Harvest Mission
International, Inc.
International, Inc.
Equipping you for the mission field
in your own backyard
in your own backyard
©
Discover YOUR place in God’s mission!SM
Our Mission: To equip and mobilize God’s people
to spread the Gospel across all cultures.
Harvest Mission International, Inc. PO Box 5430, Ft. Wayne, IN 46895
Tel: 260-
Rev. Dr. Larry Merino, Executive Director
© 2006 Harvest Mission International, Inc.
Dr. Larry Merino and his wife Linda are both Gypsies who grew up in California. Despite rising status and a sense of belonging as a young man within the Gypsy culture, Larry felt an emptiness, and struggled to find a deeper meaning and purpose in life. He learned about Jesus Christ when
he was in his mid-twenties from
a young Lutheran woman who shared the Gospel with him. Through that woman’s witness
of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Larry found the meaning to life that he had been seeking.
he was in his mid-
of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Larry found the meaning to life that he had been seeking.
For Gypsies, becoming a Christian is usually not even an option. Christianity is so bound up with the world of the “gadje”, or white people, that it’s nearly impossible for a Gypsy to believe he could actually go to church and hear about God. So Larry’s conversion to Christianity was a big surprise to Linda. But the Holy Spirit worked quietly in
her heart too. Linda says, “God found me when I wasn’t even looking for Him. His forgiveness was such an amazing thing. It lifted a huge weight off of me.” For Larry and Linda, accepting Christianity meant renouncing the fortune-telling that had been their livelihood and being rejected by their families and their entire Gypsy community. This was a difficult, crushing thing for them. But Larry and Linda realized that Jesus’ promise of salvation and eternal life was far greater than anything the world had to offer and they became believers in Jesus.
her heart too. Linda says, “God found me when I wasn’t even looking for Him. His forgiveness was such an amazing thing. It lifted a huge weight off of me.” For Larry and Linda, accepting Christianity meant renouncing the fortune-
Linda & Larry Merino
Click here to read Linda’s personal testimony*
The Merinos were nurtured in their faith at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Santa Clara, CA. Linda remembers how important the acceptance of the members was, even though at first they were still involved in fortune-telling. “They knew all about us, but they still accepted us and loved us. Their kindness really drew us into the church.” The Merinos have dedicated their lives to reaching other Gypsies with the Gospel. As Larry says, “For generations, in literature, the opera and movies, Gypsies have been portrayed as a carefree, fun-loving people. But the truth is, we are a people dying without Christ. Millions of Gypsies are still in bondage to fortune-telling, stealing, and other lies from the devil.Only the Word of God can free them. I am glad when
I can share it with them.”
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