began serving in
Czechoslovakia in 1919,
gelistic and social service
work there until suppressed
in June 1950. Twenty�three
years ago, after central Euro-
pean borders were opened,
the Army's work was re�es-
tablished, with the Nether-
lands Territory in charge
of the redevelopment.
all the bad things we had done, and at
the same time opened our eyes to the
truth, and that gave us great joy.
Lord, but didn't know how or where. I
felt sure that God was calling me to a
special mission: I needed to do something
for the Roma*. I also knew that I was
called to be a minister, but my educa-
tion was not good enough. So I had to go
back to high school, even though I was 30
years old! In that last year of school the
Lord confirmed my calling to be a pastor.
I read Acts 20:28. "Look after yourselves
and everyone the Holy Spirit has placed
in your care. Be like shepherds to God's
church. It is the flock that He bought
with the blood of His own Son." I still
didn't know how or where or when, but
I prayed that God would lead us in the
right direction.
Salvation Army officer who spoke to me. I asked him about theo-
logical teaching programs, and he told me about a training college
in Switzerland. That could be my way!
Isaiah 6:8: "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, `Whom
shall I send? And who will go for us?'" My wife and I looked at
each other and we both said: "Here am I. Send me!" Six years af-
ter attending that first church meeting, we knew we belonged in
The Salvation Army. In 2002, we were accepted as cadets, and
in 2005, we were commissioned as Salvation Army officers in
Hungary.
a day for needy people. We have an outpost as well. There are a
lot of social services offered through the corps, which provide an
opportunity to share the gospel in this city and also in the sur-
rounding Roma communities. It took a long time, but God guided
us to the place where we are now, and He will continue to guide
us the rest of our lives. We are at home as God's servants in The
Salvation Army.
originated in northern India but now are living on all continents (mostly in
Europe, North Africa, and North America). They number about 15 million
worldwide. Long discriminated against, the Roma were one of the ethnic
groups targeted for genocide by the Nazis. Under communist regimes, the
Roma were subject to forced sterilization and bans on their cultural hall-
marks such as music and language. Those still in India are mainly Hindu,
but migrant Roma are usually Christian or Muslim.