Revival Harvest Campaign Extended
On September 1, 2022 Cup & Cross Ministries International launched our Harvest Revival Campaign as we have done every fall for the last 20 years. This evangelistic endeavor contains revival services in strategic locations purposing to enhance the ministry of local congregations while reaching unchurched people in each community. Watching God at work has led us to approach this season with even greater anticipation. Our team in Bulgaria has already doubled services and increased the number of churches they visit every week.
Based on the results and requests, we have prayerfully considered to extend this year’s Revival Campaign.
We urge you to pray along with us and seek the will of the Lord for a new and powerful move of God of such magnitude and rarity that cannot be easily ignored! If you feel that our ministry would benefit your vision and congregation, please do not hesitate to contact us and schedule us with your church. Thank you and God bless!
Orthodoxy and Wesleyan Scriptural Understanding and Practice
“I sit down alone: only God is here; in His presence
I open and read this book to find the way to heaven”
– John Wesley
Our search for the theological and practical connection between Pentecostalism and Eastern Orthodoxy continues with yet another publication by St. Vladimir’s Press titled, Orthodox and Wesleyan Scriptural Understanding and Practice. The book represents an ongoing dialogue between the Orthodox and Wesleyan confessions and it emphasizes how theologians from both sides are attempting to discover commonalities in theology and praxis. To come together, not so much as theologians and thinkers, but as practical doers motivated by the proper interpretation of Scripture. As observed from the title, as well as through the text, these similarities are not necessarily in theological convictions, but in the proceeding Biblical approach toward interpretation of Scripture.
Orthodox and Wesleyan Scriptural Understanding and Practice is a compilation of essays from the Second Consultation on Orthodox and Wesleyan Spirituality under the editorship in 2000 of S.T. Kimbrough, Jr., who contributed the chapter on Charles Wesley’s’ Lyrical Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. I must issue the caution that the book is not an easy read. But it is by no means a book to be easily passed by Pentecostal scholars searching for the Biblical roots of Pentecostalism within the Eastern Orthodoxy.
The book begins with an interesting observation of the exegesis of the Cappadocian Fathers by John A. McGuckin, and continues with an article on the spiritual cognition of my personal favorite, Simeon the New Theologian by Theodore Stylianopoulos. Although the discussion on Gregory the Theologian, Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa was thoughtful and presented in an interesting manner, the essay on St. Simeon struck me as well structured, but somewhat shallow.
An interesting approach was taken in Tamara Grdzelidze’s essay where she presented an orthodox perspective of the Wesleyan position on authority of scriptural interpretation. The essay had a very strong exposition in regard to the Wesleyan understanding of the importance of Scripture in Christian living. The latter part, which dealt with the influence of tradition, however was not investigated to its full capacity, which left the text (perhaps on purpose) open to multiple interpretations. Nevertheless, this issue was resolved later in the book by Ted Campbell that dealt with the subject from the Wesleyan perspective.
A central theme throughout the book was the comparison of prayers and song lyrics from both camps. Although I am no musical expert, I must agree with the authors when they say that theology in music has played an important role in both Orthodox and Wesleyan traditions. Music continues to be important in the everyday spiritual experience of the Pentecostal believer. This rather practical approach seemed to be the heart of the discussion where both sides could agree.
Finally, the role of the Holy Spirit is viewed as central for the reading, understanding and practicing of Scripture in both the Orthodox and Wesleyan traditions. For the Pentecostal reader, it may be easy to accept this presumption as similar to the Pentecostal experience, yet the book describes it in terms which will be somewhat foreign to many Pentecostals. Similarities between these interpretations of Scripture may be self-explanatory for the western Pentecostal reader. But due to the ever-present tension between Orthodox and Protestant denominations, those in an Eastern European context may disregard these similarities. But even if the Pentecostal scholar gathers nothing else from this book, they must recognize that the time has come for a formal Orthodox-Pentecostal dialogue, like the one which the World Council of Churches has been trying to put together since 1991.
First Day of School in Bulgaria
We Shall Never Forget
Cup & Cross Ministries Shares the Love of Christ with Bulgarian Sunflower Seeds in Polk County, TN
by Kathryn Donev
Sunflowers are so much fun. They are actually thousands of tiny flowers that bring joy in many ways. It’s neat to watch them follow the sun because of a trait called heliotropism. Eating sunflower seeds can lower rates of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. They are a good source of many vitamins and minerals that can support your immune system. And did you know that a sunflowers destroy contaminants of its surrounding soil, water and air?
Although sunflowers are Native to North America, Bulgaria is among the top 10 sunflower producing countries. As in various places in Polk County, Bulgaria is famous for their golden fields. And believe it or not, you can find Bulgarian sunflower seeds in any Dollar General labeled with the Clover Valley brand. When we were ministering together with Feeding God’s Lambs Summer Program at First Baptist Benton giving a presentation about the 6 Senses of Bulgaria, the kids even got to taste some. Fun.
With a multisensory trip to Bulgaria, we shared how the Holy Spirit is our Sixth Sense to guide and direct us in life and found in everything we touch, see, hear, smell and even taste. When we all come together, we can do great things, just as with the thousands of tiny flowers that come together to have the appearance of a unified flower. Let us be a purifier of our environments and always be reminded to follow the SON. Being consumed with the sixth sense of the Holy Spirit is good for the soul.
Jacksonville, FL: 2020 Bulgarian Church Conference (Sept. 1-5)
This Train is Bound to Glory…
When there’s a failure to communicate
When leaders are constantly flummoxed by those who don’t seem to get it, there exists both a leadership and communications problem. Show me a leader with poor communication skills and I’ll show you someone who will be short-lived in their position. Great leaders can communicate effectively across mediums, constituencies, and environments. They are active listeners, fluid thinkers, and know when to dial it up, down, or off.
160,000 Pentecostals in Bulgaria Reported by the NEW Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism
Rewind 20 Years: Services Held
| 1 | 01/02/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 2 | 01/06/2002 AM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 3 | 01/08/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 4 | 01/09/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 5 | 01/13/2002 AM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 6 | 01/15/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 7 | 01/16/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 8 | 01/17/2002 PM | Pravetz Church of God | Pravetz, BG |
| 9 | 01/20/2002 AM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 10 | 01/20/2002 PM | Pravetz Church of God | Pravetz, BG |
| 11 | 01/23/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 12 | 01/24/2002 PM | Pravetz Church of God | Pravetz, BG |
| 13 | 01/25/2002 PM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 14 | 01/27/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 15 | 01/29/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 16 | 01/30/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 17 | 02/01/2002 PM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 18 | 02/03/2002 AM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 19 | 02/03/2002 PM | Pravetz Church of God | Pravetz, BG |
| 20 | 02/05/2002 PM | Buxton Suburb Home Group | Sofia, BG |
| 21 | 02/06/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 22 | 02/07/2002 PM | Pravetz Church of God | Pravetz, BG |
| 23 | 02/10/2002 AM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 24 | 02/10/2002 PM | Pravetz Church of God | Pravetz, BG |
| 25 | 02/12/2002 PM | Buxton Suburb Home Group | Sofia, BG |
| 26 | 02/13/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 27 | 02/16/2002 PM | New Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 28 | 02/17/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 29 | 02/20/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 30 | 02/21/2002 PM | Pravetz Church of God | Pravetz, BG |
| 31 | 02/24/2002 AM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 32 | 02/24/2002 PM | Pravetz Church of God | Pravetz, BG |
| 33 | 02/25/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 34 | 02/25/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 35 | 02/25/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 36 | 02/26/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 37 | 02/26/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 38 | 02/26/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 39 | 02/27/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 40 | 02/27/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 41 | 02/27/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 42 | 02/28/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 43 | 02/28/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 44 | 02/28/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 45 | 02/28/2002 PM | Pravetz Church of God | Pravetz, BG |
| 46 | 03/01/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 47 | 03/01/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 48 | 03/01/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 49 | 03/02/2002 AM | New Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 50 | 03/03/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 51 | 03/04/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 52 | 03/04/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 53 | 03/05/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 54 | 03/05/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 55 | 03/05/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 56 | 03/06/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 57 | 03/06/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 58 | 03/06/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 59 | 03/06/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 60 | 03/07/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 61 | 03/07/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 62 | 03/07/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 63 | 03/07/2002 PM | Pravetz Church of God | Pravetz, BG |
| 64 | 03/08/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 65 | 03/08/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 66 | 03/08/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 67 | 03/09/2002 PM | New Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 68 | 03/10/2002 AM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 69 | 03/12/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 70 | 03/12/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 71 | 03/12/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 72 | 03/13/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 73 | 03/13/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 74 | 03/13/2002 AM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 75 | 03/13/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 76 | 03/14/2002 АM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 77 | 03/14/2002 АM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 78 | 03/14/2002 АM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 79 | 03/14/2002 PM | Pravetz Church of God | Pravetz, BG |
| 80 | 03/15/2002 АM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 81 | 03/15/2002 АM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 82 | 03/15/2002 АM | Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute | Sofia, BG |
| 83 | 03/16/2002 PM | New Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 84 | 03/17/2002 AM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 85 | 03/18/2002 PM | Sugar Factory Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 86 | 03/20/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 87 | 03/24/2002 AM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
| 88 | 03/24/2002 PM | Pravetz Church of God | Pravetz, BG |
| 89 | 03/27/2002 PM | Central Church of God | Sofia, BG |
