What We Do | joshnmandapidgeon

What We Do...

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do,

and HE will establish your plans."

Proverbs 16:3

While there is always a need for more Christian workers to be part of what God is doing in Romania and among the 12 million+ Rroma people around Europe and the world, there is also an ongoing need to ensure that existing workers are cared for and that they have the resources they need to do their ministry well.

In November 2014, Manda began the Rroma-Workers Network, Romania with the aim of "Encouraging, Equipping and Empowering Rroma workers to reach Rroma communities with the Gospel." These Christian workers include foreigners, Romanians and Rroma, who are working in varied Christian ministries across Romania. They could be with an organisation or serving alone; linked with a local Rroma or Romanian church, or just focusing on an aspect of ministry. Some of our 200+ workers across Romania and Moldova, are involved with Bible schools, Bible translation projects, children's ministries and after school, Church planting, women's ministries, community development, men's ministries, general aid work or other avenues.

The aim of this ministry is for workers to collaborate with each other, to build one another up in their faith and to help with equipping one another as needs become apparent. Some workers may be under-equipped, under-resourced, or simply weary, or just need others to walk alongside them. Some, however, may be thriving and in a great position to assist other workers by offering resources that they know have worked well in the Rroma context, or by being a coach to a worker in need.

The RWN helps facilitate and provide a platform for these collaborations to happen. Visiting and spending time with workers, chatting with them via video call, learning where their hearts are at and what their needs are can help this web of connection to build and develop, to make sure all workers are well supported. While we don't always see all these connections that are being made, but we do hear stories of how the RWN has helped workers connect and grow their ministries.

Of course, the best way to build relationships is face-to-face, and a big part of our ministry is our biennial conference and retreat. Since May 2016, we have held four conferences in Romania, with each conference providing the space to rest and be refreshed spiritually, physically and mentally. It's a time when workers receive training in various topics such as burn out, time management, rejection and healing, mutual trust, learning more about working in the Rroma context, youth ministry, focus on prayer and many other topics. Many of our speakers have a Rroma background themselves, or have been involved with Rroma ministry for a long time. It is not aimed at foreigners bringing the answers, but for us to provide the platform for workers to equip one another and for the burden to be shared. With an estimated two and a half million Rroma living in Romania alone- it's a big task and definitely a long term vision.

Our third RWN conference, held in Harghita, Romania was postponed three times due to COVID19. Despite some workers also unable to attend due to the War in Ukraine, it was a blessing to finally hold the conference in May 2022, with the theme of "Restoring Dignity Together". This conference including a deeper look into the Dignity of the Rroma people, as well as into the lives of the workers. Additional topics included Orality and a Q&A session to help the workers delve deeper into some of the challenges within Rroma ministry.

Plans are now underway for our fifth conference coming up in 2026..

Rroma-Workers Network, Romania:

While much of our work is as coordinators, and involvement behind the scenes to develop the Rroma-Workers Network website, databases, and planning for conferences etc, we see the value and importance of growing relationships with the workers, to continue to establish trust and allow connections to happen naturally, rather than superficially and by force. We know this takes time and in Rroma and Romanian relationships, can be difficult to grow to a deeper level where trust is established, but we have seen the fruit of what deeper connections provides and know it's worth the investment.

Of course, in today's online world and as the network grows, privacy and other regulations all take time to ensure that we respect each worker and improve and maintain these connections.

We are also connected with a wider group of those working across Europe and further still, as we know there is strength in learning from those with experience to see how other ministries are thriving among a wide range of Rroma ministries. We are not in this alone, nor do we want to see our workers struggling by themselves.

Our role may be largely in the background but we are privileged to help those on the frontlines on a daily basis.