Renegade Jew Exhibits Pride over Conversions in Poland

An amazing story of the activities of British missionaries, working among Jews in Poland, is told in the current issue of the London publication, Record. It deals with the activities of the Barbican Mission, one of whose prime movers is the Rev. P. Gorodishz, renegade Jew. The Record reports the annual meeting held at Church House, Westminster, with the introduction:

“Upon every Christian there rests the obligation to send the Gospel to the Jew, and thus through the Jew to the world. At the annual meeting in the Church House, Westminster, the note of gratitude to God was sounded for many opportunities He had given to the workers of reaching the Jewish people with the Gospel.”

CONVERSIONS INCREASE

The report of the meeting continues:

“The forty-fifth annual report, presented by the Rev. I.E. Davidson, commenced on this note of praise. “This has been one of the finest years we have experienced in the history of the mission, he declared; there had been more conversions than in any former year. With the growth of the work and rapid extension difficulties had inevitably to be anticipated, but their trust was in God. They had great cause to thank God in regard to the work in Poland.

“Mr. Davidson touched upon one particular branch of the work, that of Poland; there had been 950-odd services and Bible classes with an attendance of something like 140,000 Jews; and eighty cities had been reached by means of their Gospel vans. Conversions had been reported, not only in London, but also on the Continent, and a large number of Jews had definitely accepted Christ as Savior. Thirty-seven baptisms took place in London, Poland and Jugo-Slavia. It was always a joy to hear of those who despite persecution, had the strength and courage to confess the Lord Jesus.

GORODISHZ REPORTS

“At the afternoon meeting the chair was taken by A.S. Cardew in the place of Admiral B. Currey who was absent through illness. The Rev. P. Gorodishz (the director acting as interpreter) told a most encouraging story of the work that was being carried on in Poland. Their work, he said, did not merely touch a particular district in that land, but it reached the whole of Poland; there was not a single part of the country where the Barbican Mission was not exerting its influence. The Jews in Poland had preserved much of their Jewish tradition. There were to be found there the strictly orthodox Jews, and Jews also who followed the teachings of Lenin and Karl Marx. ‘We are there to preach the Gospel both to the orthodox Jews and to those who call themselves Free-thinkers,’ said the speaker. Both classes were bitterly opposed to the Christian Missionary; yet there were thousands of Jews who were thirsting for the truth. There was hardly a field in all the world that was more accessible to the Gospel message than that in Poland. At least ninety per cent of the Christianity in Poland was represented by the Roman Catholic Church. They had many experiences of the power of the Gospel. There was not a Jew, be he orthodox or he a Socialist, who could not be won through the preaching of the Gospel. During the year there had been conversions of Jews representative of all classes.

“Another interesting address was given by the Rev. P. Gorodishz at the evening meeting. It was, he said, eleven years since they started to sow the seed amongst the Jews in Poland; now the time had come for them to gather in the fruit, and sometimes was gathered under difficult circumstances. What the Lord had showed them during the year of His power was simply wonderful. When a Jew was really converted, when he had really found Christ, and had become in Christ a new creature, when through grace he was regenerated, he was bound to be a missionary; he testified at once concerning Christ. They had in Poland an Inquiries’ Home, and what glorious experiences they had there! The atmosphere in that home was such that those in it had to Yield to Christ; the Christian atmosphere by which they were surrounded compelled them to seek Him for themselves. The workers out there had to face many difficulties, but none of them carried on in their own strength. Mr. Gorodishz invited his hearers to visit Poland and to see for themselves the work that was being done. ‘Every citizen of Great Britain,’ he said, ‘is welcome in Poland.’ Those who went forth in obedience to the command of the Lord, and cast in the net drew it in full of fishes. Their immediate task was to do something for the converted Jews, for those whom they had baptized, and who had to suffer such great persecution. The best thing they could do was to give the converted Jew an opportunity to work on the land, and thus to earn his daily bread. Such help would do much to break down the Jewish opposition against Christ and against the Hebrew Christians.”