Jeremy Woodall: Called To A Mission in Poland

Commentary Editor

  
   Poland has been the temporary home for several University of Arkansas at Monticello students who do mission work there. Currently, a Baptist Collegiate Ministry member is there doing mission work. He will return home January 2010.

   Jeremy Woodall, a senior exercise major, temporarily resides in Krakow, Poland. Fortunate to have people support him through prayer and finances, he said his first encounter occurred in 2008 when he and Journey Church pastor Jeff Noble traveled to Poland.

   His second encounter with Poland occurred in March 2009 when he and other BCM members, Clark Butler and Michael McDaniel, visited. In June 2009 the BCM, along with Journey Church, led a group of UAM softball players who in turn did mission work and led softball camps.

   Woodall currently plays for and coaches the Krakow Tiger Pro Football team and uses every opportunity to do the work he said God has called him to do.

   “My mission is to build relationships and live out the gospel in my own life while trying to spread his name among my peers,” Woodall said.

   Woodall said when he first visited Poland he didn’t know a lot about the place. He then said he fell in love with the people he worked with and the other missionaries there.

   “This is a difficult place to do work for the Lord because of the lack of interest in ‘religion.' It has been so much fun to show these people that a life devoted to Christ has little to do with religion and everything to do with letting Jesus transform our lives into his likeness,” he said.

   Butler, a junior health and physical education major, with a look of admiration on his face, recalls his first experience with Woodall and Poland.

   “When I first got connected with BCM, Jeremy took me under his wing. He is willing to help anyone. He hasn’t done it all but he has seen it all,” Butler said.

   Recalling their first trip to Poland, Butler said it was frustrating at first but they were eventually befriended and a lot of lives where changed. He said he continues to communicate through Facebook with some of the people he interacted with while in Poland.

   Referring to Woodall, he said he is a motivator. “He listens and encourages them,” Butler said.

   Kara Roy, senior middle level education major, was in agreement with Woodall’s previously described characteristics.

   As it relates to the UAM family, Woodall said he believes work, that takes place for the glory of God through people that are a part of a particular school, is great for that school. 

   “I believe we have many students interested in people coming to know Jesus not only there in Monticello but all over the world. The university has received a lot of recognition from the trips that have been taken here, mostly from when the softball girls were here. I definitely don't think that hurts UAM at all,” Woodall said.

   As it relates to other religious organizations Woodall said, “I think just knowing that they have opportunities abroad to do God’s work is a great thing. There are many trips that take place between all of the religious organizations on campus and I believe each one raises awareness as well as allows students to realize the call on their lives to reach out and try to make a difference for Christ all over the world.”

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