Name of RomaThe Roma are generally known as Gypsy, but the term is actually a misrep-

resentation because there is not a place called Gypsy on earth. Formerly, Euro-peans mistakenly thought this group of outsiders were from Egypt, so they were called Gypsy. To the Roma, such term has been misused and has become a form of discrimination. In 1971, they finally made an official declaration to the in-ternational community and demanded that they are to be called “Roma”. Roma means “human.” In their language.

Roma people is probably the largest ethnic minority people group in Eu-rope. According to European linguistic research, Roma people originate in the Punjab region of India. There are about 15 million of Roma people now scatter among different countries around the world.

Today Roma people is the largest ethnic group which spreads around the world. There are 70 sub people groups in Roma people, mostly from northern India. A 2012 joint survey conducted by the World Bank and the EU’s Basic Rights group indicated that the situation of Roma in Europe is quite alarm-ing. There are only 15% of Roma finished high school or vocational courses, less than 30% are employed and about 45% of Roma have no indoor kitchens, bathrooms or showers at home and without any electricity. In Serbia, only three to four children out of 100 school age children completed primary school edu-cation and fewer attend the secondary school. A young Roma fellow in South Serbia said that he felt like he is a “second-class citizen, an animal, not a real human being.”

These complex and intertwined issues of reality have caused and keeps in-creasing the gap between Roma culture and the mainstream culture.

LOVE for ROMA

Roma Ministry

GLEC Current Ministry with Roma PeopleOur current focus are as follows first on the Roma in Serbian and expect to be expand to other regions (neighboring countries) in the future:

Training and equipping seminary students:Through the Chinese Church in Budapest, Hungry and Hub Bible School in Serbia, GLEC provides scholarships to several Roma seminary students for their theological training. This is to supply future pastors for Roma Christian Churches and Roma ministries. Encourage Chinese Church to participate the Ministry of Roma churches:The Chinese Church in Belgrade has regularly been inviting the nearby Roma to join in celebrating the festival and dinners during the Easter, Christmas holidays and Lunar New Year. The Roma pastors also were invited to preach to the Roma during these occasions. This has inspired the Chinese Church in Belgrade to engage in the intercultural ministry and actually deepen the relationship with the Roma. For years, Chinese Church in Belgrade has developed good relationships with Roma neighborhoods.Pastoral Care:Roma church’s congregation is too small to support pastors, most pastors are tent makers. They have to work outside of their ministry in order to make a living. Therefore, according to the needs, GLEC provides support to meet the needs of health and daily living supplies for Roma pastors. Agricultural Ministry:Through local Chinese churches, GLEC provides technical training to Roma in developing small-scaled farms to grow vegetables to supply the markets among the Roma community. Eventually, these farms would become self-sufficient and profitable. At present, model of small farm has been developed.Youth Camp and Children Summer Vacation Bible Camp:Youth and Children Summer vacation bible camp for Roma people was held this year. GLEC coordinated short term mission teams and coworkers in participating and supporting the camp activities including preaching, leading the worship, etc. In responding the request from Roma church, we will provide English gospel camp and Marriage camp in 2019.

▲ Agricultural Ministry

Future prospect of the ministryTheological Education :In order to fulfill the needs of spiritual growth and theological knowledge of Roma pastors and laymen, GLEC will provide scholarships for Roma pastors and students enrolled in Hub Bible School to further their studies in theological education. With this training, it will equip the pastors to serve more effectively to their members in church. Theological study will also provide the students some practical training opportunities. It help the students to gain some experience and be able to advance them to work at church fitted them upon graduation.Plan of Praise and Worship Training:Roma people loves music by nature. They are easily to fall in love with worship and praise. With proper training in music, there is a great potential for Roma people to develop music ministry, compose and publish their own praise music.Plan of Roma Community Center :Working with mission partners to establish a center of medical, health and education services for Roma, It is like Kids Around the World, to provide a playground for children, or as Taiwan Foundation for Children and Families, (support more than 60,000 overseas children in a total of about 35 countries) and/or to adopt children by providing financial assistance. This community center may also serve other functions such as youth and children summer camps and other educational activities.Reinforce the farming ministry:To follow the example of partnership of Chinese Church in Hungry and local Roma church, continue to support the operation of small farms working with the Roma partner churches to help farmers to increase their income. Chinese Christians can participate in this farming ministry with the financial and technical support. This is a great opportunity for cross cultural evangelism with small business as mission in mind. The Gospel Café:A Gospel cafe (Moj Mali Café) was developed by and affiliated with Hub Bible School in Opovo. It provides not only work opportunities for local Roma people but also extra income for the Bible School besides the opportunities and a platform to share gospel with customers.Launch for a Pre-school:More than 85% of Roma people have not obtained any formal education beyond primary school. One of the factors is that there is not any pre-school education. As a result, when they enter primary school, they fall behind andeventually drop out of school. Therefore, it is the desire to plan to develop a pre-school program and offer basic pre-school training in order to establish the foundation for children in their future education. After School Program:Focusing on the needs of Roma children’s education, to develop an after school program to assist and improve their learning abilities. This program may be affiliated with pre-school program.Support in church building and planting :Most of Roma people are using pastors’ homes for their worship service. Therefore, there is a great need in building churches in order to bring more people in for worship, gatherings and evangelism.

▲ The gospel minibus dedicated to the Roma church by GLEC ▲ Roma children's Bible Camp led by the short-term team

There is a folk song of Roma says: “Time is for passing! Bodies are for pleasure! Lives are to be forgotten! Soul is for Singing!”

Living under the outside realm of society, Roma people has no hope for eternal life. Yet we are sure that with the redemption of Jesus Christ, there is the assurance of eternal life. We shall assist Roma people to receive this Blessings, lead them into the arms of the Lord and have the peace in the Lord! They will no longer be rejected and forgotten!

Please join us to assist Roma people:1.Support camp event: US$1,500 per unit.2.Farming Greenhouse: US$2,000 per unit3.Equip student in Bible School: US$3,600 per student4.Church Building and Planting Projects for Roma: US$50,000 per unit5.Pre-school Project: US$350,000 at Leskovac, Serbia

More information please Contact:Rev. George Yen: g.yen@verizon.net Elder Alan Lin: hllin@cox.net

普世豐盛生命中心Global Life Enrichment Center16371 Scientific Way, Irvine, CA 92618Tel (949)752-6899 Fax (949)486-0729 www. glecenter.org

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