The need for healing and hope is huge in Ukraine. So TWR Ukraine, Trans World Radio’s (TWR) local partner, has been producing new content which is not only reaching Ukrainians but also the nation’s traditional Roma, or Romany, communities.
Around 200,000 to 300,000 Roma live in Ukraine; thousands are committed Christians. Despite their challenging and often poor circumstances, many enjoy using modern technology, giving TWR Ukraine a variety of ways to reach them.
But that is not necessarily straightforward, because they may feel threatened by a non-Roma person’s interest in their language and culture. So the best means of sharing the gospel with them often lies within the community, letting local Roma believers tell their own stories of how the Lord has changed their lives.
Such stories are the basis of TWR Ukraine’s radio programmes for the Roma called ‘Tabor Goes to Heaven’. Tabor is the word for Roma camps in the local Romani language and subjects include Christian ministry updates, testimonies and Roma Christian worship. All feature a clear gospel message with a call to repentance.
Tabor is available on the internet, CDs and radio broadcasts. This reaches a broad audience and also makes it easy for Roma believers to share the programmes with family, friends and others. For example, before the war, a church in the eastern Luhansk region had a ministry where they distributed Tabor CDs to local Roma people. Over a hundred copies were handed out, making a big impact.
Roma people who do not yet know Christ often listen to Tabor. A woman called Nina told TWR Ukraine: ‘They brought me a CD with recordings of the programmes. What amazing songs are on there, both about God and our folk songs. Sometimes I clean the house while listening to the CD. And I like the fact that they not only sing about God, but also talk about it!’
