An estimated 6 million Gypsies, often living in societies that do not welcome their presence, are spread across Europe. The majority are located in former communist countries, including Hungary, which is home to about 200,000 ethnic Romani.
MERA, TWR’s partner organization in Budapest, started creating programs for this ethnic group in 2005, but at that time, only in Hungarian. As of last summer, however, broadcasts are now produced bilingually in Hungarian and in the dialect of Lovary, the most commonly spoken Gypsy language in the country. The 30-minute program airs once a week via shortwave, and Gypsy pastors and teachers help with production.
The task before program producers is demanding. Since no Bible translation exists in Lovary, MERA producers are using the Hungarian translation of the Bible. But words like “righteousness” or “justification” have no adequate counterpart in Lovary. Not only are individual words a problem, but so are the concepts or meaning behind them, which do not exist in the Gypsy culture. The producers must determine how to appropriately convey biblical truths in a manner understood by the Gypsy people.
To accomplish this, the program’s producers have found that the best type of broadcast uses both the Hungarian and Lovary languages at the same time, with Bible verses and testimonies read in Lovary and some Bible teaching in Hungarian. This can be quite beneficial to the listening audience, considering that there is a minimum of three different Gypsy dialects spoken in Hungary.
Sharing the gospel with the next generation of Gypsies in Europe is an ongoing challenge. Although most Gypsy children graduate from secondary schools with diplomas, many of them are still illiterate. Not being able to read or write limits their understanding of the gospel by means of the written Word. That’s why TWR’s radio broadcasts are so important, presenting God’s Word to them orally in their language and in a format they can readily understand.
“I am glad to listen to your morning shortwave broadcasts,” wrote one Hungarian listener. “One of the most important for me is the Gypsy program and the testimonies. My heart is trembling, and it is so good to listen to those stories. The Word of God reaches all the nations and the Gypsies as well.” And another added: “I was glad to have the information about your Gypsy mission. I pray for those servants who are working for them. Let God give them power and love as they are leading these brothers to the Lord!”
Prayer Points
- Pray for the translators working on these programs that the correct words will be found to express biblical truths.
- Pray for God’s continued blessing on the programs, especially that many Gypsies throughout Hungary will come to know Christ as Savior.
- Pray for Gypsy youth to respond to God’s Word as it is presented to them on the broadcasts.