EST’s presence in post-Communist Poland is crucial

Dr. Wojciech "Wojtek" Szczerba,  Rector of EST

Dr. Wojciech “Wojtek” Szczerba, Rector of the Evangelical School of Theology (EST) in Wroclaw, Poland, visited OC and shared about the school’s mission and challenges. EST was founded in 1990 after the fall of Communism by Dr. Zygmunt Karel and Dr. Mark Young, men who believed it was possible to change the country through theological education. Today, EST is a nationally accredited interdenominational evangelical school offering Bachelor degrees and hopes to offer Master’s courses in the future.

Wojtek says, “To be a Pole means to be a Catholic.” Sandwiched between German Protestants on one side and Russian Orthodoxy on the other, he says the Polish people adopted Catholicism as their own identity. In 1919, Poland became a free nation but was attacked by the Nazis in 1939. Poland was again freed in 1945 but then faced Communism. Catholicism united the Polish people during these difficult years, providing spiritual nourishment and social help for the displaced and homeless. Today, approximately 90 percent of the Polish people are Catholic, but less than one percent are evangelicals.

EST’s mission is to strengthen the evangelical movement by equipping people for ministry, whether in a church, Christian organization or as a professional in the secular workforce. In fact, EST encourages students to further study and earn degrees in other fields besides theology, the idea being that the culture needs an evangelical influence in all parts of society. In addition, evangelicals who are professionals in the secular workforce help support churches and other Christian organizations financially.

EST is looking to expand their extension program into evenings and weekends and extend it to older people with no access to training. Approximately two million people, mainly young adults, have emigrated from Poland in the last few years to seek better employment and a better life. EST wants to offer online courses and satellite training to provide quality theological education and help these people stay attached to their home country.

“I thank God for your partnership in our service to the Lord in Poland,” Wojtek says. “Without your assistance, our ministry [at EST] would be much more difficult.”

About Wojtek – He and his wife, Madelyn, have a young daughter, Antonia. Wojtek was one of EST’s first students. After graduation, he spent a year studying in Amsterdam and then finished his PhD in Philosophy in Poland. As an OC faculty scholarship recipient, he is currently finishing his second PhD. “In Poland, one generally needs two PhDs to be considered an official professor, which is based on an old German system way of doing things,” Wojtek says. He served as a professor and Academic Dean at EST before becoming the Rector three years ago.

Please pray for:

• EST students as they struggle to support their education [Wojtek says churches do not traditionally support students’ theological training; this is true of all post-Communist countries, plus Poland is still developing economically]
• The many potential students training at Bible schools operated by churches, even though these are not accredited and provide a lesser quality education
• The many pastors and church workers who are bi-vocational because churches can’t support them financially

Wojtek, second from right

Wroclaw City Square

EST operated in a Baptist church until 2001 when, through the help of OC, it was able to purchase a building of its own, a beautifully renovated historical building situated in the "old city" of Wroclaw. The new building has helped tremendously to encourage new partnerships with churches and other organizations who can use the facilities at minimal or no cost.

If you would like to support the training of future ministry leaders at schools around the world like EST, please click here.