New Luton Roma preacher!

Vasili has just arrived in Luton with his family to live with Bobby, the father of the triplets. See earlier post.  The two brothers have been part of the revival that has touched many of the Roma communities in Romania.  They bring to us great spiritual passion and commitment.  Here is Vasili yesterday breaking open for our little church the parable of the sower.  Only the seed that falls on the good soil bears fruit.  Many are so weighed down with the troubles of this life, that they are unable to receive the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

I had been praying for the arrival in Luton of Roma men of faith, able to lead and speak, since we began LRC a year ago.  The prayer has been answered!  Everything depends on the emergence of Roma leadership over the months and years to come.  Some of the tiny seeds have fallen into good soil.  We await the harvest.

Meanwhile the issues facing the Roma here become ever harder.  The Job Centre has moved the goal posts, and are no longer recognising the self-employed status of the Roma we take to interview for National Insurance Numbers.  There is a deep injustice here.  Whilst Romanian citizens are legally allowed to settle here, and are only allowed to work as self-employed, the powers that be now refuse to recognise their very best efforts to work.  They are thus trapped in poverty with all the negative consequences of that on the whole nation.

We walk by faith, not by sight, keeping our eyes fixed on a God who intentionally sides with the poor and is poised to bring justice to the oppressed.