Roma Christians. How everything has been started

The largest Roma camp in Transcarpathia is situated in the city of Mukachevo (4 500 persons). It is situated in the suburbs of the city and extends for a few kilometers.
Exactly here in the end of 1984 God led a young Christian from the city of Chervonograd Sergiy Balyuk to minister those people and raise a Church here. The Lord put the great love to this desolate people into Sergiy's heart: he lived with them, ate, slept, joined all their troubles and at the same time preached them salvation through the Blood of Jesus Christ and studied Roma language.


Sergiy Balyuk. Preaching at one of the services in the camp

Roma repented easily and joyfully, but unfortunately, they forgot about their repentance alike and again enveloped in sin. However, the great God's love in pastor's heart helped to come through the difficulties, and very soon, here, in the very camp, a Roma Evangelic Church of the Living God arose. Gradually, year by year Roma grew mature Christians and in every next generation they serve God more devotedly.


Prayer for future leaders

After a while, a new pastor, Mykhailo Balko, who ministers God and Roma people with the same enthusiasm, headed Roma CLG. In 1990 through own efforts they built a prayer house with seating for 120 people, which does not hold all comers. In winter, services are held twice a day.


Pastor Mykhailo Balko at the service in the camp of the village Sobatyno

Today Roma go to other regions for evangelizations in similar camps, and the fruit of their work is great. Now there are 30 Roma churches in Transcarpathia.