Mateusz Aftanas is a church elder serving his community and preparing the next generation of leaders.
When did you trust Christ?
For as long as I can remember, my father told me about God, faith, and the love that Jesus shows us. Amid growing up in a broken family, faith and prayer became the foundation of my life. I have never doubted that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
My attitude in church definitely changed as a teenager when I started to apply sermons in my life. However, the most pivotal moment in my journey came from the influence of my Pastor when I moved to Warsaw. He inspired me and encouraged me to take responsibility for our church and the people around me. If God hadn’t brought him into my life, it would have taken me longer to become so deeply involved in serving the Church.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
Our congregation is one of the oldest Baptist churches in Poland. There are few Bible study groups, and most members are primarily Sunday listeners. At the European Leadership Forum, I believe I can learn how to start new home groups and inspire people to become actively involved in the local church community.
What is your ministry?
My ministry is primarily focused on conversations with church members, involvement in expansion, and leading discussions about the future and structure of the congregation during elder meetings. Once a month, I lead our Sunday service, and every few months, I deliver the evening sermon during midweek services. Further, God has placed a calling on my heart to serve the congregation by helping members lead weekly Bible studies and equip new leaders to take responsibility for our church.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
In my home church, I helped lead youth meetings by occasionally sharing Bible reflections. After moving to Warsaw, I was involved in a student ministry for a time. Since then, my wife and I, along with another couple, started a Bible study in our district. Later, I helped launch another Bible study in a different district of Warsaw.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
The wellbeing of our church is close to my heart. For the past several years, I have dedicated as much time to ministry in the church as to my professional work. I have a strong desire to grow theologically and spiritually, as well as to expand my knowledge of wise church leadership. Attending the European Leadership Forum will allow me to deepen my knowledge and grow spiritually, which will certainly benefit our church and, in turn, new believers in our community.
