CEE Story From The Mission Field
Reaching the Roma of Poland
January 22, 2007
Jerry and Brenda Goss and their children - Tara, Kristen, Jacquelin, Kari, and Abbe - have been living and working in Poland among the Roma (Gypsy) people for three years. They have shared the Gospel message with more than 1,000 Roma people in 16 villages and neighborhoods in a 300-kilometer radius of Krakow, Poland. As a result, about 42 Roma adults have come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. This may not seem like a lot, but in strongly Catholic Poland, among a persecuted people group, it is cause for great rejoicing!
Even more exciting is the work is becoming mo re than the Gosses can handle. “Our prayer is that God sends more laborers who are God-dependent to serve in various locations where the Roma people need to hear the Gospel message and need a constant presence of a godly mentor,” Jerry said. “These new team leaders can have the privilege of seeing God at work in the Roma people.”
Anyone who accepts the call to come and work among the Roma will not be laboring alone. The Roma believers are actively sharing Christ with their fellow Roma. Some of the Roma men travel with Jerry and share the Gospel and their own testimonies in unreached villages. They share in their heart language and serve as living examples of transformed lives. This has been a great testimony to God’s saving grace and very effective in reaching new people with the Gospel.
Jerry’s goal is to reach the remaining Roma people throughout Poland – but this will require additional team leaders. Jerry and the Roma believers are not physically able to travel to each Roma village for discipleship training and hands-on mentoring on a regular basis. “We make our rounds as often as possible, but there are not enough hours in the day to be effectively ministering,” said Jerry. “Plus it restricts the available time to reach out to other parts of Poland that are beyond the 300-kilometer radius we have already covered.”
The Roma are a people who have little hope. They are disliked and distrusted by most people in society. Accordingly, they are treated as second-class citizens or worse. Jerry has seen another side, though. “They have a hunger to be loved and treated as human beings. When we share that God created them, loves them and has a purpose for their lives, they listen and respond by repenting – then God is glorified.”
Jerry’s ministry verse is John 10:10 because as Jesus said “the thief (Satan) has come only to steal, kill and destroy.” Satan has been doing these things to the Roma people for many generations. “But I (Jesus) have come to give life and life abundantly.” This is what Jesus is doing now within the Roma people of Poland.
“I pray someone will read this and answer God’s calling on their lives,” Jerry said. “Then they too, as our family has experienced, will see the mighty work of God as He transforms lives and makes disciples for Jesus!”
If you are interested in answering a call to work among the Roma of Poland, e-mail us at hope4cee@pobox.com.
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This article first appeared in the Central and Eastern Europe regional newsletter, Hope4CEE. If you would like to receive this newsletter by mail, please send your name, mailing address, and home church to hope4cee@pobox.com.