A Light in Unexpected Places: What God Taught Me in Kraków
by Johnny Presley
Jesus says something simple in the Sermon on the Mount, perhaps you recognize it:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16)
The command is straightforward: “Let your light shine before others.” It’s not a call reserved for pastors, missionaries, or men with a particular personality type. Jesus is speaking to ordinary disciples—men and women with families, jobs, and busy schedules.
This summer I had the opportunity to visit Kraków, Poland and serve with Christ the Savior Presbyterian Church. My objective was clear: develop a university ministry that connects Polish students to the life of the church. Yet, despite this clarity, some things surprised me.
Most days weren’t flashy. They were steady and packed full in the best way.
Every morning, I met with the church’s pastor, Sasko Nezamutdinov, alongside other members of the team. He taught on the theology of the church, missions, and evangelism. This ensured the team was unified theologically and strengthened us to go out into the field with the confidence of the Gospel.
I spent my afternoons learning my way around the city, visiting university campuses, and interviewing locals about the student demographic in Krakow. One thing that I quickly learned is that a new place requires patience and humility.
Everyday tasks, like visiting the grocery store, take longer than normal due to the language difference. Even navigating the city was challenging at times as I learned when I accidentally led a group of volunteers down the wrong street. But amid these challenges, I was reminded of the idea of weakness that Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 12:10: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul shares this because it’s in these moments of difficulty where the light of Christ can be most clearly displayed when we lean into Him.
When Jesus calls His people “light,” He isn’t telling us to draw attention to ourselves. He wants us to reflect Him. Jesus is the light. Our weaknesses expose us and allow us to depend on Christ so that His light may shine brighter to the world around us. Our light shines in unexpected places. It was the quiet moments, unplanned meetings, and daily interactions where I most clearly saw God at work. There is one specific moment that keeps coming back to me.
I was at a local bar doing some work and getting to know a new part of town. It wasn’t a planned ministry event. It was just part of a normal day. I sat down with my tablet to continue working on some documents about the university ministry. Surprisingly, a stocky, bearded man sat at the table beside me and told me that he liked my tablet. We started talking, and I asked him what he does for work. He also told me about the part of town we were in and how much he enjoys living here. Then he asked me what kind of work I was doing on my tablet and what I was doing visiting Kraków.
In these moments, it can be easy to hide our light. Keep it polite. Move on quickly. “It’s just small talk; what difference can it really make?” we might ask ourselves. But another part of me knew this is exactly the kind of moment Matthew 5 is talking about. Not a stage. Not a spotlight. An unexpected place where I had an opportunity to speak about what God is doing in my life. So, I did.
I shared how I was working on a document compiling all the information and ideas we have for discipling university students. I shared that I was visiting this new part of town to see if we could organize ministry events here one day. I shared how God is working in Kraków to grow Christ the Savior Presbyterian Church.
He shared that he grew up in the Catholic church. He even used to serve as an altar boy. But now he was living a life far from God, uninvolved with the church, and looking for satisfaction in his career. He also shared that he was living with his girlfriend. Again, I could have easily dismissed this comment or moved on to another subject. But I asked him if he had any plans on getting married anytime soon. And then the strangest thing happened. In real time, I could see his entire demeanor change. He felt convicted. So, we talked openly about that. Perhaps from his time as a boy in the Catholic church, he knew that what he was doing was wrong. Yet, he was living in darkness. I asked if I could pray with him, and he accepted. Afterwards, we said goodbye, and he went on his way.
What this man shared with me is a common experience for many Poles. Many grow up in the Catholic church only to leave once they go off to university or start working. For various reasons, people become dissatisfied with Rome and convert to secularism. That doesn’t shock me. But what shocks me the most is that I don’t have to go all the way across the world to Poland to experience this pattern. The same thing happens in America every day. Unfortunately, people are falling for the same lies here too, but the good news is that the same opportunities exist to be a witness for Christ.
This is why I’m thankful for YBL. YBL has given me the tools to be confident in my faith. It has helped me grow as a Christian so that I am ready to respond during those unexpected moments. That doesn’t mean YBL turned me into a perfect Christian overnight. It means I’ve been shaped through the kind of discipleship that Christ commands:
- Scripture that confronts and strengthens you
- Prayer that becomes normal, not occasional
- Relationships where you’re known and challenged
- Steady encouragement that keeps you from drifting alone
That kind of formation is what helped me step into conversations on this trip with more clarity and less fear. When you’re grounded in the Lord and surrounded by real Christian community, you can walk into new settings with a different posture—not trying to prove yourself, not trying to manufacture outcomes, but simply trying to be faithful.
In the workplace, that often looks less dramatic than people assume. It looks like:
- Integrity when cutting corners would be easy
- Courage when silence would be safer
- Steadiness when pressure is high
- A clear witness when the moment calls for it
- Good works that point beyond you to the Father
That’s the kind of faith we want at YBL—faith that isn’t separate from your job, your relationships, your decisions, and your conversations. Kraków became a fresh reminder that this kind of faith doesn’t grow by accident. YBL is designed to intentionally help Christians grow their faith so that it becomes natural to live and share at work or wherever you find yourself.
You may not be traveling overseas. But the principle is the same.
Most of the opportunities God gives you won’t feel like “ministry moments.” They’ll feel like normal conversations, ordinary decisions, and unplanned questions—at work, in your neighborhood, or sitting next to someone you didn’t expect to meet.
Jesus doesn’t say, “Try to become light.” He says, “You are the light of the world.” If you belong to Him, He has already placed you where you are on purpose. The question isn’t whether your life will be seen. The question is what your life will point to.
So, ask the Lord for one open door. Be willing to listen. And when the moment comes, speak plainly about Christ—not to draw attention to yourself, but so that others “may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
That’s what it looks like to shine in unexpected places: steady faithfulness, real integrity, quiet courage, and a life that reflects the light of Jesus.