Szymon Szymczak is an elder and church council member at First Baptist Church in Warsaw, also providing support to the media and worship teams.
When did you trust Christ?
Before we were married, my wife shared her faith with me and proclaimed the Gospel. I initially resisted attending church, but my attitude began to change. I became more open to Christianity and read apologetics texts, though not Scripture itself. This changed when I attended a student group where we read Romans together. In that moment, I was touched by God's Word and began to pray sincerely. After trusting Christ over ten years ago, I remember feeling a strong conviction to be baptised during a worship service and thought, “What am I waiting for? What is standing in the way?” A few months later, I was baptised.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
Many defining moments have taken place over longer periods of my life. When I was dating my wife, she faithfully shared the Gospel with me despite my initial scepticism. After becoming a Christian, a pastor invested in me as a young leader. When our pastor stepped down from ministry, I had to take on more responsibility for the church and its growth.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
Attending the Forum will provide me with the opportunity to grow in biblical leadership, strengthen my ability to serve as an elder, and gain new tools for equipping others in ministry. It will allow me to learn from experienced leaders across Europe, exchange ideas, and build relationships that can support both my personal development and the growth of the church I serve. I expect this training to help me better support our worship and media teams, collaborate more effectively with other leaders, and contribute to the long-term mission of our church.
What is your ministry?
I currently serve as an elder and member of the church council. I share the responsibility of shepherding the congregation, caring for its spiritual growth, and providing direction for the church’s mission. In addition, I support the media and worship teams. I have recently begun working more closely with all church leaders to strengthen collaboration and develop our ministry.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
In my professional career, I have led numerous projects in the field of IT which required strong organisational skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage resources effectively to achieve long-term goals. In the church context, I, along with other leaders, took on greater responsibility when our pastor stepped down to ensure the stability and development of the church. This period greatly shaped my leadership skills in the area of pastoral care, teamwork, and decision-making.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
In my ministry roles, I am committed to using my skills to build a stronger church and extend the reach of the Gospel. Further training will allow me to grow as a leader, better serve the local church and Baptist community in Poland, serve leaders, and contribute to the development of future generations of believers. I want to invest in others, like how people invested in me. Receiving a scholarship would allow me to fully engage in the Forum without worrying about financial constraints and empower me to focus on growing as a disciple-making leader.
