A Lesson in Gospel Hospitality: A Polish Church’s Radical Response to Refugees in Need with Oliwer Cieślar

What does it look like when a church opens its arms to strangers in crisis? Discover how radical hospitality prepared fertile ground for sharing the gospel with Ukrainian refugees.

📖 Summary:

In this deeply moving episode, Pastor Oliwer Cieslar shares how his church in Poland became a place of refuge and transformation during the Ukrainian war. With no refugee infrastructure in place, the Polish church—and the wider community—mobilized overnight to provide shelter, food, and spiritual care to thousands. Discover how a crisis became a catalyst for gospel hospitality and lasting unity in the body of Christ.

🔑 Main Points:

• Crisis Met with Compassion: In the early days of the war, Oliwer’s church of 200 mobilized and organized buses to rescue 650+ refugees, providing shelter and support.
• From Short-Term Shelter to Long-Term Integration: As weeks turned into years, the church adapted—offering language classes, job support, and a spiritual home for displaced Ukrainians.
• Stories of Salvation and Unity: Oliwer shares powerful stories of Ukrainian refugees finding faith in Christ and being baptized into a new spiritual family.
• Lessons for the Global Church: Compassion became a spiritual awakening in a secularizing culture. Oliwer challenges global churches to embrace the power of hospitality.

Guest Bio:

Oliwer Cieślar born in Poland, associate pastor in local church in Opole. Holds degree in Computer Science and Masters at Practical Theology from Glyndwr University. In ministry since 2014, works for online evangelism ministry DeoLink Association. Project manager for The Chosen TV series in Poland. Husband and a father of two daughters.