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Lisburn, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

Lisburn's Polish Mission Church celebrates its first anniversary

Vocalists Lila Kwarcinska and Asia Cackowska accompanied by the talented praise band lead the lively worship at the special service on Sunday 21st October marking the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church. Szczepan (Stephan) Cackowski Leader At the special service on Sunday 21st October marking the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church are L to R. (back row) Przemek Feliga, Szczepan Cackowski, Mariusz Borek, Slawek Cichy and Lukasz Nowicki. (front) Monika Borek, Kamila Cackowska, Kasia Cichy and Kamila Nowicka.

Vocalists Lila Kwarcinska and Asia Cackowska accompanied by the talented praise band lead the lively worship at the special service on Sunday 21st October marking the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church.

Szczepan (Stephan) Cackowski Leader

At the special service on Sunday 21st October marking the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church are L to R. (back row) Przemek Feliga, Szczepan Cackowski, Mariusz Borek, Slawek Cichy and Lukasz Nowicki. (front) Monika Borek, Kamila Cackowska, Kasia Cichy and Kamila Nowicka.

An exciting Anniversary Celebration Service in the Kingdom Life City Church (Graham Gardens, Lisburn) marked the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church on Sunday 21st October. Szczepan (Stephan) Cackowski and Slawek Cichy led the service. Vocalists Lila Kwarcinska and Asia Cackowska accompanied by a band of talented musicians led the lively praise that included 'How great is our God' and 'I will worship with all of my heart'. During the service Szczepan Cackowski and Kamila Nowicka conducted interviews with Przemek Feliga, Lukasz Nowicki, Artur Swiecikowski, Elizabeth Gilpin, Brian Agnew and Mariusz Borek allowing them to recall a year in the life of this thriving new city centre church.

A PowerPoint presentation showed video footage of the fun and fellowship enjoyed during the inaugural year and also demonstrated how the church is effectively reaching out into the local community. The church was filled for the occasion and prior to the formal part of the service the large crowd enjoyed a taste of Poland as they tucked into a delicious selection of Polish food and mouth-watering desserts.

In an emotional closing prayer, Brian Agnew asked that awesome things would happen in the Polish Mission Church. He went on to say that Poland was not losing its people - Poland is sowing God's seed among the Polish people here in Lisburn and fulfilling His will and destiny. He gave thanks for God's handiwork in the Kingdom Life City Church and spoke of how united in Christ with the Polish Mission Church they are stretching their hearts and reaching out to the community.

Founder members L to R. (back row) Mervyn and Elizabeth Gilpin and Brian and Mary Agnew (Kingdom Life). (front row) Przemek Feliga, Lukasz Nowicki, Szczepan Cackowski and Mariusz Borek.

Founder members L to R. (back row) Mervyn and Elizabeth Gilpin and Brian and Mary Agnew (Kingdom Life). (front row) Przemek Feliga, Lukasz Nowicki, Szczepan Cackowski and Mariusz Borek.

At the special service on Sunday 21st October marking the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church are L to R: (back row) Lukasz and Kamila Nowiccy, Przemek Feliga and Monika Borek, Szczepan and Kamila Cackowscy, Brian and Mary Agnew (Kingdom Life) and Mariusz Borek. Front row: Marcin Cichy (left) and Marcin and Ewa Szlachta and their children Piotrek and Magda and Slawek and Kasia Cichy and their children Oliwia and Paulina (seated on the settee).

At the special service on Sunday 21st October marking the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church are L to R: (back row) Lukasz and Kamila Nowiccy, Przemek Feliga and Monika Borek, Szczepan and Kamila Cackowscy, Brian and Mary Agnew (Kingdom Life) and Mariusz Borek. Front row: Marcin Cichy (left) and Marcin and Ewa Szlachta and their children Piotrek and Magda and Slawek and Kasia Cichy and their children Oliwia and Paulina (seated on the settee).

Szczepan Cackowski welcomes the large congregation, friends and visitors to the special service on Sunday 21st October marking the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church.
 

Szczepan Cackowski welcomes the large congregation, friends and visitors to the special service on Sunday 21st October marking the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church.

Kamila Nowicka conducts interviews with L to R: Przemek Feliga, Lukasz Nowicki, Artur Swiecikowski, Elizabeth Gilpin, Brian Agnew and Mariusz Borek at the special service on Sunday evening (21st October) marking the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church.

Kamila Nowicka conducts interviews with L to R: Przemek Feliga, Lukasz Nowicki, Artur Swiecikowski, Elizabeth Gilpin, Brian Agnew and Mariusz Borek at the special service on Sunday evening (21st October) marking the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church.

Members of the congregation and visitors tuck into the delicious selection of Polish food and mouth-watering desserts at the special service on Sunday evening (21st October) marking the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church.

Members of the congregation and visitors tuck into the delicious selection of Polish food and mouth-watering desserts at the special service on Sunday evening (21st October) marking the first anniversary of Lisburn's Polish Mission Church.

Brief history of the Polish Mission Church, Lisburn
The Polish Mission Church was formed in April 2006 out of a house group that met in the home of Szczepan Cackowski (Richill, Co Armagh). Shortly before coming to Northern Ireland, Szczepan met Hillsborough couple Mervyn and Elizabeth Gilpin at a church service in York, England. Mervyn and Elizabeth took a personal interest in Szczepan and his friends Przemek Feliga, Lukasz Nowicki and Mariusz Borek and even travelled to Poland to attend Szczepan and Kamila's wedding in June last year.

Impressed with the caring and sharing attitude of these enthusiastic young people (some of whom were trained youth leaders) Mervyn and Elizabeth clearly saw God's greater plan for them. Realising that they wanted to share their faith with other Polish people and also realising that many Polish people were coming to Northern Ireland to work, they felt that God would want them to start a church. With increased numbers attending their house group, Szczepan rang the Gilpins in June 2006 saying, 'we're ready to start a church, can you find us a suitable building'' Elizabeth contacted Brian and Mary Agnew (leaders of the Kingdom Life Faith Centre, Lisburn) asking if they could rent part of the building and this was kindly granted.

The first service was held on Sunday 3rd September 2006 and this recently refurbished building with its modern lighting and audio-visual equipment has proved to be an excellent neutral venue for the lively non-denominational meetings. Under the leadership of Szczepan (Stephan) Cackowski about 30-40 people attend the meetings on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month at 7.00pm. Additionally there are youth, family, missions, sports and worship cells meeting during the week. Since many of the church members speak good English, the Sunday services are translated every time people from the Irish community come to visit.

Local employers with Polish employees are asked to pass on information about the Polish Mission Church in Lisburn and to assure their Polish staff that they will be made most welcome at these meetings. For more information contact Szczepan Cackowski on Telephone No: 07940 709241.

24/10/2007