About the Partnership

The Roma Partnership is a long-term relationship between Baptists on Mission and Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBAid). In 2005, following the Sri Lankan tsunami, Baptists on Mission and Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBAid) began working together as they both responded to the disaster. It was out of this meeting that Hungarian Baptist Aid invited Baptists on Mission to send teams to work with the Roma in Hungarian-speaking villages in Western Ukraine.

HBAid was begun in 1996 by Sandor Szenczy and supported by the Hungarian Baptist Union with the goal of helping people in need within and outside Hungary, following Jesus Christ’s command to love our neighbor. HBAid operates numerous humanitarian and social programs to meet spiritual, physical, emotional, and psychological needs. 

Baptists on Mission partners with HBAid primarily in serving the Hungarian-speaking Roma in Hungary, Romania and Ukraine. This is done through partnership with Roma churches in those countries by sending teams to provide children’s ministry, outreach ministry, pastor training, medical and dental clinics, and help in their church planting efforts. 

An amazing opportunity opened up to Baptists on Mission and our church partners when Hungarian Baptist Aid took over operation of approximately 50 public schools in Hungary in 2010. Law changes in 2010 in Hungary enabled HBAid to not only operate these public schools, but openly share the gospel and teach the bible through curriculum developed by the Baptists. Baptists on Mission was invited to send teams to host English Bible Camps in their schools. As of 2025 we have established these camps in approximately 20 of the Hungarian Baptist schools. Our goal is to come alongside HBAid and help them reach these communities through establishing a spiritual culture in the schools, strengthening existing churches and planting new churches.

We are excited about your interest in the partnership and potentially sending a team. Because all of our teams work in different communities in Hungary, Romania and Ukraine you may encounter a broader range of Baptist churches and potentially other denominations that HBAid partners with. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our office for further information.

Meet the Missionary

Alicia Jones serves as our on-site coordinator for the Roma Partnership and a missionary to the Roma people. She is from Raleigh, NC and lives in Hungary. In addition to local coordination of the teams, she works with the Hungarian schools and the local Roma communities throughout the year. For more information about this ongoing work, visit www.lovehelpteach.org 

                                                
 

TRIP DETAILS

Trip Cost

The price of the trip will be based on airfare. For 2025 the average trip price was $2500. This includes round-trip airfare, insurance, in-country transportation, lodging, most meals, and orientation materials. Some personal spending money will be needed for a few meals and souvenirs. (Price does not include materials that will be needed for ministry, i.e., VBS materials, building materials, medical supplies etc. See below). Payments made by credit card will be charged an additional 3% convenience fee.

Material Costs 

Each team will need to provide $2500 for ministry expenses. This may include English Bible Camp home visits and family day, building supplies, food for the children or adults during ministry events, food packages for families, VBS supplies, medical supplies etc. The team leader will work in coordination with the on-site coordinator in the use of these funds.

Teams

Teams should be comprised of no more than 12 members unless approved in advance. On-site coordinators will arrange logistics for teams. Housing and food logistics vary based on work location. Some teams may be asked to help with their food preparation.  Applicants must be at least 16 years old to participate. It is required that those under 18 travel with a parent or assigned guardian.

Health

Team members must be in good physical health. Anyone with a chronic medical condition should not volunteer for these projects. Many areas of work will be quite hot and dusty. Recommended vaccines are Hepatitis A and B (specifically for medical teams), Pertussis, Flu and Tetanus. Check with your healthcare provider and cdc.gov/travel for recommendations to the specific country destination.

Travel

All travel will be arranged by Baptists on Mission (BOM) office. Dates for travel are listed below. Any requested change of dates must be approved by BOM. All volunteers must depart from Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh/Durham, or Atlanta.  (Travel may be possible from other cities, but may involve an additional cost.) 

Living and Working Conditions

Those participating in this effort must be flexible and willing to work as a member of the team. Travel, living, and working conditions may be difficult at times. The work may be strenuous and the climate will be different.  Once applications and deposits have been received, team members will be given information, which will answer many questions about the trip. An orientation will be provided for each team prior to departure. The orientation manual can be read here.

Other

Smoking, chewing tobacco, and drinking alcoholic beverages may be highly offensive to other Christians. Team members must refrain from these activities while traveling with Baptists on Mission.