The Pikes minister to people from all over the world. Most of them are in their late 20s to late 40s and are college-educated. The country in which they work is predominantly non-Protestant, with many people practicing a type of nominal Christianity. The Protestant population is only 3%. Capitalism has now been here for 36 years, meaning that the current generation never grew up under socialism. Instead, the country has been heavily hit by consumerism and religious scandals, with the result that people are just not interested in Christianity and the organized church.
About us:
Samuel committed his life to Christ at age 7. While studying history at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, he was actively involved in a prayer group that interested him in becoming an intercultural worker for Christ. In 1991, he earned a master of Divinity. Having spent the summers of 1989 and 1990 in the country, Samuel saw God calling him to become a career intercultural worker there. From 1992 to 1995, He started to learn the language and culture and worked in a local church through WorldVenture. During these years, he became an elder in the church and met his wife, Krystyna.
Krystyna was reared in a religious home. The knowledge of God from home and church gave her a spiritual stepping stone, but did not bridge the gap that she felt existed between her and God. While studying at University, a friend helped her understand the Gospel. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior, which completed that spiritual bridge. She met Samuel in 1993 while attending his Sunday School class. A year and a half later, they were married and, since then, have ministered together to churches and people.
Over the years Samuel and Krystyna have ministered in various ways. They helped to plant three churches, Krystyna helped to start the first Evangelical elementary school in the city, she trained children ministry workers and authored curriculum for children’s Christian education, and Samuel helped to start a school that trained Protestant Christians to be intercultural workers for the Kingdom of God. Since 2019, their roles have changed. They are now part of an international church with people from all over the world. Krystyna’s main ministry centers around mentoring women in the church, meeting with the elderly, and translation work. Samuel occasionally preaches, mentors different men in the church, and has also started a men’s Bible study. He also continues to teach at the intercultural school mentioned above. Together, they have also trained future leaders in their church.
Oftentimes, in international churches, there is a lack of rootedness. People tend to come and go as they switch from being students to employees, switch jobs, and generally do not know where they want to live for the rest of their lives. Samuel and Krystyna have noticed that a lack of rootedness may be caused by their church members’ lack of knowledge of the culture and the local language. This makes it difficult for them to find better jobs and also destabilizes the church. They would like to offer classes on how to navigate through culture shock, encourage them to learn the language, teach about how living in a different culture affects one’s identity, teach them about the local culture, and help them to better prepare their children for living in a foreign country. This is important as there are currently eight international churches in their city, three of which are entirely African. Most of these people have come to study, work, and offer their children a better future, but many have not considered why God has called them to live here. Samuel and Krystyna’s background in preparing intercultural workers will greatly help these people. Pray that they would gain roots here and come to a more profound knowledge of why God has called them here.
Samuel is currently working on his doctorate and has conducted studies concerning Protestantism in his country. Upon completion of his degree, he would like to continue publishing studies on the Protestant church as a way of encouraging it and helping it navigate through problems that constantly inhibit it from growing.
