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‘They’re just repeating prayers’
Unemployment, illiteracy and gambling addictions; discrimination, misunderstandings of Christianity and a lack of witness from the local church—these represent just a few of the factors creating barriers between the Roma of Central Europe and the Gospel.
Many Roma know about God—exposure to Catholicism has taught them the importance of praying and being baptized—yet it seems members of this people group are missing the most important lesson of all: their need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Kveta, a Roma who has been active in evangelizing to her people group since her 20s, knows the mentality behind what Roma say regarding their faith.
“Every Roma will tell you, ‘I am a believer,’” she said. “Roma fear God, they know Him, but they are not newborn Christians. It’s very important for each Roma to recognize Jesus Himself and become newborn Christians.”
Anna, a fellow Romany believer from Blansco, Czech Republic, agrees.
“In the Czech Republic the people know something about God, but when they hear, ‘God,’ they think, ‘Catholic church,’” she said.
Anna said being Baptist spurs others to believe she is a member of a sect, while Catholicism is the “good” or “right” faith. The stereotype hinders Anna’s ability to witness through talking about Jesus, but instead of giving up, she said she chooses to live out the Father’s love and let her actions do the talking.
Smilek Kristoslav, a deacon at the Czech Baptist church in Brno, Czech Republic, has been involved in ministering to Roma for years through the Romany Fellowship and has been able to observe what may cause members of this people group to resist accepting eternal salvation through Jesus Christ.
“A Roma thinks he is a Christian, but this means he has a priest at his funeral. Or the baptism of children—it’s a celebration of family, where you drink alcohol and no one is truly Christian, but they think, ‘I am a Christian,’” Smilek said. “They know some simple prayers, but it’s what they learn, not what they need. They’re just repeating prayers. That’s the reason why the situation with Romany people is not really changing.”
Other struggles believers face when sharing the truth of Jesus Christ with Roma include the lack of education among the people group, which points to illiteracy and unemployment, according to International Mission Board missionary Boyd Hatchell. Boyd is the strategy coordinator for the Roma of the Central Europe Field and has worked with Roma across the region.
“You’re dealing with a population that probably a majority of the people haven’t gone beyond a sixth grade education,” he said. “Any type of distribution or study materials have to be written or created with that in mind.”
Boyd also pointed out that about 80 percent of Roma are without jobs. With such high unemployment, one cannot expect a Roma to be able to pay even a simple bus fare to attend a Bible study or event in another part of town. It affects everything.
Lack of money also stems from many Romas’ addiction to gambling, with casinos lining the main street in Brno’s Romany community.
“People who don’t have money hope they will have more money and they lose everything,” Smilek said.
Still other barriers include the discrimination of Roma—even from within the body of Christ in respective areas—and the lack of evangelism coming from within the church.
While the obstacles may seem numerous, beyond the barriers stand Romany believers like Kveta, Anna and others who know the truth and wish to share it with their people group. Joining them are locals like Smilek as well as missionaries like Boyd and volunteers who see the need to reach Roma.
Discover now how you can be a part of breaking through the barriers to share the truth of the Gospel with Roma of Central Europe.