SLOVAKIA: Inside the Roma Revival

Source: Assemblies of God World Mission, August 26, 2020

Across Slovakia’s countryside, castles have dominated the landscape for a thousand years, boasting of power, wealth, and luxury. At their feet, sleepy villages rest in lush valleys. Small chapels marked by crosses and images of saints dot the roads, reminders of long-ago days when medieval travelers stopped to rest and pray.

Beyond the mountains, a complex tale has been playing out for decades. It is the story of the Roma people—the “gypsies.” Deeply marginalized by larger society, the Roma have suffered greatly. Yet for 20 years, an unprecedented revival has been growing among Slovakia’s Roma. Church leaders and members alike agree: Only God could bring this about.

Roma who are touched by the revival in Slovakia are now moving across Europe seeking better opportunities for their families. They carry Jesus with them, spreading revival fires wherever they go.

“To see revival is hard work,” [says a Roma church leader]. “But we are seeing its fruit—and the blessings of God—and in that there is great joy. We do not wait for the broken to come to us. We go find them. Revival must first be in us. Its fire must be in our hearts. Pray this for us: We need more servants to come help us. Many villages are crying out to us for help in terrible situations, and we do not have enough people to send. They call and we do not have enough people to answer.”

» Full story describes a pattern of life transformation among Roma who come to Christ.

» Want to learn more? A few years ago, Mission Frontiers magazine had a whole issue focused on the Roma.

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