CEE Pray for the Impact of God's Word
Scripture comes to life for Romany family
Salija became aware of God when she was a girl through a vision that warned her to stop sinning. From that point on she was afraid when she sinned, but it was not until someone shared the Word of God with her that she came to know the One who takes away sin. That someone was Betty Easter, an International Mission Board (IMB) missionary in Macedonia.
“Betty asked me if I wanted to learn from the Bible,” Salija said. “When I opened the Bible and started reading, it called to me to read more. I had a hunger to know more and grow in my faith.”
Such a testimony is not common among the Roma of Macedonia, who have a highly oral culture and pass on many things by word of mouth. However, they are skeptical people who do not easily “buy in” to what they hear after living under the rule of many different cultures. They adapt to the country in which they are living, but only on the outside. Inside their hearts, their Romany culture—pagan in nature—remains strong. This has served to protect them from many false religions, but also erects a barrier to true Christianity. Not many things are strong enough to penetrate the layers of untruth in their culture, but the Word of God is “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12).
Today, four years after meeting God in His Word, Salija is faithfully sharing her beliefs with her family and praying for their salvation. Since she is the only one in her home who knows how to read, she has become a teacher with the words of life.
“When we are sitting at home, visiting, I explain more about the Bible—tell what is good and bad—and share the stories,” Salija said.
Her sharing has a wide audience. Salija lives in a two-room house with her invalid husband, two sons, daughter-in-law and daughter. Though the accommodations are cramped, the rooms are neat and homey with pictures of loved ones on the walls. Yet Edward, the youngest son, remembers a time when their home was not so welcoming.
“You know how it used to be,” he said to Betty, who nodded in agreement, “but now it’s different. I am very happy my mother accepted Jesus. Our house has become a happier place.”
God has not only changed the family’s home with His presence, He also has allowed many financial and material blessings.
“Since the Bible and God came into our home, we have had material blessings,” Edward said. “Nothing really changed with the amount of money we had, it just seemed to go farther and we were able to do more with it.”
As Betty continues to study the Bible with Salija, her prayer is the entire family will come to know Jesus as Savior. Betty recently received funds to have Bibles and tracts published in the Romany language, which will allow more Roma to read the truth of the Gospel in their heart language.