Ministry Development.

[Ian Gentles]

I am now being asked to cover a couple of "Travelers" sites, that means Gypsies, they usually live in large caravans. They are very closed communities and to be honest have a reputation for crime. I am told once your accepted they look after you, and tend to feed you a lot! I will be doing this alongside my Ministry to Markets.

[Bob Evans]

Ian is this a good thing?

[Ian Gentles]

Ian is this a good thing?

Yea i Think it is, a challenge, and bit of variety. Can go, expenses payed, to big Gypsies horse sales in Cumbria in summer, kinda gets wild there.

[Anne and Dwayne Hood]

Crime, I don't think, for them, means, like murder. Around here, they would do very cheap labor, and then be gone, by the time, the paint started peeling off of your house. I have read that they are also known for stealing.

[Ian Gentles]

I hear they steal a lot lol.

[Barbara Moulton]

I hear they steal a lot lol.

Don't go in with preconceptions. Just minister in love.

I did some research on gyspies (roma people) when I was preparing the multicultural/multifaith handbook for my hospital. Interesting people...many with fascinating practices and beliefs around death and dying.

[Bob Evans]

Ian I know nothing about the people that you are assigned to minister to. However, as one in the business of ministering to people with difficult pasts I always try to focus on the fact they need Jesus and not on the crimes they might have done. I will be praying for you. Is there a book or a seminar you could look at that would help you understand their culture?