Jan, the Pope, and the Fall of Communism

In this podcast, Terry and Scot take a trip down memory lane to 1972 behind the Iron Curtain in Krakow, Poland. Terry and a group of musicians from Oral Roberts University had formed a music ministry called Living Sound. Thinking Living Sound was a rock and roll band, the Communist Youth Party of Poland invited the group to sing in their nightclub. Living Sound boldly stepped through the open door and shared the Gospel in song and testimonials.

One special soloist that night was Terry’s wife and Scot’s mother, Jan, singing “He’s My Rock, My Sword, My Shield.” Her voice lifted the name of Jesus and brought the power of the Holy Spirit to the unsuspecting crowd. That significant night was the beginning of a revival in Poland that spread like wildfire through the region and is credited for the eventual fall of communism.  

At the time Living Sound visited Poland, the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Krakow was Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. Cardinal Wojtyla heard of Living Sound’s nightclub experience and invited the group to his home. He loved young people, played the guitar and learned several Living Sound songs. Wojtyla played a Living Sound song titled “Hallelujah, Hallelujah” to a crowd of a million Poles. Incredible! A few years later in 1978 he became Pope John Paul II, head of the Catholic Church worldwide and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Living Sound was invited to visit Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 1981.  

Terry and Scot continue their walk down memory lane in this wonderful podcast by reflecting on the goodness of God that opened doors for Living Sound to minister in Catholic churches all over Europe. The Living Sound members who boldly walked through open doors in the 1970’s felt incredible hope in God as they followed his leading to declare the Gospel behind the Iron Curtain.