India

Indian Gypsies: From Occultism to Christ

By Steven Little
CBN News

CWNews.com–When you think of gypsies, you might get an image of traveling vagabonds who live by their wits.

But the gypsies in our next story are settling down and starting new lives, and they're experiencing a remarkable transformation.

They are the Vaghri people of South India.

They're gypsies --- and for centuries they've lived a nomadic life, wandering in the forests and living off the land.

And even though south India is predominantly Christian, there was no church among them.

They were always resistant to the Gospel because they were deeply involved in occultism and also sacrificing of animals, like buffalos or goats, to appease the gods and goddesses they worshipped.

As part of their spirit worship, the gypsies practiced a ritual some Christians might find familiar:

They drank the blood of the sacrificed animal and ate the meat with unleavened bread.

Bishop Ezra Sargunam of the Evangelical Church in India says that this 'counterfeit communion' created an opening for the Gospel.

He said, “We feel that this could be the beginning of something -- an entry point as far as we are concerned. So our evangelists started explaining to them and we told them, ‘Well, you don't have to sacrifice anymore. Christ has died once for all and His blood is available. And in remembrance you can take the communion with us once you become Christian and baptized…’ That functional substitute really worked in their hearts and lives.”

It worked so well that today about 20 percent of the 500,000 Vaghri gypsies have accepted Christ.

And a ministry that started with a small band of evangelists 10 years ago, now has more than 70 churches.

In those churches, the Vaghri Christians joyfully celebrate their freedom in Christ.

You see some of them worshipping in the Lord -- they really worship!” said Bishop Sargunam. “Other congregations, they'll be silent; you don't know whether they're having a funeral service or not. But their services are really lively, they're lively. They used to dance, drink and dance before their sacrifice, but now they dance in the Spirit.”

ECI is helping the gypsy Christians settle down and build lives for their families. And it's helping future generations by placing the children in Christian schools.

Sargunam says these physical transformations are powerful evidence of God's work.

“The greatest, unique thing about the gypsy movement is that many people, Christians, would not get near them because they stink, they never bathe, they’re dirty, filthy, the children running around naked,” Sargunam said. “Now, you will see the contrast, you will see the change, (and) the children (are) attending English medium schools.”

The Vaghri gypsies are just one of hundreds of tribes that the Evangelical Church in India is reaching.

But no matter how different the people or how difficult the circumstances, the message is always the same.

Sargunam said, “It's the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every people group we go to always looks very tough. Man-eaters, cannibals. How is your life transformed? The Gospel is so powerful it transformed the lives of the people socially, economically, religiously, spiritually -- in all respects.”

New Directions International is helping the Evangelical Church in India reach more people groups with the gospel. Visit their website to find out more.

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