How many years have you been a part of Agape Mennonite Fellowship?
Piotr Ławrynowicz: I have been a part of Agape for 13 years.
Agnieszka Wojtyńska: I have been a part of Agape for nearly 12 years.
Kristin Herrin: A little over 5 years, since the summer of 2018.
How has the church changed and developed during the time you have been a part of it?
PŁ: The church has changed from the Mennonite Church, where the Mennonites were in a teaching and organizing role, to the Christian Church, where the Mennonites are an important component on equal footing and every member of the church has his own importance and role. Mennonites founded this church, and it is as much theirs as it is ours. They have a lot to offer in education, experience in walking with God, teaching on family life, and values they hold, but they are not the overriding force. That force is Jesus.
And it would be disrespectful to the Mennonites and their work to remain at the stage of the same model that was at the beginning of our Church.
AW: My impression is that earlier there were more brothers providing teaching and more brothers invited to preach. Today the brothers are trying very hard, but I personally feel that the lack of a leader or elders makes it very difficult for the church to function as smoothly.
KH: A significant change happened in the spring of 2022, when many Ukrainian refugees moved into our community in Mińsk Mazowiecki. The church expanded as we welcomed new people into our midst. We transitioned from being a bi-lingual church to having 3 or even 4 languages represented among us. We found out that family can be experienced even without conventional conversation. Our lives have certainly been enriched as a result.
Another big shift happened when Lavern and Lolita Hershberger and their family moved to the US in January 2023. Our church found itself without a pastor, but the body pulled together in beautiful What are the areas where our church could grow ways to support one another through this transition.
People stepped up and did things that felt stretching and new. It has not all been comfortable, but there has been growth
How have you experienced God working in our church?
PŁ: I’ve experienced God working through people, and specifically, the Mennonites have helped us change our approach to life. Instead of viewing God who is an God to shepherd people in our church would be a addition to life, we see a God who is the purpose and content.
KH: One of the first things that comes to mind is that I have experienced God working in our church through the body being a family. Our church really cares for those in need in our midst, and expresses this in practical ways as people reach out to meet physical needs, send a message of encouragement to someone who is struggling, or spend time in sharing and praying together.
What are the things our church does well?
PŁ: Our church does well in involving all members in the life of the church and by being active.
AW: Our church cares for new people who come to worship, including helping and caring for refugees. In addition, there is the evangelistic work of the sisters and brothers at the GTE school and taking care of the youth at youth meetings.
What are the areas where our church could grow in the coming future?
PŁ: By having more Mennonite families come in to increase the impact, I think our church could grow even more.
AW: According to me, we could grow in the area of teaching and in zealous preaching from the Spirit.
KH: Having a pastor, someone who feels the call of God to shepherd people in our church would be a huge blessing. I think the church could also grow in a shared vision for evangelism and discipleship in our community, things outside the scope of our English school. I would love to see the youth group grow as well, for the young people in our midst to have more believing friends in their age group.
