Distribution of Solar Radios in Gypsy Communities of Romania
(April 2009)

Late last year the director of TWR-Romania, Nick Vandici, and Roma (gypsy) pastor Moise Marin distributed more than 300 solar radios to Roma communities in southeast and central Romania. In the last year, a total of 1,000 radios have been handed out.

With these solar radios, Roma families can listen to Thru the Bible programs in both the Romanian and Romani languages every Monday through Friday. On the weekends they can hear a Christian youth program, testimonies, sermons, and music. Writing on each radio reads:

This radio charges its batteries through this solar panel. Keep it in the light and you can listen to programs even in the evening, then pray to the Lord to become a light for others.

The team was welcomed and impressed by the people they visited, most of whom were very poor and illiterate. They met many children who do not have any opportunities to go to school, have regular meals, or obtain proper clothing. “The son of a Roma king told me, ‘All Roma people have radios,’ but I disagreed with him,” said Nick Vandici. “I know many Romanians don’t have a radio, and I’ve met a lot of Roma who don’t have radios. Roma leaders hide this fact from missionaries because they don’t want their people to look poor.” Nick reported further that people were enthusiastic about receiving the solar radios, as most of them do not have electricity, and some have even called him to report that they’ve begun to listen regularly to the programming (this is exceptional considering very few have telephones!).

Pastor Marin, who has planted 20 Roma churches in Romania, explains, “My vision is to see that in every village where there is no church every family will have a radio so they can listen to the message of God.” His dream is to go and plant Roma churches from Europe all the way to India, where most historians agree the Roma people originated: “My dream is to plant churches and schools and also to form leaders that can be examples to their communities and families. Many Roma look for examples within their own people group. May God give me help to accomplish this task. The distribution of the solar radios went very well, and for the future I pray that God will provide more radios for the many Roma people who have a hunger for God.”

The radio distribution will make a big difference in these communities – affecting change in people’s lives and helping hundreds of families listen to God’s Word. Please pray with us that all these precious souls will understand the truth and will open their hearts to believe and receive Jesus Christ!

(Adapted from a TWR-Europe InfoServ article by Kristina Valentova and a report by Nick Vandici)