By Bobby Davis
Communism controlled Poland after the Second World War, and life in Warsaw was arduous for the Jazwinski family, since they were Catholic and refused to join the Communist Party. But the spring of 1950 burst bright with hope as they welcomed the birth of their son Janek (pronounced, Yon´-ik). He grew up rooted in the Catholic tradition; he married in the church, and soon his wife gave him a daughter, followed four years later by a son. Janek worked hard and long, but they remained poor.
In 1984, the same year Danny Shelton heard God’s call to begin 3ABN, the 34-year old Janek traveled to the United States to build a more promising future for his family. He found work in California, and decided he wanted to become a U.S. citizen.
Heartache and Despair
During his time there, he says, in his Polish accent, “I work for large company, Goodwill Industries, as truck driver. I drive and pick up donation from all kinds of people. I keep working there for 25 years. I would write my wife about California and I tell her I want her to come to States and bring children, but she write back saying, ‘I don’t want to come, my family is in Poland and my life is here, I don’t want to come.’
“I was very disappointed,” says Janek, “but what could I do? I was having a very hard time to get legal, to get my citizenship, and my wife and children would not move here. I was very close to my daughter, and not having my family with me, I become very depressed.
“I got in my car one day and was driving to a cliff along the coast near my home in Salinas. I was going to jump and kill myself. But while I was driving, the Holy Spirit was riding with me in my car. I see nobody, but I hear a small voice say, What are you doing? I knew it was the Lord, and I say, ‘I am going to cliff and kill myself. I have trouble with immigration, I have no money to pay, I miss my family and they no want to come here, my wife no want me, so I go to kill myself.’
“The Lord asked me, Janek, Who gave you life? I looked at passenger seat and I told, ‘You did Lord.’ So I hear this voice and that is what made me turn away go back home. The Lord give me time to work things out and He put people in my way and they help me get citizenship. He made me the person I am now. He wants me to be a true follower.”
Major Changes
The Holy Spirit continued to work upon Janek’s life, not only bringing him hope, but also conviction. He tells of the time while he was working at Goodwill,
“There were ten stores in the system where I work, and I was looking in bookstore of one Goodwill. I find book called, The Great Controversy. It was with pictures and it had inspiring title, so I buy and read it and that is where I found out about Martin Luther. I love European history and the book fascinate me. I was becoming alive while I was still in Catholic system.
“It was 2004 I first heard 3ABN. I watched many Christian channels, but I didn’t like them. Then one day I change channels and see 3ABN so I listen. I watch program ’04 Revival with Doug Batchelor and John Lomacang was singing. They were talking about drinking and I was drinking beer and they inspire me, so I say, ‘Okay Lord, You want me not to drink?’ so I pour out all my beer.
“Then I saw in newspaper and on TV about evangelistic meetings with Doug Batchelor, so I say, ‘I’ve got to go to this one.’ I was going to church on Sunday, and I found out God wanted me to worship on Saturday. So I switched day and started going to church on Saturday. I attend Health Seminar because I was overweight. I was meat-eater and I learn what the Bible say about meat and pork, so I become inspired and I quit eating the meat and pork.
“I saw Mark Finley talk about prophecy while he was in California. I meet Lyle Albrecht and Steve Wohlberg, so I never have doubt about God since I learn about prophecy. I was baptized in May 2005 on my fifty-fifth birthday, in Salinas, California.
“After I finish work for Goodwill, I work as caregiver. In California then you no need license to work as caregiver, and one day my pastor bring some people with him and one was Carmelita Troy; I think it was 2006. She hear I am caregiver and she say, ‘Oh, my dad needs help.’ But I no want to quit my work, so I say ‘no.’ I lose track of her and later I try to find her at her school, and they say she move to Illinois to be close to her parents.”
Carmelita’s father Owen Troy was a 3ABN board member. And while Janek may have lost track of her, the Lord had not lost track of His plans for him!
A Living Testimony
In 2009 Janek received a call that would make a radical change in his life. “I receive call from Mollie Steenson and she tell me she and Jim Gilley want me to come to 3ABN,” he says.
“Carmelita tell them about me and they think they want me to work for 3ABN. I say yes, and I buy one-way ticket to Illinois. I work for six months as volunteer, then Greg Morikone like my work and my smile all the time, so he talk to Pastor Gilley and Mollie and they decide to hire me.
“I like to be healthy and tell others how they can be healthy. While I was in California I do ballroom dancing to be healthy, and I was long-distance runner. At 3ABN, for six years I ride bike. During season from March to October, I ride 2,000, maybe 3,000 miles. Like on Friday, we off work, I ride my bike 100 miles.”
Janek not only works for 3ABN’s ministry, but also has a ministry all his own. “I love the Lord and I like help other people know Him. I ride my bike and I have pamphlets I give to people. Like in the store I meet people, I give them pamphlet. I say I have something for you and people don’t say no. People sometimes see I like ride bike and they talk to me about that, and I give them pamphlet and sometimes I talk to them about the Lord. I represent the Lord and I know it not me that work myself, but the Holy Spirit work in me. He guide me step by step. I no doubt nothing about Lord, He is my Mediator, Friend, my Father, my Healer. He is my everything.”
A Father’s Prayers
Janek misses his family still. His daughter Anette was born on Janek’s twenty-fifth birthday, and his son Christofer, is 36. Both have their own families back in Poland. He says he last spoke to his daughter in 2000, but lost track of her after she moved.
“I pray for my family on my knees every day and on Sabbath I go to the front of church and that is what I pray. I know if I no see them here, I see them in Heaven, because I pray every day for their conversion, and the Lord has way to do that. I am happy who I am and the Lord trust me, and I no doubt Him any moment.”
Thompsonville Seventh-day Adventist Church
