Arwa, Arman and their young children, like many thousands of others, decided to leave their country of origin to seek a better life in Poland. Poland, the bridge between East and West, and a vibrant European nation of 38 million, offers a home for people from other Slavic countries, the Middle East, Asia and Africa who experience limited freedom or access to followers of Jesus and His message of peace and restoration. In seeking economic stability, this family discovered God loves and cares for them personally.
Arwa* and Arman* grew up in the Middle East amongst families who recognised the authority of God but did not have a personal relationship with His Son. Arwa explained:
“I was born into a religious Muslim family. My parents always went to the mosque, and I must go to mosque, too. But Islam is difficult if you are a woman. And even in the mosque, the Muslim holy book [the Qur’an] was only in Arabic, so I was dependent upon the mullah [religious teacher] to interpret for me.”
Arwa and Arman were introduced to one another through their families, and married after Arwa completed her law degree at university. Her studies highlighted the challenges facing women in Islam, particularly around their treatment in a divorce. Her cry: “Why, Mullah? Why is [Islam] only good for men?” went unanswered.
Arwa observed: “In my city, many people believe in God but do not talk about Jesus. We have a free Armenian church, but it’s not in Persian, my heart language. Sometimes I did go to church, but unfortunately, they couldn’t get the Bible in Persian, so I didn't understand much.”
Arman and Arwa found it difficult to work fairly within the national legal system. Over four years ago, it became impossible for them to continue. They decided Arman needed to leave the country and would travel to Poland to register and set up a restaurant business. As their children were still very young, Arwa remained in the Middle East until their son was old enough to travel. Two and half years later, they joined Arman in Warsaw. The family was reunited.
However, Arman’s business hopes had not materialised. A scam for a fake business registration had defrauded him of all his savings. He had no choice but to apply for refugee status, whilst working for cash in local kebab restaurants to enable him to live. He was eventually awarded refugee status and now works officially in a local bistro.
Another Persian refugee family decided to move from Warsaw just as Arwa and the children arrived. They offered Arwa items from their flat they were unable take with them. She went to collect them – and met OM team leader, Weronika, who had come to say goodbye to the family.
“Weronika gave me her phone number, and two days later she texted me to invite me to her house!” Arwa exclaimed. It was all so unexpected. “Even my husband said: "I'm here in Warsaw for a few years, but nobody has invited me to their house. You must go!”” She did and Weronika gave her a Persian Bible —the book she had so wanted to read in her heart language.
A love for all people
The OM team in Warsaw were well placed to understand the challenges Arwa and Arman faced with their young family, having established a project to reach out to refugees from a Muslim background combining practical aid and discipleship. As followers of Christ, they offered love, practical help, including support through legal procedures, getting the children into schools, language learning and other assistance. The team also held out an invitation to a new life in Jesus, one of the few projects of its kind in Poland. Although Arwa and Arman have not yet received their residency cards, Arwa may support other Persian-speaking refugees by volunteering in the café and joining language studies in the Centre.
“Weronika asked me if I would volunteer just to make tea and coffee, and I felt I could do that,” Arwa said. “So, for one year I travelled one hour by train to the Centre every day to volunteer. I also started to learn English and Polish; slowly, I learnt to speak Polish better, which means I can now go to the [refugee] camp with the OM team, just to talk to the women. I ask: “Do you need anything? A doctor? Help with looking for a job, writing a CV, or maybe a translator? I speak some Polish, not fluently, but I can do these things,” Arwa smiled.
As Arwa and Arman’s children now go to school, Arwa has time to study English and Polish — and her Bible. At the Centre, she can ask her questions about God, whilst practising her English and Polish. “I’m working with a leader of Persian Bible and the team. My husband and children go to Bible reading in Persian too every week and have just started online Bible school in our heart language – we love it!” Arwa exclaimed. “I thought I had met Weronika by accident — I now believe it was God’s plan to direct me towards Jesus.”
Arwa and Arman had always wanted to understand more about God, Jesus and other religions. They recognised the OM team had something different. “I could see the love they [the team] had for people not just believers in Jesus, and their desire to help refugees, not just from Ukraine or Europe, but all people,” Arwa explained. This love powerfully impacted them. They decided to put their trust in Jesus and follow Him from then on. A year ago, they were both baptised as believers of Jesus.
“It was a difficult decision,” admitted Arwa. “Because I was born into a practising Muslim family. Although my father no longer attends mosque; he is disillusioned by what is happening in the Middle East.” But the couple do not feel they can tell their families about their step of faith. “We would love to tell them of the hope Jesus offers — in person, and afterwards hope they will come to Jesus as many Persians are now doing. But they have no access to Bibles in Persian,” they said.
“We cannot go home to visit because as followers of Jesus with refugee status it would be dangerous,” said Arwa, sadly. “But my mother might visit my sisters in Europe. My third sister and brother both still live in the Middle East, though.”
Defrauded of his savings, Arman found it hard to get a job. Polish is a hard language to learn and most employers expect proficiency. But he now works long hours in the bistro kitchen to provide for the family, and his Polish and English are improving. He believes God will look after them. “God provided work for me through OM,” pointed out Arwa. Both she and Arman know His care for their children and have seen how He has changed their lives as they put their trust in Him.
Pray for Arwa and Arman as they demonstrate their faith in Jesus every day, and that they would know God’s provision for them, and their wider family. Pray for the work of the OM team in helping, supporting and discipling the refugees. Pray for those coming to faith from other cultural perspectives; they pay a heavy price in putting their trust in Jesus.
*name changed