My wife and I were raised strictly amongst the Gypsy people and kept our contact with non-Gypsies to a minimum. Our family—like most Gypsies—did not attend any particular church, although the Gypsy community always seems to identify with either the Greek Orthodox or Catholic beliefs. Growing up we attended church primarily on Christmas, Easter or special occasions (real C.E.O.’s) and were taught to keep up the Gypsy traditions and “religions.” My wife and I held on to many of those traditions before we were saved.

The act of “fortune telling” is something that was taught and handed down from generation to generation in both of our families. During the earlier years of our marriage, my wife and I ran our own fortune telling business by operating a “Reader and Advisor” shop.

I accepted the Lord as Savior in a Nazarene church in 1991, and my wife came to know the Lord in a Gypsy Pentecostal church in 1989. After receiving the Lord as our Savior, we were convicted about the practice of fortune telling and no longer pursued this type of illegitimate business. From time to time, we attended Pentecostal churches in Cleveland and even became part of a Nazarene church at one point.

We really knew nothing about the Pentecostal or Nazarene teachings, nor did we know doctrine at that time. However, we did know that we wanted to be in church and under God’s Word. Amen! I also never believed nor understood the term “losing your salvation” because the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

To add to our already confused state, something happened in 1990.  A Gypsy independent, fundamental Baptist preacher from New Carlisle, Ohio, to Cleveland to reach out to his own people. God led him to Cleveland Baptist Church to partner with him in reaching the Gypsy population of northeast Ohio. The Baptist doctrine that was brought to us was something completely new, but Pastor Walter Stevens was here to change that.

In time, I started visiting the Gypsy Outreach Ministry being held at Cleveland Baptist Church. Soon enough, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, it was revealed to us through scripture that there was something wrong with the Pentecostal teaching we were following. By studying and getting into the Word of God, we had found the truth. Praise the Lord! After that, we stopped attending the Pentecostal church and began to grow in the Baptist faith.

In 1996 my brother, Lawrence Evans, answered God’s calling and began to pastor the Gypsy Outreach Ministry. During the 17 years that I served under Pastor Evans, I enrolled in Heritage Bible Institute to learn more about the Baptist doctrine. I just needed to learn more about the Baptist faith. Aside from my studies at the institute, I offered my services anywhere the ministry would use me, whether it was singing in the choir, leading the youth group or heading up men’s Bible studies. However, even though I was studying and serving the Lord, I felt as if I was always running away because I was ignoring God’s call to full-time ministry. Looking back, I truly believe God was preparing me for something greater.

In 2011, I finally answered God’s call to preach His Word and reach my fellow Gypsies throughout America and abroad. Dorothy and I were both scripturally baptized and became members of a visible, local body of Christ at Cleveland Baptist Church. Leaving behind our Pentecostal faith of the past once and for all. I enrolled and am finishing my Bible training at Heritage Baptist Institute, a ministry of Cleveland Baptist Church.

In 2013, I became Pastor of the Gypsy Outreach Ministry along with my family at Cleveland Baptist church. While under the leadership of senior Pastor, Kevin Folger, we preach Christ from God’s preserved Word, the King James Bible.

While pastoring the Gypsy Outreach Ministry, we have seen many Gypsy people come to know the Lord as their Savior and be baptized into the local body of the church.

Aside from our two weekly services, our Gypsy people have become immersed in outreach with activities outside of church such as food and toy drives, feeding people in need and spreading the Gospel.

Currently, we are reaching the Gypsies of Cleveland and its neighboring cities, as well as ministering to Gypsy families in Mansfield, Sandusky and Mentor, Ohio.

I can truly see the presence of God in the hearts of my Gypsy people, and through the power of Christ and God’s Word, I will continue to carry out the works He has called me to do.

Matthew 28:19-20 reads, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” My aspiration is God’s objective. Following the instructions sent by the Lord, I have been called to reach the lost. The Gypsy race helps make up the more than 7 billion people living on this earth, many of whom have not heard the truth of the Gospel.

Like me in the past, the Gypsy community is lost and being led astray by false doctrine and preaching. The Bible says in Hosea 4:6- “My people are destroyed from a lack of knowledge.”  If they do not hear, how can they know?

I am one of only four Gypsy Independent Fundamental Baptist missionaries reaching out to an estimated 40 million Gypsies in the United States and Europe.

The wolves are here, and they are leading my people from the truth. Throughout the years, more and more Gypsies have adopted various teachings including Pentecostal, Apostolic Aka Jesus only and some have even become Jehovah’s Witness’. Again, my aspiration is to bring them to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, to step away from their false doctrines and into the sound doctrine of Christ.

• Present the Gospel to every living soul.
• Disciple those who receive Christ as Lord and Savior.
• Train men into the Gospel Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Establish Independent fundamental Baptist churches.

Please pray for my family as we are on part-time deputation raising support so that we may continue out the burden and endeavor that God has laid upon our hearts.

As you know, I am currently devoted to my work with the Gypsies in Cleveland, Ohio. Therefore, at this time, I cannot commit to full-time deputation. Please consider us for your next mission’s conference, or contact us anytime if you would like to hear more about our ministry. We would love to visit and share our burden with your congregation.