Cup & Cross to Release New Ministry DVD
A new DVD is to be released by Cup & Cross Ministries next month. The documentary film covers the activities of the ministry in Easter Europe in the past three years with a special focus on the X Youth Event, which Cup & Cross has been holding in various Bulgarian locations for several years now. The release is a co-production of Shalom TV, the Bulgarian Faith Channel, a Bulgarian Sound Studio of Nashville and Cup & Cross’ own media team. The film will be broadcasted on Bulgarian televisions while being made available on the internet and released as a DVD.
X Event: Ten Analyses and Perspectives
by Dony & Kathryn Donev
X at the Black Sea 2007 was a spiritual breakthrough for Cup & Cross Ministries. At the same time the event served as a reality check for our abilities, strategies and expectations. As we approached the event as a spiritual encounter and experienced fully its developmental process and aftereffects, our ministry team was able to assess the advantages and downfalls of our active ministry strategy. Several observations were made.
1. The Gospel is stronger when preached to sinners who have not been saved.
2. Spiritual hunger in Bulgaria, which is expressed predominantly in the need for street evangelism and spiritual revival, has not changed or weekend in the years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall. It has only shifted perspectives from a strictly postcommunist to a rather westernized postmodern context. It has become the spiritual duty of the church to discover where and how this shift has occurred and to provide pastoral care for the unchurched in the new context through all applicable means.
3. Only unconventional ways of presenting the Gospel will draw people who have not yet been drawn by conventional methods.
4. It may not be easy for conventional pastors and churches to accept new methods of preaching the Gospel. Therefore, adequate contemporary training in ministry and leadership must be proposed beforehand in order to train local churches and leaders how to recognize, embrace and utilize new waves of spiritual revival. This is indeed an obstacle which has often remained forgotten while receiving training and leadership on a weekly basis within the comfort zone of the local church.
5. Since all transitions described above are deeply rooted in one’s personal spirituality and the spirituality of the church itself, a leap of faith is needed on every level of church leadership and ministry in order for the church to be transformed back to its original image of a movement testifying of the story of Christ and witnessing how others are being transformed by the power of the story.
6. Team work based on Biblical covenant relationships is the natural continuation of the revival initiated by the Holy Spirit and a key factor in the formation of the discipleship process among the newly converted.
7. Structural flexibility of the church, designed with the purpose of transforming it from a community organization to a community movement, complete obedience to the move of the Holy Spirit, as well as training in doctrinal reformation of methods and praxis are necessary to accomplish the said transition.
8. Following of the leadership of the Holy Spirit will not only help the church to return to being a movement again, but in fact will spark, motivate and inspire movements of fragmented religious groups, churches and denominations to return to the basic mission of the church namely: salvation of eternal human souls
9. Resistance to such movements, within and without, must be accepted as a normal reaction and must be embraced as the solemn way through which new spiritual movements and fresh waves of revival come to existence.
10. Finally, personal lives, carrier goals, and ministry objectives may need to be compromised before one fully surrenders to the move of the Spirit; beyond a shadow of a doubt, however, Gods response to one’s full surrender is undoubtedly supernatural confirmation of the Word through signs, miracles and wonders while fulfilling the Missio Dei: salvation of human souls for eternity.
X 2007: A Miracle in the Making
by Kathryn N. Donev
As you walk in the garden area going to the Black Sea coastline to catch a glimpse of the sailboat exhibition, you begin to notice posters for an event. Before you are able to read any further you hear off in the distance what appears to be preparations for a concert. Your curiosity draws you closer and you inquire what will be taking place. The sound person tells you that at 7:00 o’clock sharp the Christian music group “Extremum” will be performing here at the open air sea garden auditorium.
It is only 30 minutes till 7:00 so you find a free seat on the bleacher in the back and watch as a large crowd gathers with standing room only. Then the concert begins strong. Before you realize, an hour has past and the call for intermission is given. Shortly you see something being thrown to the crowd. You run to the front and catch a small plastic bag the size of a business card. You open it and find inside a bracelet with the colors of the Bulgarian flag and the text “www.bibliata.com” embossed on the white silicone surface. Instead of returning to your seat you put on your bracelet, remain upfront and the band returns to perform another set of songs.
Twenty minutes until 9:00 pm, just as the sun is setting, a message is delivered which encourages freedom from sin and deliverance from drugs and alcohol. This message is one that you have never heard before and honestly do not think much of it at the moment. You are just interested in hearing more music. To conclude the band takes the stage for their final songs. After, the crowd cheers for more, the band comes back to perform two more songs. The lyrics proclaim “Just show me a moment in your presences” and the band has the crowd repeat after them. At 9:00 pm it’s over and you are ready to go home.
As daylight fades, you find your way back through the garden to a nearby street where you catch a taxi. During the drive you revisit the delivered message of “being free”. You are still a bit confused and want to know more. You look down to the bracelet you put on and before taking the elevator up to your apartment block you stop at the internet café and log on to the website address “Bibliata.com.” As you surf the site you find that you can read the text of the Bible, listen to sermons about the Bible, and even download music from the concert you just attended. At this site’s consortium is where you begin to have your questions answered.
Church ministry must reach beyond the church walls to the places where the oppressed, hopeless, alcoholics and addicted are found, whether that be on a street corner, a sandy beach or even the Internet highways. God\’s love has no limit and as His arms and legs neither should we, as we strive to share His love with those who so disparately need deliverance. The above account illustrates how the event, X at the Black Sea we held on July 28, 2007, may have influenced a single life, but in faith we believe that this event is only the beginning of a much larger ripple, the effects of which will be felt long after the band packed up, the sermon concluded and the sun set. A price cannot be put on this event for it was truly a priceless experience and one that occurred only by the grace of God.
Many obstacles had to be overcome and it is only a miracle that X at the Black Sea became a reality. When the mayor’s offices denied a permit, when funds and means of transportation were limited, when it seemed impossible to acquire the needed equipment and when friends said it would not work, is when God receives the full glory. For it was not with the efforts of money or men that this event happened but by the intervention of the Holy Spirit. As long as you have the Holy Spirit all things are possible. Praise be to God for what He has done and for the miracles He has yet to perform!
X Log 2007 Bourgas, BULGARIA
12:00 am Our media team left Sofia in route to Bourgas
12:35 am Christian rock band Extremum arrived in Bourgas
4:40 am The bus carrying our media team arrived in Bourgas
5:00 am Putting up posters for X in the streets of Bourgas at dawn
6:00 am Final check for the X location at sunrise
6:30 am An early visit to Sarafovo for final preparations
7:45 am Final cut for signs and banners
11:00 am Transporting the drum set
2:30 pm Meeting with pastoral team to finalize the X schedule
3:00 pm Media team arrived at the X location
4:00 pm ProAudio arrived at the X location
3:30 pm Extremum arrived at the X location
4:15 pm Permit for the X was brought by the president of Bulgarian Christian Coalition
4:30 pm Police and security teams checked permit, approved schedule and secured the X location
5:00 pm Sound check
5:25 pm Viara TV and Shalom TV arrived at the X location
6:00 pm Last minute preparations
6:45 pm Prayer
7:00 pm X began with a brief introduction of the event
7:07 pm Extremum took the podium with the song “…”
7:45 pm Krasimir Momchev, president of Bulgarian Christian Coalition addressed the public with a political alternative for the restoration of Bulgaria as a Christian country
7:55 pm Extremum continued
8:40 pm Dony K. Donev of Bibliata.com took the podium with a brief message on “Freedom from Sin” and led the crowd with a prayer for deliverance from alcoholism, drugs and addiction
8:50 pm Extremum closed X ‘07 with two new songs
9:00 pm Breaking down
9:30 pm Packing up
10:00 pm Dropping off drums
10:30 pm Picking up audio recording from sound providers
11:00 pm Meeting with pastoral team to review successes and growth areas of event
X Youth Event at the Black Sea
After six months of planning, five weeks of negotiations and four consecutive days with hardly any sleep, it finally happened. The X Youth Event at the Black Sea in Bourgas, Bulgaria is an undeniable fact. It took us over a month to obtain a permit for the event due to its religious orientation, but with the help of our partners at the Bulgarian Christian Coalition the permit was finally signed by the mayor the day before the concert.
X Day: July 28, 2007
A little after midnight parts of our team began arriving to Bourgas from various locations in Bulgaria. The Christian band, “Extremum” traveled across Bulgaria to be able to participate. The Faith TV team arrived from Sofia along with the Media and PR team members. Around 4 a.m. at the crack of dawn, the media team began hanging the posters for the event and the final check of the location for the concert was performed at sunrise. The pastoral team continued with the finalizing of the schedule through the morning. Everyone gathered at the X location directly at the Black Sea coast in the early afternoon.
X The Event ‘07
Unpacking, putting everything in order, sound check, setting the lightning and broadcasting test took place along with countless last minute changes in the program. Due to the open location people began arriving at 4 p.m. At exactly 7:00 pm X opened strong and the music did not stop for the next two hours despite the solid watch of the present police. Extremum sang an unbroken set of Christian hard rock bringing many to the podium. The leader of the Bulgarian Christian Coalition addressed the crowd challenging young people to search for a Christian alternative for the status quo. Our team concluded X with a brief message on “Freedom from Sin” followed with a prayer for deliverance from alcoholism, drugs and addiction. Many responded to the message and prayed with us at the end of the event, proving again the power of the Gospel when confronted with the people of the world.
X Afterglow
After hours of packing, around midnight our team left Bourgas with satisfied hearts. We thank you for your prayers and support. With thousands in attendance and many more watching live on television, the X Youth Event has completed its purpose. Because the Gospel must be preached to the people who need it.
National Chaplaincy Conference
The national conference of the Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association took place on the Bakadjik Mountain near the town of Yambol. Founding members gathered for an annual account of the results of the Association. In the course of the round table discussion, Chaplain M. Buchukov of Agape Bulgaria brought a report of the registration process and its finalization through the Sofia Municipal Court, while Dr. D. Donev gave an account of his interrogation in the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense and consecutive reactions. Chaplain I. Kovachev informed the delegates of the ongoing work of his ministry in the Sofia correctional system and Father M. Yonov spoke briefly of his work as a hospital chaplain. Reports were given of all areas of chaplaincy ministry in Bulgaria as delegates from all regions of Bulgaria addressed current issues concerning the future strategy of the Association. The assembly further discussed issues of national security, Bulgaria’s status in the European Union, NATO’s personnel expected to arrive in Bulgaria this fall, chaplaincy educational endeavors as well as various problems and solutions on a local level of chaplaincy ministry. The attendants moved toward a declaration for the official legal reestablishing of chaplaincy ministry in Bulgaria. This was the second annual work meeting of the Association since its conception in August of 2006.
Ministry in the Heart of Bulgaria
The Revelation Revival which we reported of has been extended again. After ministering in the oldest Pentecostal church in Bulgaria in the period of July 8-11, 2007 we received invitations from three other churches also located at the Black Sea coast. Immediately after closing the meetings in Bourgas, we traveled to these towns and ministered with great success there as services extended through July 19, 2007. We then returned to our base location in Yambol but only to get on the road again and minister in the heart of Bulgaria. As the Holy Spirit led us in prayer, we traveled to the cities of Gabrovo and Kazanlak for yet another move of God.
In Gabrovo we visited with good friends and ministered to the Church of God congregation. The service ended with an alter call during which people prayed under a great anointing from the Holy Spirit, and we anticipate that God has much more in store for Gabrovo. Our team then traveled back across the Balkan mountain range to visit with another pastoral family in the city of Kazanlak. We ministered in the Baptist church which they pastor and had a great time of ministry and fellowship with the congregation. This church is the first Baptist church in Bulgaria, which was started over a century ago and we were blessed with this touch of Bulgarian protestant history.We are now anticipating the finale of this revival wave, as we are preparing for the “X Youth Event” which our team will hold in the Black Sea Garden of Bourgas along with the participation of the contemporary Christian band “Extremum” and the help of several local congregations. For even when every human effort and strategy fails, revival must go on …
Revelation Revival Continues
Several days ago we concluded with our services in Bourgas, but only to attend another ministry opportunity along the Black Sea coast. Before the revival in Bourgas was over, we received three invitations to continue services in the close by towns of Chernomoretz, Ahtopol and Sinemoretz. Chernomoretz is located near Bourgas, while Ahtopol and Sinemoretz are only several miles from the Turkish border. We began with a series on the Book of Revelation in Sinemoretz and continued until Sunday. Then on Sunday we held three services at Ahtopol (10:00 am), Sinemoretz (2:00pm) and Chernomoretz (5:00 pm). Our team has been blessed to minister in these locations and to bring a fresh message of salvation and eternal hope. We have promised the churches along the Black Sea coast to return soon for yet another crusade involving local congregations in the area on a larger scale.
Revival in Bulgaria Again
It has happened again. We are in revival in Bulgaria.
Upon the invitation of the pastor of the oldest Pentecostal church in Bulgaria, we traveled to the Black Sea port city of Bourgas to hold a seminar on the subject of eschatology. As services unfolded, it was clear that a revival was at hand and our time of ministry there would extend beyond the preliminary schedule.
We held a total of five services from Sunday through Wednesday. The topic of the conference included subjects as the Seven Churches of Revelation, the Rapture of the Church, Resurrections and Judgments and the City of God. The revival took believers back to their Pentecostal roots urging them to prepare for the meeting in the clouds. The church was filled every night regardless of the hot temperatures and services finished with altar calls in which prayers continued until dark.
While in Bourgas, we used this opportunity to coordinate the X Youth Event scheduled for the summer of 2007 in partnership with Bulgarian Christian organizations as part of our national tour. Before the revival was over we received three invitations to continue services in the close by towns of Chernomoretz, Ahtopol and Sinemoretz. We intend to follow up these ministry opportunities and we do ask that you pray for the success of this revival beyond the scope of our ministry and for the endurance of our team. We are confident that as we obey the leadership of the Holy Spirit again, God will provide both the time and means necessary to complete the assigned task.
Revelation Revival in Bourgas
We received an invitation from the pastor of the oldest Pentecostal church in Bulgaria located in the Black Sea port city of Bourgas to hold a seminar on the subject of eschatology. We have scheduled a series of services which will deal with eschatological subjects as the Seven Churches of Revelation, the Rapture of the Church, Resurrections and Judgments and the City of God. We are praying and expecting God to use us in this ministry endeavor and revive His people with a fresh message.
We do ask that you pray for the success of this revival beyond the scope of our ministry and for the endurance of our team. As we have a multitude of ministry engagements already scheduled, we are pressed for time to meet all invitations and without a reliable transportation this has proven to be a great difficulty. We are confident that as we obey the leadership of the Holy Spirit again, God will provide both the time and means necessary to complete the assigned task.
