Magdalena Wysocka is a church leader in Poland.
When did you trust Christ?
I grew up in a Roman Catholic family, and my parents often talked with me about Christianity and God. Faith was essential in our home. My dad always wanted to know God better. He started reading the Bible, and soon after, he gave his life to Jesus and joined the evangelical community. My mom did the same. When I was 16, I went to a Christian camp, trusted Jesus, and committed my life to follow Him. I prayed a simple prayer from a small book—'4 Spiritual Laws'. I know I am loved and forgiven by God.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
My parents have discipled me in spiritual growth. I spent many hours asking questions, reading the Bible, and making statements about my faith. Very quickly, I started to lead others to Christ. I shared the Gospel with my classmates and friends and led a Bible study. I was involved in the student ministry Campus Crusade for Christ during my studies. That community impacted me very much. I grew in my knowledge of the Bible and skills like sharing the Gospel, discipling others, and actively listening. I also took a class in Christian counselling, which I loved. I met my husband through the Cru ministry, and we decided to join Cru as full-time staff missionaries. My first mentor from Cru helped me discover my gifts, work through my weaknesses, and grow in my theological understanding of the Bible. Some difficult health issues and pregnancy were God's tools to bring me closer to Him, discover again my identity in Christ, and see my image of God (who He is).
What do you hope to gain from participating?
The Forum has helped me grow in maturity, knowledge, and skills. I felt encouraged and supported. I would like to return to learn from mature leaders and deepen my knowledge of God's Word.
What is your ministry?
As a church leader, I lead Sunday school for two groups of kids (ages three to six and seven to ten), run Bible study groups, and teach at monthly women's meetings. As a Christian therapist, I support couples by providing counselling, advice, courses, marriage conferences, retreats, and family camps. I am also a Polish leader of a ministry called Women Walk with Christ.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
As a young girl, I led a Bible study for my friends. Then, I was one of the youth pastors in my church, and I still focused on teaching the Word of God and leading Bible groups. During my studies, I volunteered at Cru and was one of the student leaders. I joined Cru as a full-time missionary when I graduated from the university, where Cru trained me in teaching and leading Bible groups. My husband and I worked with Cru for 13 years, and then we joined a different mission agency—International Messengers. I have been serving in IM for five years. Now, the primary environment where I could use Bible teaching and study is women from church.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
My husband and I are pretty young. We know many people in our town, and we feel our influence can be better and bigger. We want to learn more about walking with God as missionaries and leaders. We are aware of traps in Christian life, and we want to learn from others who are walking by faith not only today but also as long-distance runners.
