demonstrated in the lives of the Polish and American teams.” A typical day at the English camp begins with breakfast enjoyed with the campers followed by English reading time, which gives campers a chance to read the Bible with someone on the BACC team.
“Many campers have never studied the Bible, or even owned a Bible, despite attending Catholic churches most of their lives,” Tom noted. Afternoons are filled with English grammar classes, coffee breaks, relationship building, and conversation time, which gives the Poles and Americans the chance to talk about what they’ve been reading and learning in the Bible. BACC team and camp members share dinner with one another and have the chance let loose and play games like Minute to Win it, watch Talent Shows, and participate in Scavenger Hunts during the evenings.
Janet explained these activities function beyond having fun together; they help establish true bonds. “By the end of the week, everyone has worked together and drawn closer to each other, and sharing in Bible classes is much more relaxed and meaningful,” she highlighted. After the games have ended for the night, the groups come together to hear two testimonies, one from an American and another from a Pole. These times of hearing about the many ways the Lord brings people to Himself are Janet’s favorite part of the trip. She said, “It is the time of the day that I feel the Holy Spirit’s presence the most as He works on the hearts of those who are hearing the stories of heartache, redemption and God’s love.”
“The long-term relationships you’re able to establish are one of the greatest benefits of the Poland STM,” Tom emphasized. “You spend an entire week pouring into people’s lives, and they are pouring into you, and you just come away completely blessed and in awe of how faithful God is.”
He added, “God has made it absolutely clear to me that He can accomplish anything through anyone if we only trust Him. He has taken me so far beyond my comfort zone, and shown up in ways that I never could have imagined. The trips have given me a boldness to say yes to things that I would have previously turned down because I thought I wasn’t qualified. Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t think I’m qualified, but I now fully trust that God equips the called.”
Many Christians share these feelings when going on a mission trip, doubting God can use them in their frailty. But the Hogans’ story demonstrates just the opposite: God can use us to build His Kingdom regardless of how qualified we feel.
Janet echoed, “If you feel the Lord is calling you on a mission’s trip, then He is preparing the way for you. Don’t be afraid, just trust in Him. You will see Him working in ways you have never seen Him working before. You will come back knowing that you are in His hands and He has a good work for you to do.”
Their relationship with Poland and its people started a little over three years ago. Tom and Janet set off for Poland, both going on their first mission trip. It was a place with a different history and culture than the ones they were used to, yet a place where they found people far more similar to themselves than they expected. It was in Poland that they were able to share their faith like never before, meet people with a true desire to figure out who Jesus is, and work with a team to, yet a place where they found people far more of unified believers from Bay Area - all while sharing the love and hope of the gospel.
While in Poland, the Hogans, their BACC team, and a ministry called International Messengers led a Family English Camp. These English camps provide Polish individuals a week away with their families and the opportunity to develop their English skills. However, this is also where the gospel comes in. As a means of teaching English, the Bible is used, giving team members the ability to share the hope and truth of Jesus with Polish nonbelievers. It is a unique and amazing opportunity to read through portions of scripture, giving these Polish campers the chance to discover hope and Jesus, often for the first time.
Tom and Janet shared that the schedule and nature of the camp provide many different opportunities to share Jesus and build relationships. Tom illustrated, “The campers get the opportunity to really study the gospel for themselves, and they get to see the evidence of God’s love demonstrated in the lives of the Polish and American teams.” A typical day at the English camp begins with breakfast enjoyed with the campers followed by English reading time, which gives campers a chance to read the Bible with someone on the BACC team.
“Many campers have never studied the Bible, or even owned a Bible, despite attending Catholic churches most of their lives,” Tom noted. Afternoons are filled with English grammar classes, coffee breaks, relationship building, and conversation time, which gives the Poles and Americans the chance to talk about what they’ve been reading and learning in the Bible. BACC team and camp members share dinner with one another and have the chance let loose and play games like Minute to Win it, watch Talent Shows, and participate in Scavenger Hunts during the evenings.
Janet explained these activities function beyond having fun together; they help establish true bonds. “By the end of the week, everyone has worked together and drawn closer to each other, and sharing in Bible classes is much more relaxed and meaningful,” she highlighted. After the games have ended for the night, the groups come together to hear two testimonies, one from an American and another from a Pole. These times of hearing about the many ways the Lord brings people to Himself are Janet’s favorite part of the trip. She said, “It is the time of the day that I feel the Holy Spirit’s presence the most as He works on the hearts of those who are hearing the stories of heartache, redemption and God’s love.”
“The long-term relationships you’re able to establish are one of the greatest benefits of the Poland STM,” Tom emphasized. “You spend an entire week pouring into people’s lives, and they are pouring into you, and you just come away completely blessed and in awe of how faithful God is.”
He added, “God has made it absolutely clear to me that He can accomplish anything through anyone if we only trust Him. He has taken me so far beyond my comfort zone, and shown up in ways that I never could have imagined. The trips have given me a boldness to say yes to things that I would have previously turned down because I thought I wasn’t qualified. Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t think I’m qualified, but I now fully trust that God equips the called.”
Many Christians share these feelings when going on a mission trip, doubting God can use them in their frailty. But the Hogans’ story demonstrates just the opposite: God can use us to build His Kingdom regardless of how qualified we feel.
Janet echoed, “If you feel the Lord is calling you on a mission’s trip, then He is preparing the way for you. Don’t be afraid, just trust in Him. You will see Him working in ways you have never seen Him working before. You will come back knowing that you are in His hands and He has a good work for you to do.”