A Call From God
I was an atheist. My father was a Major in
the Polish Army and my mother was a nominal Catholic.
In the year 1987, I had to escape from Poland. I had done so
many stupid things in my life and I wanted to run away as
far as it was possible.
I went to Norway, and after 6 weeks went to Denmark. My life
collapsed, and I wanted to commit suicide. Long story.
Finally, I said: Jesus if you really exist, please help me.
A few minutes later (it was 4 a.m.) a man appeared, and
asked me a strange question.
What are you doing here? He was a Muslim, from Jordan, but
had been living in Sweden for the last few years. I finally
decided to go with him to Sweden, although I never had any
desire to go there.
The next day he took me to a Baptist church in the town and
for the first time I saw a church different from the
Catholic one.
I was not interested in it, but something happened in me.
After a few months, that same man robbed me from all my
money, $1500, and kicked me out from his home. Many
problems! After that, some people helped me get a flat, and
at Christmas I was invited for supper for lonely people. I
went there, and I met a Polish lady. She told me how she
received a polish Bible “for free” from the pastor. So I
asked the pastor for a free Bible! (In those days I would
not pay for such a book!!)
He hesitated, but he said yes.
A few weeks later, I was invited for a meeting in one of the
houses and when I entered the house, they said: Jacek we
have something special for you.
I thought it would be a car - it was winter, lots of snow,
and I had to ride my bike!
Unfortunately, it was not a car; it was a Bible in Polish.
That day become a crucial day of my whole life. On that
particular day they had ‘communion’. I opened the Bible and
I read that many are sick, and weak, etc because they
mistreated the communion. The fear of the Lord was upon me.
I knew that if I touched the bread and wine, I would surely
die. I saw my whole life in a matter of a few seconds. I did
not want to go to take the bread and wine, but some angelic
force pushed me off the chair, against my will. With tear in
my eyes, I went to the table, and … after that I heard a
voice: ‘Go and say thank you to the pastor for the Bible’.
I went but I could not stop weeping.
I cried for at least 1,5 hour. I saw my dirty life.
Something changed in me. I did not know, what had happened.
Long story…. I went home. On the way home, I cried, laughed,
ran, walked, and danced! I was literally flying.
On that day, 16th of February 1988, God Almighty spoke to
me. He said, ‘ I am calling you to the ministry – in
English!
In those days I had only been speaking English no longer
than 3 months. I did not understand what ‘Ministry’ meant
and when I looked up the word in the dictionary, then I
realize it meant ‘priest’. I said ‘NO WAY!
I argued with God that I wanted marry, and I loved life, and
in no way was I going to be a priest!
For 3 months I read the Bible 10-12 hours every day, I also
watched a lot of videos. One of the videos was with the
German evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke in Africa.
At 4 am I was still watching it, when I heard a voice.
‘How long do I have to wait with the gift I have for you?’
I went immediately to bed, I thought I had gone crazy!
The following morning whilst taking my shower, I became
paralysed. Then, I heard a small voice,
‘Do not be afraid, it is Me who is talking to you’.
Naked and still wait, I dropped on the floor and started to
cry. (Long story………. )
The next day was Sunday and we had a guest speaker in the
church, an American evangelist. Before going to church I
said to God if it was Him speaking to me then He had to
confirm it in the meeting.
The ‘first sentence’, which the evangelist spoke out, was
the exact same words I had heard 8 hours earlier! I started
to weep. I knew it was God.
At the end of that day I lifted up my arms and I said (not
knowing anything about covenant)’Lord, everything I have I
am giving you, and what ever you have I am receiving.’ After
that I ate, and I wrote 15-20 long letters by hand,
explaining my new way of life with God and my commitment to
serve Him.
(I’ve left out many things!)
Finally, I went to Bible school in Sweden, with signs and
wonders, and after one year in 1988/1989 I went to Norway.
God showed me 6 months earlier in an open vision a ship with
many Americans on it (although it was a Norwegian vessel).
In the vision I was the only one who knew the Lord, and the
ship was in trouble – a hurricane.
So after the school I went to Oslo. Police gave me 5 minutes
to leave Oslo, but I knew that God had sent me there. So I
prayed. I picked up a magazine and I saw an advert:
‘English speaking waiter needed onboard a cruise ship’.
That advert jumped out from the page. I knew it was the job
I had to get.
[By the way, I was trained in gastronomy. I had worked in
the best restaurant in Poland. I spoke German, French,
Russian, Italian, Swedish and a little English in those
days. ]
A loooonnnnggggg story, but I got the job – It was a
miracle!
Keep in mind that I was from the East block! There was no
other person on that ship from such countries.
I started to witness to people on board the ship. Passengers
– American millionaires.
I became the best bar waiter, after I became the best bar
tender and finally I became the bar manager of all bars.
One day as we were sailing in the middle of the Atlantic
Ocean, the captain gave a disturbing announcement. He
informed us that we were heading into a strong hurricane and
that we were in God’s hand. The ship was only 10 000 tons,
it was pretty small. It was like a cork bobbing frantically
in the water!
I went up on deck and I started to pray just like Jesus.
‘Peace, I commanded’. ‘ Hurricane, I command you to leave
our route.’
After 1 hour the captain said, the hurricane had changed
direction, and we were saved. Praise God.
I new it was the end of my mission on that ship.
In the mean time I had been praying for an English speaking
wife. God miraculously put us together (another long story).
We have been married for 10 ½ years and we have a wonderful
8 year old son, called Isaac.
After leaving the ship, we went to England to see Wendy’s
family. After that, we went to Poland for 3 months, to see
my family.
Finally, we got married and wanted to go one more time on
the ship to get some money for a house.
Well, I was given an offer of a contract but Wendy wasn’t
allowed to work on the same ship.
So, we decided to stay in Poland. I started to look for a
good church.
One day our young Christian neighbour said that she had
heard about some people like us. So I invited them home.
They were from the Pentecostal church. After hours of
witnessing to them, they invited me to their church and
asked me to give my testimony.
Since that day I haven’t stopped preaching!
After some time, we went to Szczecin (in the North- East of
Poland). It is a City of 500,000. During our first visit to
the City by train God said so clearly that we would be
living here for some time.
Six months later we moved to that city. After another six 6
months we started a new church, called “Christ for All”.
During the last 6 years, we have registered 6 more
congregations in different parts of Poland.
Together with a team of brothers we started a Bible School 5
years ago, with 30 teachers.
God was and is so good to us. We started with nothing, and
after 10 years we see how he has led us to this place. We
have multiplied ourselves in many leaders, and now we feel
it is time to move on.
This time we go to an English-speaking country. Although my
wife is British, God has put into our hearts the USA.
(Chicago)
So, in 9 days time we go together as a family to spy out the
land and to prepare the necessary documents. Hopefully, in a
few months time we will go to start a brand new church.
Well, I have tried to summarize my testimony as much as
possible but it still looks very winded! Sorry!!
Please think of us in your prayers. We have to take some big
steps of faith. But it is reassuring to now that ‘with God
all things are possible’.
God bless you.
Love Jacek, Wendy and Isaac Wheadon.
Jacek Wheadon
56chevrolet@email.msn.com (Received
in Thursday April 18, 2002)
