Positive future for Roma church

Story: Lisa Swift | Photos: Rohan Francis

A vibrant church, set up by the Roma community in Firth Park, has been celebrating the arrival of their new Pastor. Local residents have been running the church without a spiritual leader for over 3 years, they hope that the arrival of Pastor Pavol Sandor from Slovakia will mean the church will be able to grow and develop.

Local worker Miroslav Sandor, from the Pakistan Advice and Community Association, invited the Messenger to the church. He sees it as a positive place for local residents to get help and support,

“People have been very negative about Roma, but we want to be positive and help our community. We are collecting money each week to develop the church and PACA has also helped by buying chairs and equipment.”

The church at Brushes Community centre was full of families, who were all eager to welcome us. The atmosphere was joyful, with music played by amazing musicians. The pastor led a service full of messages about love for other people, forgiveness and generosity.

Pastor Sandor spoke to the Messenger about his hopes for the future:

“We have a church in Slovakia, but we wanted to help people here, to help people integrate. People in Slovakia don’t have opportunities like they do in this country,I believe God will give us a good future here.

“People have come here so their children can have a better life. People shouldn’t say the Roma community is no good, we are going to integrate. We have education and we have culture. Sheffield is going to change, whether you are black or white, it is God who gave you this colour, what is important is that we love each other.”