Polish in Venezuela

Polish
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People Name: Polish
Country: Venezuela
10/40 Window: No
Population: 8,300
World Population: 45,860,300
Primary Language: Polish
Primary Religion: Christianity
Christian Adherents: 90.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.30 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: Slav, Western
Affinity Bloc: Eurasian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

If it is possible to feel sorry for a nation's geographic position. One has to feel that way for Poland, located on a plain between the often aggressive nations of Germany and Russia. More than once, Germany and Russia have sliced off parts of Poland. The most recent example was in the fall of 1939 when the Nazis and the Soviet Army invaded Poland from opposite directions and conquered the entire country. As late as the early 18th century Poland was a power as part of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. Since that time Poland has frequently been a victim of its powerful neighbors.
With the fall of communism in 1990-91, Poland became an independent nation. Today Poland has a rapidly developing economy and is member of NATO and the EU.
There has been a Polish diaspora for centuries. The first significant wave of emigration occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily due to economic and political factors. Today, many Poles continue to emigrate for economic opportunities, and there is also a significant number of Poles who have settled in other countries as students or as a result of family reunification. The largest groups of Poles abroad are in Germany, the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Canada, though they can also be found in Venezuela.
The Poles have had contact with Venezuelans as early as the 1630s. There was a failed attempt by the Polish to colonize Venezuela. During Venezuela's war for independence, Polish military officer, Izydor Borowski, was made a general by Simon Bolivar. After Venezuelan independence, a small number of Polish scientists, clergy, architects, and engineers moved to the newly liberated country. There were much larger waves of Polish migrants moving to Venezuela. The first were Jewish people who left Poland during the Holocaust. The second wave happened when Poland became communist. The third one was in the late 1950s. Most of these Poles are well-integrated into Venezuelan society.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Typically, Poles in Venezuela have small, family-owned businesses. They have had an impact in other ways, especially in the areas of sports, the arts, academics, architecture, and engineering. A couple women have been beauty contestants.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Polish people are recognized as some of the world's most devout Roman Catholics. The Roman Catholic Church helped the Poles maintain their national identity when they were ruled by foreign powers. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, many Poles have become more interested in their families' material possessions rather than being involved in Roman Catholic Church. Still, a large majority of Poles consider themselves Roman Catholics. They are baptized, married and buried in the Roman church. Polish priests serve the Roman church all over the world.
Evangelicals and Roman Catholics have much in common. Both believe in the deity of Christ, the Trinity and the inspiration of the Scriptures. Evangelicals disagree with Catholics on the primacy of the Bishop of Roman and the practice of praying to Mary and the saints. There is also disagreement regarding the role works play in salvation.

What Are Their Needs?

The Poles need to understand that biblical Christianity is a love relationship with their Creator made known through Jesus Christ. It is more than a religious tradition and a system of morals.

Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to revive the Polish church based on Jesus Christ and his word.
Pray the Lord leads Poles in Venezuela to listen with open hearts to radio programs and watch TV programs that teach the biblical gospel.
Ask the Lord to save priests and bishops in the Roman Catholic Church so they can lead thousands to Christ-centered living.
Pray for Polish Christ followers to actively take the Lord to those who need his salvation and grace.

Text Source:   Joshua Project