By Randy Wright
October 2006

I started my first class with the Roma (Gypsy) pastors and church leaders by saying, "I guarantee you that one person will learn something this week. Me!" And I did.

I'm sure I learned a lot more that those in the Gypsy Smith School. I also relearned some of the lessons I learned the first time I taught in November 2004. I learned that these men are regular readers of the Bible, unlike many of their counter-parts in America.

I learned more lessons about commitment. In this country we have an easy time being a Christian.That is a blessing with an underside. Sometimes when it is easy to be a believer, the believing gets sloppy or half-hearted. The Gypsies are already a marginalized people, but when they add a strong and vibrant faith, many become even more suspect.

Being a Christian in Romania is a lot more difficult and takes, I think, more daily fervor and faith. I also learned that Gypsy pastors are faced with many of the same trivialities and joy-busters as the rest of us pastors and church staffers. We say the "Church universal," and I've found that to be true in many ways.

Churches across the globe still face the same, universal conflicts, personality differences, diverse Biblical interpretations, and conflicting theological positions. Pastors, American and Gypsy, face similar lists of unwritten and unrealistic expectations.

One morning as I was going back to my room before classes, I glanced in one of the student rooms. I was humbled by what I saw. Two Gypsy ministers of music were on their knees, leaning over the sides of their beds deep in prayer. I do a lot of praying, but I rarely get down on my knees and in that humble posture poor out my heart and soul. I was moved and inspired.

I continue to learn something of the passion and feeling of Gypsy Christians. Their discussions are lively and pointed. Their praying is soulful and, at times, plaintiff. Their singing is spirited and colorful. Their friendship is genuine and warm. On the last day, many of my "students" (translated "fellow learners") gave me not only personal good-byes. They also gave me Biblical blessings and benedictions.