Sitting in chapel at MST, listening to a visiting speaker, was something Jordan Crispin had done countless times before.
But on this particular day, the speaker was a mission worker in the nominally Catholic nation of Poland. And, as Jordan listened, he felt deeply convicted to consider Poland as a place of ministry to engage with what God was doing there.
Neither Jordan nor his wife, Kirsty, also an MST graduate, had ever thought they would serve God overseas. In fact, they had only briefly discussed the prospect. But when Jordan mentioned his encounter with the Lord, Kirsty was totally on board with the idea.
After the dust had settled and decisions were made, Jordan and Kirsty, together with their then five-month- old baby, began the process of heading overseas.
They spoke at churches to gather financial and prayer support, and were even able to to visit the Polish church with which they would be working.
“It was a closed door,” Kirsty says. “But it didn’t change the plans or our desire to go.”
When God finally opened the door for the Crispins to travel to Poland (now with two children in tow) they settled in a big town near the Ukrainian border.
They were only there a few months before Russia invaded Ukraine and God opened another unexpected door.
With an estimated four million Ukrainian women and children crossing the border into Poland, most coming through their town, the Crispins were pulled into service, helping to meet the physical needs of the refugees.
God had preemptively placed them in the place where he would use them to support others.
“Our kitchen became an industrial kitchen, and our neighbours, who were also our team leaders, effectively operated a hostel,” Kirsty says.
“The devastation and pain caused by the invasion, and subsequent war, is an open door the Crispins could never have imagined or desired, but God is using it.”
When it became apparent that spiritual caring was also needed, they saw yet another open door! Their church quickly doubled in size, and ministry increased. The church is now looking at constructing a bigger building to house their needs.
The devastation and pain caused by the invasion, and subsequent war, is an open door the Crispins could never have imagined or desired, but God is using it.
With their town strategically placed to provide both spiritual and practical aid, Jordan says the eyes of the world are looking at the region, asking, ‘What is needed in the Ukraine’ and, ‘What is needed in Poland’?
The Crispins were supported by MST and Eastern students as part of the Student Missions Project in Semester 2.
