Nazarene News - Polish church reaches women through Glosik friendship circle
At the end of February, the Church of the Nazarene in Poznan, Poland, held the first meeting of a new women’s group, a friendship circle called Glosik, which means “Little Voice” in Polish. Emma Wright, the director of the church’s English as a Second Language program, and Rhonda Tustin, missionary to Poland, 
came up with the idea to help new women feel welcome at the Poznan ministry center. Wright and Tustin sent out 30 invitations to women they knew, but who had not been connected to the church at all. In an attempt to make the environment as friendly as possible, the women started with a makeover on the center itself, decorating with special tablecloths, new lighting, candles, and butterfly accents. They ordered a special cake and made chocolate and cheese fondue. “We were all very nervous, but we had many prayers from so many places,” said Tustin. “I knew that people in Texas, Ireland, Oregon, Idaho, and even Albania were praying for this event.”All the hard work and prayers paid off when 20 women showed up for the first meeting. A cosmetic artist taught a makeup lesson, and Tustin spoke for a short time on the subject of inner beauty.“When I finished, I noticed that many were teary-eyed, and I knew that God had been speaking to their hearts,” said Tustin. “There was such a presence of the Holy Spirit in the room, and I think that each of the women felt something was happening.”Each woman left her contact information and asked to be included in the next event. One of the women who attended the event asked Wright about the purpose of the group. Wright told her, “Simply friendship!” “That is brilliant,” the woman said. “I don’t think anyone has ever heard of this or done this before in Poland!” She went on to explain that she has two small boys in a very small apartment, and she likes to sing when she is walking around the house. When she does, however, her boys will frown at her and say, “Stop that Mommy, we are trying to do PlayStation.” Wright told her if she joins Glosik that she can sing as much as she likes, and no one will ever tell her to stop. “The enemy has fought us on so many levels and yet this event was a big win,” said Tustin. “God was in the room, and it made all the difference.” The center will begin offering Faith Discovery Groups soon as a way of connecting this secular group to the church body.
came up with the idea to help new women feel welcome at the Poznan ministry center. Wright and Tustin sent out 30 invitations to women they knew, but who had not been connected to the church at all. In an attempt to make the environment as friendly as possible, the women started with a makeover on the center itself, decorating with special tablecloths, new lighting, candles, and butterfly accents. They ordered a special cake and made chocolate and cheese fondue. “We were all very nervous, but we had many prayers from so many places,” said Tustin. “I knew that people in Texas, Ireland, Oregon, Idaho, and even Albania were praying for this event.”All the hard work and prayers paid off when 20 women showed up for the first meeting. A cosmetic artist taught a makeup lesson, and Tustin spoke for a short time on the subject of inner beauty.“When I finished, I noticed that many were teary-eyed, and I knew that God had been speaking to their hearts,” said Tustin. “There was such a presence of the Holy Spirit in the room, and I think that each of the women felt something was happening.”Each woman left her contact information and asked to be included in the next event. One of the women who attended the event asked Wright about the purpose of the group. Wright told her, “Simply friendship!” “That is brilliant,” the woman said. “I don’t think anyone has ever heard of this or done this before in Poland!” She went on to explain that she has two small boys in a very small apartment, and she likes to sing when she is walking around the house. When she does, however, her boys will frown at her and say, “Stop that Mommy, we are trying to do PlayStation.” Wright told her if she joins Glosik that she can sing as much as she likes, and no one will ever tell her to stop. “The enemy has fought us on so many levels and yet this event was a big win,” said Tustin. “God was in the room, and it made all the difference.” The center will begin offering Faith Discovery Groups soon as a way of connecting this secular group to the church body.
