Faith on the Road: Growing Christian Counseling Education Together
When Pablo and I prepared for our visit to the United States, we expected full days, many church visits, conversations with people who support us, and many miles on the road. We did not know how we would be welcomed or how often we would find ourselves saying, “God has been so kind to us.” The visit, sponsored by The Outreach Foundation, became a time of encouragement, fellowship, prayer, and renewed vision for the NOVUS Foundation’s ministry. This ministry started locally, in Poland, but over a short time it became a mission educating and multiplying church leaders and Christian counselors globally.
Our travels carried us through states from Florida to Texas, each mile leaving its own memory. In Memphis, TN, we were treated to a wonderful dinner atop the Memphis pyramid as the sun went down. In Houston, TX, we tasted our first Texas barbecue and on the way to San Antonio, TX, we stopped at the famous and new “must stop” place for Europeans, Buc-ee’s. In Birmingham, AL, we enjoyed dinners and laughter with friends from South Highland Presbyterian Church and went to our first baseball game with friends from The Outreach Foundation. Pablo also celebrated his birthday there, surrounded by people who had become dear to us, who really made this day special. These moments of fun were not separate from the purpose of the trip. They were part of the friendship, fellowship, and joy through which we experienced God’s care.
From the beginning, people made room for us in their lives. We stayed in many welcoming homes and felt like family. In Birmingham, AL, South Highland Presbyterian Church welcomed us not only into worship but also a conversation with a group that prays for the NOVUS Foundation every Sunday. We were also invited to speak at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, which welcomed us for the second time. While in Birmingham, people from Church of the Cross and Redeemer Church warmly welcomed us and showed great interest in our work.
Across the visit, churches in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Texas prayed with us and for us. We made new friends and were reunited with ones whom we already met. The Hosmer’s, whom we met in Poland when they came on a mission trip two years ago, welcomed us into their home in Florida with a warmth that made us feel like family. A written sign in their kitchen said it simply: “Pablo and Aneta, welcome.” That welcome became for us a symbol of the generosity of all people who shared their home, their time, their cars, their meals, and their attention with us during this trip. We were reminded that Christian hospitality is a way of making Christ’s love tangible.
We carry the memories of meaningful conversations that happened around tables at homes and in small group meetings in churches. At Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, we spoke with a Sunday School’s class about the work of NOVUS Foundation and the global reach of Theology and Counseling Studies (TC Studies). In San Antonio, we shared and participated in many activities with the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church, led by Rev. Dr. Bob Fuller, and in the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood, Mississippi, we understood what it means when a Church knows how to carry each others’ burdens. We were grateful for the opportunity to share how theological education, counseling, missionary preparation, and church planting are being brought together to serve people and strengthen Christian communities.
As we listened and shared, we sensed encouragement for the ministry’s future. The conversations affirmed that Theology and Counseling Studies is part of a larger calling: equipping people to serve with both biblical conviction and compassionate, professional care.
We returned to Warsaw grateful and strengthened, trusting that God is at work through the prayers, generosity, and partnership of churches and friends across borders.
We also returned to the beginning of a new academic year. Fifty new students from 22 countries are starting Theology and Counseling Studies in English. Twelve students are beginning the Spanish-language program, and 10 students are starting Christian Counseling studies in Polish. Each student represents a person with gifts, hopes, and a desire to learn and serve. Together, these students reflect the growing international reach of the work. We are thankful that the ministry is growing in Poland and building relationships that will help it multiply in other places.
This growth is possible because people like you have chosen to walk alongside us. Your support helps prepare students for service the way God calls them, many as Christian counselors, ready to serve in churches and communities by offering His healing, hope and light in the dark moment, in trauma, and despair. Your prayers remind us that we do not carry this calling alone. During our visit, we experienced that truth in a personal way - in every invitation, every shared meal, every conversation, and every prayer.
To everyone who welcomed us, hosted us, traveled with us, prayed for us, gave generously, and shared friendship: thank you. We came to the United States hoping to encourage you by telling you that your prayers and support played a big part in NOVUS Foundation ministry. We left encouraged ourselves, carrying the love we received back to Poland. We are grateful to The Outreach Foundation for making this visit possible and to every church and friend who made it memorable. May God continue to use this partnership to equip His servants, strengthen the church, and share the love of Christ in Poland and around the world.
