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This week I will be teaching a course on the "Parables of Jesus." I need to say a special thank- you to those of you who sat in on our Bible Study time over the last several Sundays. Your insights into Jesus’ parables are much appreciated and have helped me get ready for this week.
Here is a brief description of the Gypsy Smith School from their website.
The GSS offers leadership training for pastors and other leaders from Gypsy churches. It has no building, no faculty, and a staff of one. But in the last seven years it has successfully trained over 80 Gypsy pastors, missionaries and community leaders.
So, why the need for a school just for Gypsy pastors? Can’t Roma (Gypsy) men go to Seminary like their Romanian colleagues? Yes, they can, but in reality most have at most an 8th grade education; and with high school being a must for enrollment in higher education, that leaves them out in the cold. What’s more, most Gypsy church leaders are family men who earn money as day laborers and frequently work without contracts, paid leave, or union rights. That means that being away from home means going without income.
As a solution to this problem the GSS offers week-long courses four times a year. In the course of each week students receive training in two subjects at a level that is suitable to their needs and relevant to their culture and environment. In two years of courses (eight weeks in total) a student will cover a variety of Biblical, doctrinal, and practical leadership themes to prepare him for ministry in his community.
The teachers for the GSS are volunteers from the USA and UK, along with professors from the Baptist Seminary in Bucharest. Since visiting professors pay their own way, the GSS is able to cover the cost of food and lodging at the Ruth Centre for the 25 Gypsy pastors who attend each session, as well as covering travel expenses.
In the seven years of its life to date, over 40 students have graduated with honors and continue to work as pastors, missionaries, and church planters. Men like Florian Tanase from Sadova in Dolj county, who is a leader within his own church, but also is a church planter, taking the Gospel to other local villages. Through support given for the Gypsy Smith School, Project Ruth is able to help Florian with covering the cost of his transport to these other villages.
Please pray for the work of the Gypsy Smith School, for Boris Caraion, the school’s coordinator, and for all the students as they serve in their local communities.
Likewise, I covet your prayers this week as I share with these students. Please pray for them and their families. Also, please know how grateful I am to be able to "Share Christ’s Love" on behalf of Ball Camp Baptist Church all the way to Romania.
Joy and Peace,
Ed
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