God has given me a fantastic opportunity this October. I will be traveling to Krakow, Poland with Crosspoint Church to serve alongside Graceland Ministries.
Graceland has been reaching the people of Poland since 1998 through English language programs that share the Gospel using Bible-based lessons. While many in Poland have seen the traditions of Christianity, few have experienced a personal, vibrant relationship with Jesus. Our mission is to help change that by building relationships, teaching English, and sharing God’s love in practical and spiritual ways.
Trip Dates: October 3-17
Why Poland?
You may be wondering. I had the same thought when God led me to this place. I’ve never been good with directions or geography, and honestly forgot Poland existed. It wasn’t my plan to go there this year or to travel internationally, point blank. So, how did I end up here?
It all started in 2020, when God opened my eyes to my lukewarm faith and began to show me what a relationship with Him looked like. From there, a ripple effect infiltrated every aspect of my life–passions, relationships, family, career, and entertainment. Life was no longer the same, and I started to think about things I never cared much about before, like, have I ever shared the Gospel? After God shifted my heart, He then broke it for those who didn’t know Him. Everyone I used to pass on the street without a second thought? Now they were souls, people in need of saving. Apart from implementing Biblical themes in my writing and posting Scripture on social media, I realized I never straight-up shared the Gospel with anyone, at least not face-to-face. Upon knowing this, I grew ashamed, guilty, and a bit depressed, as if I were failing as a Christian. And then God reminded me that I’m not the one saving, He is. We can’t stop someone from getting saved if God has already predestined that. But who are we to refuse an invitation from the Creator of the Universe to join His side as He rescues the lost? Shouldn’t we want to be a part of what He’s doing eternally? Not only that, but He commanded us to share the message of hope that is Jesus.
Something else I’ve been learning is the vast ways the Gospel is shared. It’s not always a face-to-face conversation—though anything we do should certainly lead to that—but the Gospel is also portrayed in how we live and love like Jesus. Our very lives are testimonies to His life-saving sacrifice. When we reflect Him, it opens doors to tell others about Him. As I grew in faith and my relationship with Jesus, an overwhelming desire to travel consumed me (well, I suppose I always wanted to travel, but this time it was something more than a meager want). This year held no indication of where I’d be today, but at the same time, God was planting little seeds along the way. One of the goals I listed for 2025 was to “Share Jesus.” I then began to pray for an urgency to share the Gospel.
And then, God gave me that.
My heart was set on fire for the lost, and suddenly, I wanted to share the Gospel even though I was terrified. I even dreamed about it–sometimes failing, other times witnessing a life changed. I looked for opportunities to do so, for chances and conversations to appear so I could tell someone about Jesus. But, I soon discovered, it’s not as easy as I thought, at least for an introvert with a withering social anxiety partner. Still, I took small steps into situations I prayed would lead to conversations about Jesus. I offered to pray for strangers, spoke openly about my faith, and left behind Scripture cards at restaurants. However, a part of me was still trying to be the Savior instead of trusting God to pave the way. And boy, did He, through my book–He Is Faithful In Every Season. That has led to countless conversations about my faith, Jesus, the book itself, and opportunities to share truth and the Gospel.
After praying for that urgency, reminders of mission trips and organizations kept popping up. I’ve always wanted to go on a mission trip but never had the opportunity. My desire to write and travel grew until I felt ready to burst. My faith was becoming stagnant as I remained in my comfortable, predictable lifestyle. It has grown tremendously since 2020, but the flames often threaten to die out when we don’t continuously fuel our faith. Thankfully, God is faithful and always gives me opportunities to be refined and fueled. For four years, I’ve sensed a nudge to invest my time in writing, a ministry God had called me to when I was fourteen. And then came March, and I couldn’t ignore how it seemed I was being led to leave what I had known, to step into something unknown. I decided to take a sabbatical from work, choosing to start in August of this year and ending in January of next. It was scary, but at the same time, I had been praying about this for four years. And the moment I decided to leave, something clicked in my soul–anticipation, maybe? Excitement?
More weeks went by, and more reminders surfaced. I fully acknowledged my sudden desire to potentially go into missions, or at least something in that field. But I had no idea where to begin looking. As I prayed, I figured mission trips would be a good start to determine if God would want me to do this in the long run. So I Googled, found nothing. Prayed—still nothing. Friends of mine would show up out of the blue, sharing their own mission experiences, and my heart ignited with the desire to do the same. I was surely discontent at times with where I was at. But once I surrendered that to God and rested in His timing, I became at peace knowing wherever He wanted me to be, He’d make a way for me to get there. I prayed a prayer I used to over and over back in 2020: God, send me. May Your will be done. My life is Yours. If You want me to stay, keep me here. If You want me to leave, show me where to go.
I just didn’t know He’d send me to the OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. I’m not complaining, just a bit shocked and amazed. I love how God always keeps me on my toes.
As my sabbatical from work drew near, I randomly decided to check my church’s website to see if I could serve in any way there. They hadn’t done a mission trip in a while, so I doubted there’d be anything to join. Hahaha. I was wrong. Lo and behold, the first thing I see is a banner sharing my church’s plan to go to Poland. At this point, I just looked up at God and laughed. There’s no way, that’s just a coincidence. But then I remembered, I don’t exactly believe in those. I squinted at my phone. Really? Am I looking too much into this?
Ignoring the strange timing, I went on the next few days, not giving much thought to the trip. Then, Sunday morning, there it was again, this time up on the big screen. It just so happened that morning, they were holding meetings after each service for anyone who wanted more information on the mission trip. Never in my life have I willingly walked into a meeting, by myself, for something I had no experience in. NONE. But the entire sermon it wiggled in my thoughts. What if I went? What if I didn’t? I want to know more. But I can’t do that, can I? POLAND? For reals? I could just go to find out more. Just to see. As the self-doubts flooded me, the story of Moses refusing to speak on behalf of God resurfaced. Or rather, God’s response to Moses’ fear: “I Am.”
This wasn’t about me. A weight lifted knowing God would equip me for it if that’s where He wanted me to go. It’s not me or my power, but His.
After church, I nearly drove away. I got in my car, turned my key, and pulled my seatbelt on. Then I sat there, heart racing, and somehow knew I’d regret not going. So, by the power of God alone (ain’t no way I could’ve walked back in by myself), I made my way to the meeting room, walked into a space full of people I didn’t know (except for maybe two people), and managed not to run away. There was peace in that room. I didn’t know what to expect going in, but when I tell you, my jaw almost dropped as the meeting commenced. I thought I’d hear more on the trip and then walk away, not planning to go. Only, when they began to discuss what exactly they’d be doing there, my heart was suddenly filled with excitement, and I wanted to go. They said we’d not only be going to Poland to teach conversational English, but that we’d do so to build relationships with people and, in turn, help them build a relationship with God (we’d also tour a castle, but that’s the nerd side of me enraptured). This mission trip was so catered and specific towards me as an individual that I wanted to laugh in awe. God knew me so well. After the meeting, I couldn’t ignore the trip, though I continued battling doubts and fear. I prayed and prayed for God to reveal the best decision. The only reason I’d go was if He wanted me to. So, I asked Him to open the door. And not only did He open a door, He opened a MILLION (okay, not a million, but more than one). Other than the trip being in October (when I’d be off work), things like getting my passport without any problem, being excited about traveling alone (even though I never have, let alone internationally), were one nudge after another. I wrestled with it day after day. And that same question kept popping up: Can I do this?
Nope. But, God can. And that’s the whole point.
Eventually, I kept attending the information meetings and started to get to know the others planning to go until I fully committed. I didn’t let up on prayer and asked God to prevent me from going if it wasn’t where He was leading me. Was I too hasty? Is this the wrong choice? But His peace consumed me, and so did a joyful excitement of what’s to come. The more I learned, the more I wanted to be a part of what God was doing in Poland. I realized that I needed to take a leap of faith, regardless of how little I could see of the future.
And now, here we are, back in the present. That was just a brief overview of the much more complex workings of how God led me to this mission trip. It’s crazy, but also exciting. We’re less than two months from flying across the ocean to a new country. I have no idea what’s in store, but I do know God is good. I live to glorify Him, and I pray, even in Poland, that He is made known in how I love and live. As my team and I continue to prepare, please pray for us. Pray for the people of Poland, and everyone we will interact with. Pray for revival and a desire to know Jesus.
While in Poland, my team and I will:
• Teach conversational English in classrooms
• Build friendships that open the door to sharing the Gospel
• Partner with local believers to strengthen their outreach
Thank you for reading and for joining me on this mission. I can’t wait to see how God moves and to share my experience with you!
“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!” Psalm 96:3
Julia Rose Books 