CEE Pray for the Impact of God's Word
Roma tune ears to Gospel
Music flows through Romany history and culture. When laws forced assimilation in the 18th century instrumental skills helped members of the people group earn respect and make a living in European communities.
In the 19th century others knew them as talented café musicians in large cities and a Romany character became popular as the main role in the opera, “Carmen.” Today Romany musicians still make their mark in society. One example is Vlasta Horvath, a popular Romany singer who won Czech Republic’s second Pop Idol contest.
Boyd Hatchel, strategy coordinator for the Romany people of the Central Europe Field, has acknowledged the impact of this tool and helped communicate the Gospel to this people group through a Romany believer with musical talents. Last summer Boyd helped this man record a CD of Christian songs in the Romany language. Since then he and other Christians have passed out more than 300 copies throughout the Czech Republic.
“We’ll give (Roma) the CD and continue to follow up,” Boyd said. “On it there are evangelistic and worship songs, which have been very, very effective. That’s one of the ways we can go in and give a gift initially and people can hear the Word through music.”
Boyd said he has seen signs of the CDs making an impact among listeners.
“In one house where we’ve done some Bible studies, when I’ll show up they’ll be listening to the CD,” he said. “It’s not that I’m asking them to listen to it, it’s what they’re listening to in their own free time. These are non-believers. They like the music style, words, what it’s saying to them and the personal connection—that it’s a Roma who’s (singing).”
Boyd said he passes out the CDs to “anybody and everybody” he meets in the Romany community. Monthly he has handed out 10 or 15 to people at the Romany Fellowship—a Czech and Romany gathering of believers—and asked them to share the music with their friends, family or anyone who might listen to it.
While Romany music sings to the heart of this people group, another way Roma are hearing the Gospel is through chronological Bible storying. According to Boyd, Roma “prefer stories and pictures as opposed to the written Word.” With this in mind, believers have been using a small tract produced by Great Commission Christians that includes 106 stories from the Bible.
Boyd said a believer can approach a Roma asking if he has a favorite story from the Bible. If he answers positively, the believer can then ask him to tell that story.
“Usually they won’t get all the details right,” Boyd said. “We’ll smile and say, ‘Would you really like to know how that story ended?’ We’ll share the rest of the story and say, ‘Would you like to hear the next story?’ I’ve been in conversations that have lasted three or four hours. We’ve used stories very effectively.”
Whether it is through music or storying, God is providing unconventional ways to tell Roma about Jesus Christ. Learn more about how to be involved in effectively communicating the Gospel to this people group.