Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
special letter update (2)
Dear friends,
We thank the Lord that Doug’s operation was a complete success. Things couldn’t have gone better. So far there have been no complications. The cancer was removed by taking out a large section of my large intestine. The doctors were able to confirm that the cancer hadn’t spread to other parts of my body. My liver seems to be healthy (this was a big concern). The operation was done by laparoscope so the healing process will go much more quickly than if it had been done by traditional methods. I am now at home, resting and healing and gaining strength for the chemo treatments that are still ahead of us. Again, we thank the Lord, that the worst is already behind us.
We are learning more about the sovereignty of God. We didn’t expect this sickness. We want to completely trust Him. He is in control. He knows why this has happened. He has our best in mind. We are also learning more about God’s overwhelming love for us, shown to us especially through His people. Thank you for standing together with us. Thanks especially for your prayers and the many expressions of loving care that we’ve experienced.
Please continue to pray for complete healing. Pray that we will remember and apply the lessons the Lord is teaching us through all this. Join us in thanking God for the gift of life. May we use this gift to the fullest for His glory.
Doug and Lila
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
special letter update (1)
Dear Friends,
Thank you for the hundreds of emails, text messages and phone calls, assuring us that we are being prayed for. We are so grateful for your loving support for us in this difficult time.
In Acts 12 it is recorded that Herod put James to death. He then put Peter in prison, planning to do the same to him. “But the church was praying earnestly to God for him.”(v.5) James was killed, Peter was released. The only visible difference – the church was praying for him. Your prayers make a difference. Thank you.
We had our first visit at the oncologist today (June 7). He said that my cancer is serious and advanced but that it can be cured. The next step in my treatment will be an operation to remove a section of my intestine where there is a large tumor. At the same time they will be able to see if the cancer has spread to my liver. If this is the case a part of my liver will also be removed. I will also need to undergo chemo treatment when I have recovered from the operation. We are waiting now to find out the date for my first operation (hopefully sometime in June).
We know we have a long, hard battle before us but we are believing God for a full recovery.
On the positive side – the clinic where I’m being treated is one of the best in Poland for my kind of cancer.
Please pray for complete healing. Pray that we’ll be able to maintain a positive attitude. Pray that we’ll fully trust Him.
Thanks for standing together with us.
Doug and Lila
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
Special letter
Dear Friends,
We just found out that I (Doug) have liver and intestinal cancer.
We are trusting God and not wanting to tell Him what to do. We are trying to hear what He’s saying to us.
The passage that we believe God has spoken specifically to us through is Phil. 1:21-25; “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary FOR YOU that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.”
God could take me, or anyone of us home today. He could completely cure me in a moment. We believe He wants to take us through this to victory. It will be the biggest battle we’ve ever faced (I’m sure I’m not even aware of how difficult it’s going to be).
I still want to spend many more years with my wonderful wife. I want to see my grandchildren. I want to see our son, Philip, realize his dream of becoming a university professor. I believe God still has work for us to do in Poland.
The medical care is very good in Poland. We have good insurance. God is in control. We are trusting completely in Him.
We need lots of prayer and support.
Grateful for all of you, Doug and Lila
Doug and Lila Groth ECMI
32-434 Skomielna Biala 5550 Tech Center Dr.
- 623 POLAND Suite 307
Colorado Springs, CO
80919
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
Winter 2017/2018
Dear Friend,
Only 3 more months until our planned return to Poland. Shortly after Lila’s arrival at the end of August we were able to attend a 2 week long intensive care course for missionaries. It was even more helpful than we had anticipated and did much to help us “get back on our feet”. Many people have asked us how we are using our time here. We have been helping, each Tuesday, with a ministry to feed homeless people – Jesus Table – which is sponsored by our home church, Cedar Mill Bible Church. We have also been helping with a refugee ministry that our church also sponsors. We are so thankful for the time we can spend here with our family. Our daughter, Natalia, was able to come with Lila and stay for 3 weeks (the last time she was able to visit was 9 years ago). We have been able to spend lots of time with Philip and the rest of our family here. This is the first time that we’ve been able to spend the holidays with our family here in over 20 years. I (Doug) have been helping with physical work around our home church. Lila has been doing lots of reading. We were able to take a short vacation at the beach thanks to a gift from friends. We have also been visiting all our supporting churches (4 in Washington, 3 in Oregon and 1 in California) and have enjoyed speaking at services and visiting with friends there.
Sometimes we can see clearly how God is “working behind the scenes”. We are seriously considering joining a new church plant in another part of Poland when we return, Lord willing, at the end of Feb. 2018. One of the leaders in this church plant is a grafic designer and his dream has been to design athletic shoes. He applied for a training course he saw offered in Portland and didn’t get accepted. After we came to Portland he applied again and this time he was accepted. God’s timing is perfect. His course runs from Sept. 25 to Dec. 15 and he is staying with us in the house our church is letting us use. We are able to help him connect with key people. He is able to come home after an exhausting day to a hot meal and be able to speak Polish. We are having lots of good team building time together!
We celebrated Thanksgiving a few days ago. We have much to be thankful for. “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits…” (Ps. 103:2) “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Ps. 100:5). Thank you for your continued support.
Please pray;
-for our grown kids, Natalia and Philip. Pray that God would lead them and keep them close to Himself
-that we will make the best possible use of our time here, meeting with family, friends and supporters
-that God will prepare us for all He has ahead of us when we return to Poland, Lord willing, at the end of Feb.
-for the ministries we are involved in. For opportunities to serve, share the gospel and make disciples
Thank you, Doug and Lila
Doug and Lila Groth
620 NW 123rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97229
tel. 01 (503) 858 2713
dlgroth55@gmail.com
ECMI-USA
5550 Tech Center Dr.
Suite 307
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
george.brown@ecmi.org
www.ecmi-usa.org
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
February 2017
“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mk. 4:35-41) This is the passage I believe the Lord gave us before all the troubles began in the Rabka church.
Everything started because of an interpersonal conflict between two leaders in the Rabka church. One of them accused the other in a very unloving, hurtful and condemning way in front of the other members of the church. As a result three couples decided to leave the church. To our amazement, most of the other church members also decided to leave and they now meet in the home of the man who started the conflict. Many hurtful things were said and long time relationships were destroyed. What we are especially aware of is that we are involved in a spiritual battle and have an enemy who wants to destroy all that is good and from the Lord. At the same time, we are beginning to see the sun starting to shine again after the storm and these are a few examples of the positive signs that we are seeing as we emerge from the storm.
A few weeks ago we sent out one of the members of the Rabka church to be a full time missionary in the Middle East (see attached history). Also an experienced, trusted Polish missionary couple has agreed to come to Rabka for a year to serve in and lead the Rabka church ahead. Another indication of God’s providence is that Lila and I are scheduled for a year long “sabbatical” in Oregon; something that was planned before the Rabka church “blow up”! This will give us a chance to rest and recuperate that will include a 2 week intensive care course for cross-cultural missionaries that our home church, Cedar Mill Bible Church, has graciously agreed to pay for. By then we can begin to focus on the next phase of our life and ministry.
We have served the Lord as missionaries and church leaders in Poland for over 30 years. We have had the joy of seeing people come to know Him and grow as true disciples of His. We have experienced many disappointments and heart-aches. We have seen God do miracles, make a way when there was no way ahead. We have learned many valuable, difficult lessons. We believe that the Lord isn’t finished with us yet and that the best days of life and ministry are still ahead of us – “…you have saved the best till now.” (Jn. 2:10)
Please pray with us;
-For the Rabka church
-That we will make the best possible use of our time in the States
-That God will clearly show us the next steps in our life and ministry
You did not choose me Word Document
Thank you, Doug and Lila
[one_half]
Doug and Lila Groth
32-434 Skomielna Biala
Nr. 623 POLAND
douggroth@poczta.onet.pl
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
ECMA-USA
P.O. Box 2217
Monument, CO
80132-2279
george.brown@ecmi.org
[/one_half_last]
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
Fall 2016
“I will do it.”
This is the promise I believe God gave me, five years ago at an ECM leadership conference in Austria, about starting a new church planting work in Nowy Sacz.
I don’t have a church planting team. Nowy Sacz is more than an hour’s drive away from us and we don’t believe God wants us to move there (Lila travels to Krakow every week to teach at a Christian grade school and it would be too difficult to do it from N.S.).
I have been traveling to N.S. regularly (when Lila goes to Krakow each week I go to N.S.) to try to build relationships with people, pray and mobilize people to pray, teach English to needy young people, share the gospel as God opens doors.
More than once I’ve decided to give up but each time God has shown me in a very clear way that He wants me to continue.
Just recently I had another such experience and now am convinced that we need to keep moving ahead.
A few weeks ago I visited N.S. and nothing much happened except having a cup of coffee and a conversation with a fellow I’ve been meeting with. A few months ago I had invited a Belgian evangelist to do evangelism with us in N.S. when he came to visit us in Rabka. After the discouraging visit in N.S. I said to the Lord; “If nothing significant happens when we visit N.S. with the evangelist I’ll understand that you want me to give up on trying to work there.” God answered in a very clear way.
We went to N.S. with Alex (the evangelist from Belgium) when he came to visit us in Rabka. He talked with several people about the Lord in the city square. At the end of the day he took me with him. We began to talk with a young Polish guy (21 years old). He said he was living and working in England and was here visiting family in N.S.. Alex shared the gospel with him and he was very open and interested. After Alex finished I talked more with him in Polish. As it turns out, he used to live in our village and went to school with our son, Philip. I gave him a gospel of John and my phone number. Later he got in touch with me and we met again at my house. He wanted to hear more so I told him about how I came to know the Lord and shared the gospel with him again and prayed for him. Later we talked more on facebook. He told me more of his story and then I remembered that Philip had returned home from school one day (he was in second grade at the time) and told Lila and I that one of his classmates would have to move to Nowy Sacz to an orphanage because his parents were alcoholics and couldn’t take care of him and his siblings. I remember feeling compassion for him and Lila remembers that we prayed for him. In God’s providence, this is the same person. It’s no accident that we met him and shared the gospel with him in N.S.. Pray that he will come to know Christ as his Lord and Savior and experience God’s fatherly love, leading and blessing.
I don’t know how it will all work out but I am now convinced that God wants us to keep working in Nowy Sacz.
Please pray;
-that God will give us a church planting team
-that He will show us His plan for working in N.S.
-that many more people will come to know Him and become true disciples of His in N.S.
Thank you, Doug and Lila
[one_half]
Doug and Lila Groth
32-434 Skomielna Biala
Nr. 623 POLAND
douggroth@poczta.onet.pl
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
ECMA-USA
P.O. Box 2217
Monument, CO
80132-2279
george.brown@ecmi.org
[/one_half_last]
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
Summer 2016
“…there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Lk.15:10)
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Lk.19:10)
I (Doug) will be eternally grateful to the Lord for showing me His supernatural love and communicating the truth of the gospel to me through His servant, Marq Box. I believe this is God’s favorite way of reaching people, one-to-one personal evangelism. This is the best way for people to “see” and “hear” the gospel. Jesus Himself became one of us and lived among us to both show us and communicate to us God’s love and truth.
I believe God has put three Polish men specifically on my heart and my prayer request is that, within the next year, all three of them will come to know Him and become true disciples of His. Please pray with me for;
Filip Filip is our son, Philip’s, best friend. They went to high school together. They both are musicians (guitarists). Filip’s last name, Kogut, by the way, is translated “rooster” in English. Two years ago I invited Filip to my birthday party. What he found out later is that it was my “born again” birthday party. We talked about what it means to be born spiritually from the account of Nicodemus in John 3. I later found out that Filip’s physical birthday is on the same day as my spiritual birthday – May 19. This year we celebrated Filip’s birthday at our house. We had a cake made for him and gave him a book with testimonies of various people who have been “born again” and how God has changed their lives. Filip has said that he is an atheist but we sense that God is softening and opening his heart. Pray that Filip will have a second birthday.
Janusz One of the first people to come to know Christ in the Rabka church plant was Magda. Janusz is her father. They have very similar characters. They don’t make quick decisions. They need time to thoroughly think through everything before they decide. When they do make a decision they do it wholeheartedly. I believe Janusz is somewhere in that process of “examining” the truth of the gospel. Please pray that God will break through his resistance and that he’ll become a true follower of Christ. Janusz loves the outdoors, especially running and hiking. I sometimes do men’s breakfasts at our house and Janusz usually comes. Lately the men who come to the breakfasts have been reading “Wild at Heart”, by John Eldredge, together. Janusz loves the book and talks about it with his unsaved friends. We have planned to have another breakfast and then do an all day hike in the mountains together.
Andrzej For some time I believe God has been speaking to me about helping to start a new church planting work in Nowy Sacz, a large city an hour’s drive from us. As a way of making a beginning, I started teaching English to teenagers in N.S. through the social services there. Andrzej is the director of one of the drop in centers where I taught English. One Sunday I was “by chance” in N.S. and met Andrzej in the city square. It was obvious to me that it was a God arranged meeting. We talked and he invited me to drop by for coffee whenever I was in N.S.. I began meeting regularly with him and found out that he is a probation officer. He works with men who have been released from prison to help them find work and readjust to life in society. I’ve given him several testimonies of prisoners who have come to know Christ and how He has transformed their lives. Pray that God will open Andrzej’s spiritual eyes so that he might understand Who Christ is and what He’s done for him.
“The Lord is … not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2Pt.3:9)
James says; “…You do not have because you do not ask God.” (Jm.4:2)
Please pray especially for these three men. Pray that I will be a channel of God’s love and truth for them. Pray that they will be “born again” and become true followers of Him.
Thank you,
Doug and Lila
[one_half]
Doug and Lila Groth
32-434 Skomielna Biala
Nr. 623 POLAND
douggroth@poczta.onet.pl
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
ECMA-USA
P.O. Box 2217
Monument, CO
80132-2279
george.brown@ecmi.org
[/one_half_last]
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
Spring 20156
“Then he told this parable; “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “ ‘ Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ “ (Lk. 13:6-9)
Dear Friend,
As you know, we had planned to go to Oregon for a year beginning in September 2016. God has made it clear to us that we need to wait for another year. We have moved ahead our departure date to June 2017. There are many reasons for our decision. One of the main reasons is that I (Doug) want to give another year to working with two younger Polish men (Narcyz and Gabrys) who are developing as leaders in the Rabka church. Lila is being treated for thyroid problems. There are good results from her treatment and we don’t want to leave until it is completed. It will also mean that we’ll be able to be near to Philip during his final year at George Fox University and be there for his graduation.
We are disappointed that we’ll have to wait a few more months before we can spend time again with our family, friends and supporters in the States. We are thankful to our home church (Cedar Mill Bible Church) for making the mission house available to us from June 2017 to August 2018. His way is perfect and we have complete peace with this decision (please also see Prov. 19:21 and Phil. 1:23-26)
Please pray for Lila. We thank the Lord for the new opportunities for ministry that He is giving her through CEF Poland. She often travels to other areas of Poland to do teacher training. She is now involved in a project to put together a teacher training DVD. Please pray for all the work and details involved in this. Pray that God will bless and use this for His purposes.
Keep praying for the Rabka church. Pray for the two developing leaders in the church. Pray that God will give us someone to focus on evangelism and discipleship of young people in Rabka. As always, please pray that many more people will come to know Him and become true disciples of His.
Thank you that you continue to pray for us. It’s a privilege to serve the Lord together with you.
[one_half]
Doug and Lila Groth
32-434 Skomielna Biala
Nr. 623 POLAND
douggroth@poczta.onet.pl
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
ECMA-USA
P.O. Box 2217
Monument, CO
80132-2279
george.brown@ecmi.org
[/one_half_last]
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
February 20156
Dear Friends,
We praise the Lord for what He is doing in the Rabka church in answer to our prayers. From the beginning of our ministry in Rabka we have been praying for and looking for the right Polish people to take leadership of the church. There have been several candidates, both from Rabka and from outside Rabka, but none have worked out. A few years ago a whole family in Rabka came to know Christ through the ministry of the Rabka church. We thank the Lord for Narcyz and Lucyna and their children; Laura (11 years old), Jurek (9 years old) and Luisa (5 years old). Narcyz and Lucyna were baptized in August, 2014 and we also did a re-dedication of their marriage. Shortly after that Laura and Jurek also received Christ as their Savior (a special thanks to Lila for her teaching ministry to kids and parents). Narcyz has developed as a leader and is showing more and more that he has a true pastor’s heart. Lucyna is a real servant to people in the church and has a heart for those who haven’t yet come to know Him. Laura, together with her dad, leads the worship singing in the Rabka church. She is really gifted and does a great job. A few weeks ago Narcyz joined the church leadership team (made up of Narcyz, Alek and Doug).
As for us, Lila and I are planning to spend a year in Oregon beginning in Sept. 2016. There are a few reasons for this. The first reason is that we are required to be resident in the US for six months every 5 years to keep from losing our social security retirement. Secondly, we want to be able to spend time with our family, friends and supporters (both churches and individuals). Families of missionaries also have a price to pay. We’ve been able to spend very little time with our family in the States through the years. A third reason is that we want to have that time to look to the Lord for guidance and prepare for the next stage in our life. We don’t know at this point how the Lord wants us to spend the next 10 to 15 years. Our home church has a house they make available for missionaries to use and we have reserved it for this time.
As for ministry, God continues to give Lila opportunities to use her teaching gift to serve children, parents, other teachers, women and seniors. She is a member of CEF Poland and has recently started a project to organize and teach work shops for other children’s workers in various parts of Poland. Ministry in the Christian grade school in Krakow and in the Rabka church also keep her busy. My main ministry (Doug) is serving as missionary/pastor for the Rabka church. I’m on the church leadership team and do discipleship meetings with other men in the church. The door to Nowy Sacz is still open and I travel there regularly to build relationships, pray and serve in whatever way I can.
Please pray;
-that God will make it clear what He wants us to do in the future. We don’t want it to be a step “down” but “up”. I believe God gave me this verse as a promise of the great things that He has ahead of us; “…but you have saved the best till now.” (Jn.2:10)
-for the Rabka church
-for Narcyz and his family
-that the Lord will help us to make the best possible use of our year in the States
-that God will build His church in Nowy Sacz
Thanks,
[one_half]
Doug and Lila Groth
32-434 Skomielna Biala
Nr. 623 POLAND
douggroth@poczta.onet.pl
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
ECMA-USA
P.O. Box 2217
Monument, CO
80132-2279
george.brown@ecmi.org
[/one_half_last]
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
Fall 2015
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your prayer and financial support. Thanks for standing together with us so faithfully. We couldn’t do what we do without your help.
In all the struggles, we are grateful to the Lord for what He is doing in the Rabka church. Not long ago one of the women in the church returned from a 2 month ministry trip to the Middle East. She was in an area not far from where ISIS is active. Her main ministry was teaching English. She asks us to pray for two families that she stayed with. She was able to get to know them and talk with them about the Lord. Please pray that God will water the seed of His love and truth that was planted in their lives. Another encouraging thing is that we were able to raise $3,000. to put in a well in a very needy area in Africa. This is being done through a mission that we partner with. They are committed to sharing the “Good News” and ministering in practical ways in needy areas. Pray that God will enable and lead us to do more for His kingdom.
Some specific prayer requests;
–pray for the mission’s conference being organized in Warsaw October 16-18 by OM. George Verwer will be the main speaker. It will take place on the 50th anniversary of OM’s ministry in Poland. Pray that many young people will come. Pray that God will touch their hearts and lives for mission. Pray that God will speak to Lila and I about our future during that time.
–pray for the marriage conference we are planning in the Rabka church October 23 + 24. Pray for the speakers, Janusz and Asia. Pray that many couples will attend. Pray that God will strengthen, heal and build marriages. Pray that God will speak to the non-Christian couples about putting their trust in Him and His word.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2Cor.4:16,17)
Thanks,
[one_half]
Doug and Lila Groth
32-434 Skomielna Biala
Nr. 623 POLAND
douggroth@poczta.onet.pl
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
ECMA-USA
P.O. Box 2217
Monument, CO
80132-2279
george.brown@ecmi.org
[/one_half_last]
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
Summer 2015
Dear Friends,
We hope you are having a good summer. Thank you for continuing to support us. We couldn’t do what God has called us to do here in Poland without your help. Much has happened since we last wrote. At the end of May we had a weekend away for the Rabka church. Half of the church members were able to travel with us for a 3 day visit to a village in southern Poland. We had a good time hiking, praying and just spending time together. We are so thankful that our son, Philip, was able to visit us for several weeks in May and June. Natalia hadn’t yet started work then and was able to spend that time with us, too. It was great to be able to do things together (all 4 of us) again. Philip has returned to Oregon where he is working at a YMCA camp until he begins his second year of university in September. Natalia began working for a pharmaceutical company in Warsaw in June. We don’t get to see her as often now but are grateful that everything is working out so well for her.
Good things have been happening in the Rabka church (not without difficulties as well). One woman from the church has left for a 2 month mission trip to the Middle East. For security reasons she can’t even say exactly where she is located. Her main ministry will be teaching English.
Please pray with us for the Kogut family. We got to know them through their son, also named Filip, who is our son, Philip’s best friend. They have come to the church several times and been to our home. Please pray that the whole family – Filip, his sister, Kaja, and her boyfriend, Kuba, and their parents – will come to know Him. Pray that we’ll be channels of God’s love and truth for them.
Not long ago we organized a get together for seniors in the Rabka church. A large group joined us from the Baptist church in Krakow. There were talks on the subjects of; anger, loneliness and caring for our bodies as we age. There was also lots of good conversation and laughter. People said they want to make it a yearly tradition.
We have also been able to do some “home improvements”. We had new outside stairs put in and, after 14 years, had our house painted (see attached pictures).
We are grateful to the Lord for the two weeks of vacation that Lila and I were able to spend recently in Slovakia. We stayed with people who care for full time Christian workers. They had lots of good books and DVDs. We visited several castles in the area. The food was fantastic. They spoiled us.
Lila and I are planning to spend a year in Oregon beginning in June 2017, Lord willing. Our home church has a house that they make available for missionaries to use and we’ve booked it for that time. We hope to be able to work, serve in our home church and spend time with our family. This will also give us time to decide about our future – whether we will return to Poland or stay in Oregon. During the two years from now till then we want to focus on two major goals. The first is to fully hand over leadership of the Rabka church to others. There are two young men in the Rabka church who are growing and developing as leaders. Please pray that they will continue to grow and take on more responsibility, as the Lord leads. Our other goal is to hand over leadership of ECM Poland to another, younger person. Please pray that God will also lead in this area.
We are planning to host a marriage conference in the Rabka church this fall. We want to strengthen marriages and also use this as an opportunity for evangelism. Please pray that the Lord will bring this together for His purposes.
With all the uncertainty and change going on around us we are grateful that we belong to the only true God Who is never changing and eternal. If we belong to Him nothing can ever separate us from His love. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb.13:8)
Please pray;
-for the woman from our church serving in the Middle East. Pray for protection. Pray that she’ll be able to deal with the heat and for wisdom to make the best use of her time.
-for the Kogut family
-for the marriage conference
-for Natalia and Philip
-that we’ll be able to hand over leadership of the Rabka church and ECM Poland in the next two years. Pray that the Lord will make His will for our future clear to us.
Thanks,
Doug and Lila Groth ECMI-USA
32-434 Skomielna Biala P.O. Box 2217
Nr. 623 Monument, CO
POLAND 80132-2279
douggroth@poczta.onet.pl george.brown@ecmi.org
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
March 2015
Dear Friends,
We are grateful to the Lord for all His blessings. We have much to be thankful for.
We are thankful that our two children (they are both adults now) love the Lord and are seeking Him and doing His will in their lives. Natalia successfully finished her 5 year program of pharmacy studies at university. She has just completed a 6 month internship at a drug store in Krakow and is in the process of looking for full time work. Philip is in his first year of a four year program of studies at George Fox Christian University in Oregon. He is doing well, enjoying his studies and making new friends. We are grateful to the Lord and to our supporters for providing the finances needed for Philip’s education.
We are thankful to the Lord for the Rabka church. We are in a time of unity, growth and excitement about what the Lord is doing and going to do in the future. New people are coming to meetings. Leaders are developing in the church. People are taking initiative to serve.
We are grateful for the many opportunities that the Lord gives Lila to use her gift for teaching the Bible. She travels to Krakow every Wednesday and Thursday to teach at the Christian grade school. She has two Bible classes with children in the Rabka church. She also has meetings with parents to teach them how to teach the Bible to their children. These meetings are also an opportunity to share the gospel with the parents. In April we will be hosting a conference for parents in the Rabka church. We are inviting other churches in the area to take part. Lila will be one of the main speakers.
We are grateful that God has given an “open door” to ministry in Nowy Sacz. We are asking Him for a “break through” in the work there.
We are thankful for relatively good health as the years pass by. God provides all our needs and enables us to help others. We are grateful for the many opportunities He gives us for ministry. We are also grateful that He continues to teach us new things and draw us closer to Himself.
We are also thankful that our future is in His hands. We want to be in the center of His will and know that He has good plans for us (Jer. 29:11). Nothing can separate us from His love.
Please pray;
-that Natalia will soon find the best possible work
-that the Rabka church will continue to move ahead and develop in maturity and unity
-for a breakthrough in the work in Nowy Sacz
-for Lila’s teaching ministry
-that more and more people will come to know Christ in this part of Poland and grow to maturity in Him
-for the parents conference in Rabka April 25 + 26
[one_half]
Doug and Lila Groth
32-434 Skomielna Biala
Nr. 623 POLAND
douggroth@poczta.onet.pl
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
ECMA-USA
P.O. Box 2217
Monument, CO
80132-2279
george.brown@ecmi.org
[/one_half_last]
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
End of summer 2014
“Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down…” (Is. 64:1a)
This has been our prayer in the Rabka church for years. During the last week of August God answered those prayers in a very literal and visible way. Werner Oder visited us for the fourth time. There were many meetings planned throughout the week, a meeting with Holocaust survivors from Rabka, other parts of Poland and America, an evangelistic meeting in the Rabka church. Werner taught at another church we work with on Friday. On Saturday there was an outdoor baptism and wedding. On Sunday Werner spoke and I (Doug) led communion. There were testimonies, prayer and worship.
According to Jonathan Edwards the signs of a true revival are;
- When esteem for the true Jesus is raised
- When Satan’s kingdom is attacked
- When people come to love the Scriptures more
- When men are led from falsehood into truth
- When there is an increase in love to God and man (all from 1John4)
Each of these signs took place and continue to be seen in the Rabka church. The four people who were baptized boldly spoke about how Jesus Christ had totally transformed their lives and families. Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, was clearly, lovingly and boldly preached. God is speaking to us through His word and there is an increasing hunger for the pure word of God. People gave testimony of how God has been pointing out sin and how they are repenting of it. We have a growing desire to get rid of all hypocrisy and half-heartedness. We want to be clean, holy and filled with the power and love of God. God is doing a new thing in us. It is real. We believe it will continue as we seek Him with all our hearts. To God be the glory!
One of the things that especially struck me was the beehive of activity. So much to be done (preparation of food, arranging for seating, setting up the baptisterium, speaking and translating, inviting people and caring for guests, etc.) and everyone pitched in and just did it. There were people from all over Poland, brothers and sisters in Christ from Belgium and other places. Narcyz (one of the 4 people who was baptized) belongs to a Christian motorcycle club. They have an amazing, God blessed ministry of reaching out to other bikers. About 25 others (with wives and kids) from his club showed up to support him and his wife, Lucyna, as they were baptized and re-dedicated their marriage to God. Many new people just “showed up”.
God miraculously gave us perfect weather. The day before everything began it poured down rain. During the week, and especially on Saturday when everything was outside, it was sunny and warm. After we finished the service on Sunday the rain came back.
We will never forget the amazing week God gave us. Our God is amazing. Thank you for the part you played through your prayer and support.
Please pray;
-for those God has touched and continues to touch
-conversion
-repentance from sin, lukewarmness, judgemental and proud attitudes
-that we (the Rabka church) will live in the fullness of God
-love
-holiness
-the power of the Holy Spirit
-wisdom
-humility
-courage
-for protection against the schemes of the devil
God bless and thanks,
Doug and Lila
Doug and Lila Groth ECMI-USA
32-434 Skomielna Biala P.O. Box 2217
Nr. 623 Monument, CO
POLAND 80132
douggroth@poczta.onet.pl george.brown@ecmi.org
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
Summer 2014
“making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Eph.5:16)
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your continual support. We are grateful to the Lord for His goodness to us. Much has happened in the past few months and we are excited about all that the Lord has planned for us in the next year.
One of the most exciting things ahead of us is the baptism/wedding planned for Aug. 30 in Rabka (pictures to follow). Four people (two married couples) from the Rabka church will be baptized. One couple, Narcyz and Lucyna, came to know Christ not long ago. Their 10 year old daughter, Laura, and their 8 year old son, Jurek, also gave their lives to Christ. They only had a civil wedding when they were married. Now that they have given their lives to Christ they want to have a “church wedding” to be right in the sight of God and man and to give testimony of God’s goodness to them. Our good friend Werner Oder plans to be in Rabka that week and we have planned several meetings focused on evangelism and reconciliation. We are anticipating a week full of God’s blessing and working. Please pray together with us.
Lila and I are trying to get used to just the two of us being together again. Those of you who have experienced the “empty nest” situation know what it is like. We praise the Lord that Natalia has successfully completed her pharmacy studies. She will begin a 6 month internship at a drug store in Krakow this fall. Philip is in the States, working at a YMCA camp until he begins his studies at George Fox University in September. We thank the Lord that both of our kids know and love and are following Him. Please pray that they will follow His leading in their lives and fully live for Him.
Lila’s ministries include; the Christian grade school in Krakow, involvement in CEF, ministry in the Rabka church (teaching children, parents, women and seniors). She enjoyed her ministry trip with Natalia to Uganda last winter and feels that God used them in a significant way. She is open to more trips to Uganda in the future as the Lord leads. Please pray.
I (Doug) keep busy leading the Rabka church (preaching and teaching, heading up the church leadership team, visitation and evangelism). Last year I began teaching English regularly to teenagers in Nowy Sacz. This year I plan to focus more on church planting there. I want to travel to N.S. more often and am asking God to bring together a church planting team. Please pray that God would lead and bless in the work in N.S. and that He would give us leaders for the Rabka church.
We are grateful to the Lord that we were able to have a 2 week vacation in July at the Polish seaside – total relax.
One thing that most missionaries have in common is that from time to time we need to work on raising support for life and ministry. For several reasons we need to focus again on support raising. One of our main supporting churches is no longer able to support us. Some long time supporters have retired or for other reasons can no longer help with our support. There are extra expenses for our kid’s education, our medical needs and new ministry initiatives. I (Doug) am planning a trip to the US from Oct.22 to Nov.19 for this reason. I’ll be on the east coast this time (Atlanta, Georgia and Columbia, S.Carolina). If you know of people in this area who might be interested in our ministry please let me know. Pray that God would bless this trip and give good ministry opportunities and a significant increase in our support.
“Only one life, will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last”
God bless and thanks,
Doug and Lila
Doug and Lila Groth ECMI-USA
32-434 Skomielna Biala P.O. Box 2217
Nr. 623 Monument, CO
POLAND 80132
douggroth@poczta.onet.pl george.brown@ecmi.org
Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
May 2014
Dear Friends,
We are thankful to the Lord for the good things that we have experienced in the past few months. Thanks for praying! Lila and Natalia’s 3 week ministry trip to Uganda went well. God kept them safe and healthy and used them to be a blessing. I (Doug) was able to enjoy a week long conference that our mission organized on the Croatian seacoast. It was a good time to relax, enjoy great Bible ministry and dream and plan for the future. We are grateful that God continues to work in the Rabka church and we are planning to baptize 4 new people this summer.
We have a lot on the calendar in the next few weeks and would like to ask you to especially pray;
-May 10 – all day teaching for the Rabka church “Who we are in Christ”
-May 17 – all day teaching for the Rabka church “Death and what’s next?”
-May 18 – “born again” birthday party
-May 25 – “seeing Philip off” party
-July 1-5 – English camp in Rabka
-July 1-15 – vacation at the seaside in the north of Poland
-August 30 – baptism and wedding in the Rabka church
We have invited friends, both believers and non-believers, to my (Doug) birthday party on May 18. What most of them don’t know is that it’s really my “born again” birthday party (I gave my life to Christ May 19, 1974). We plan to have a great time together and then I want to explain that I’m 40 years old (not 58!). I plan to read from John 3 about being “born again” and then share my testimony and the gospel. Please pray that everyone who God wants to be there will show up. Please pray for His presence, blessing and joy. Pray that God’s word and my testimony of His love and grace will be well received and bear fruit for Him.
In just a few weeks we will be saying good bye to our son, Philip. On June 2 he will fly to Oregon. It will be a huge change for him and a heartache for us. We are all confident that God is leading him and are excited about all that is ahead. He plans to live with our parents in Vancouver, WA for the summer, find work (please pray) and spend time with family before he begins his studies at George Fox University in the fall. Please pray that God will bless our “seeing Philip off” party, his final piano concert in Rabka on May 30 and will fill his heart with His peace and love.
Please continue to pray that God will make His plans for our future clear to us and that we’ll be faithful. Please also continue to pray for our financial needs. God is faithful. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19) Thanks!
Doug, Lila, Natalia and Philip Groth
The Groths ECMI
32-434 Skomielna Biala P.O. Box 181
Nr. 623 POLAND West Unity, OH
43570-0181
douggroth@poczta.onet.pl george.brown@ecmi.org
Please read the Groth Uganda Letter.
Philip Groth letter for Ethiopia trip.
Doug and Lila Groth
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