Presenting at the Society for Pentecostal Studies
Published in AG Heritage Magazine
At Biker’s Church in Mississippi
HERALDS OF THE TRUTH: A History of the Evangelical Churches in Bulgaria
From the author of “Imprisoned for Christ”, now the first comprehensive history of Evangelical Christianity in Bulgaria is available in English. With the arrival of the first Congregationalist missionaries in 1844, more Bulgarians heard the Gospel than ever before. Despite resistance from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Evangelicals increased both in number and in favor with royal officials after the overthrow of the Ottoman Turkish Empire in 1888. The era of Communism brought new waves of persecution, but the Church in Bulgaria stood strong. This is her story.
Mobile Bible School in Bulgaria Implements Three Online Programs
As our Mobile Bible School demands constant upgrade and the addition of various new modules, we have been able to implement three complete Bible training schools available in the Bulgarian vernacular within our program. They are presented as media resources to the students and now we have been successful in posting them online to a larger audience, which has interest in them. This include church pastors and independent churches, lay ministers and ministry teams, all the way to the common folk who want to learn about the Bible. These three programs have been historically present in Bulgaria since the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and it is our hope that with their internet presentation they will continue to serve for the purpose of ministry training. They are:
1. Oasis of Love Bible School which was taught in Bulgaria by American missionary Keith de Mayo and his colleagues in 1990-1994. After the Fall of the Berlin wall, Oasis of Love became the first major ministry training center on a national level in the capital Sofia. Several hundred ministry students finished the school and entered the ministry by 1994. We were blessed to be able to gather the recordings of the lessons and publish them online. (icon)
2. The School of Christ International directed by Rev. B.H. Clendennen (May 22, 1922 – December 13, 2009) was introduced in Bulgaria around 2000-2001 and for a brief time received great attention, especially among the Roma Gipsy churches of Southwestern Bulgaria. It introduced a new approach to Bible training through media resources, which were flexible to present and easy to replicate in the local church, thus becoming an important training device for the ministry in the Bulgarian context. (icon)
3. International School of Ministry (ISOM) is a largely recognized training tool for churches around the globe. It comprises the teachings of leading ministers and renowned theologians, who have gathered together in one team to impart to a next generation what they have learned about the ministry. The chosen theme series covers virtually every aspect of Christian ministry and are invaluable training tools for both ministers and members within the local church (icon)
At the Antioch Project Church in Sliven
We were blessed to visit the Antioch Project Church in Sliven again, where long-term friends of ours have focused their prayers and efforts on a vision to reach one of the poorest communities in Bulgaria with the Gospel of Salvation. And their prayers have been answered in full.
Their church is growing, as they minister to both adults and children. The Sunday night service, in which we ministered, was full packed. Famous Bulgarian folk singer, Kondio, who was saved in prison two years ago, is a member of this church and is now planning to record a Christian album for Christmas. The congregation has established itself as a beacon in the community and is getting involved in a building program that will give them the opportunity to worship in a place of their own. It was a challenge to get a building permit in a city where several mosques are active. Nevertheless, the church’s ministry is extending to may areas of life and we were delighted to participate in what turned to be a prophetic service for both the people of the Antioch Project Church and our ministry team as well.
Mission Bulgaria 2009
At the New Church in Drajhevo
During our travels for the ministry we visit all sorts of churches. Sometimes, we minister at the finest buildings, accompanied by skillful worship teams in the comfort of nice air-conditioned and well-lighted environment. Other times, we go and minister to small village congregations gathering in old garages where we have to go dressed with layers in order not to freeze during preaching. But the Spirit is always the same.
The church where we ministered this past Sunday is located in the village of Drajhevo, just a few kilometers east from the main road connecting the towns of Yambol and Sliven in Bulgaria. There have been evangelical Christians there since the great crusades of the 1990s. But the small congregation began gathering just a few years ago. They have reconstructed an old garage, where bread is being sold during the week, into a sanctuary. Similar to the Azusa Street Mission, they have no pulpit and use an empty bread crate for one on Sunday. But the Spirit is always the same.
We entered the small place where some 30 people of God gather for services every week and we did not know what to expect. But when the power and glory filled the room, it was clear that God is at work in the midst of the new congregation in Drajhevo. Worship was accompanied only with a hand drum, but it was still as powerful as it could be. We delivered the message that all shall be well with those who remain in God’s righteousness. During the time of prayer and testimony when looking into the eyes of those present, you could see much hurt and sorrow. Yet, when service concluded we witnessed the transformation of heartaches to joy with the reassurance that all is going to be well with those whom remain righteous. In these difficult economic times, this is the only constant. God is the only absolute. For the Spirit is always the same. And the Spirit always remains faithful to those whom remain faithful.
Bulgarian Church of God Congregations in the Capital Sofia
During our ministry in Bulgaria we often travel to the capital Sofia as the obligations of our ministry position necessitates that we minister there several times a month. Sofia has grown tremendously since we began ministering there in the early 90s. As a modern European capital it has drawn both investors and work force from many foreign countries and most of Bulgaria’s towns as well. The result is some 3 million people population, which account for about half of the Bulgarian nation, living and working in the capital Sofia.
Currently, the Bulgarian Church of God has three Bulgarian congregations active in the territory of Sofia, not counting the Roma Gipsy churches and the multiple home groups at various suburbs and locations. These congregations are: (1) Grace Church of God, (2) Crossroads Church of God and (3) Fire Church of God.
1. The Grace Church of God is the oldest active Bulgarian Church of God congregation in Sofia. It owns its own building built in the north suburbs of the city with substantial help of Church of God World Missions. This is the church that mostly resembles the old practices of the Bulgarian Church of God, often forgotten by the congregations of the new generation. Thus, the role of this church is important as a protector of the identity and praxis of the historical Church of God, which has been ministering in Bulgaria since 1928.
2. The Crossroads Church of God is a relatively new congregation envisioned and formed around the dawn of the century. The church was initially formed around the growing youth group of Sofia’s Central Church of God to give one centralized location in the capital, where both students and professionals can worship together. It averages about 100 people who rent an auditorium west of downtown Sofia once a week on Sunday night for their church service.
3. The Fire Church of God began just a few years ago in the downtown location where the Crossroads Church previously met. The congregation is small, but growing attracting with its ministry young and knowledgeable people from all walks of life. The people of the Fire Church recently renewed their monthly revival services with special focus on healing and miracles.
Sunday Services in the Snow
Traveling during winter conditions in Bulgaria has never been easy. But it’s getting worse every year as temperatures drop lower and lower with record negative recordings. But ministry must continue regardless of the weather conditions. And there is a story in pictures of our ministry this past Sunday in blizzard conditions through the covered with snow Bulgaria:
7:30 AM: Early departure by dawn, defrosting the engine and heading out of town.
7:45 AM: A few minutes later still trying to leave Yambol, Bulgaria on our way to Sliven (25 miles north) to reach the Tricia Interstate. We stop to ask a southbound traveler of the road conditions ahead. The report is that while the roads are being cleaned they are simultaneously being recovered with snow.
8:00 AM: Heading out of Sliven west toward the city of Nova Zagora
8:15 AM: A few miles before the city Nova Zagora barely seeing the road ahead with falling snow and increasing fog.
9:00 AM: Reaching the interstate just pass the city of Stara Zagora where we were stopped by Police who inquired about road conditions and asked which direction we were traveling to ensure our safety.
9:20 AM: On the somewhat clean interstate attempting to make up for the lost time.
9:45 AM: Reaching the second largest Bulgarian city of Plovdiv also frozen under the snow to minister to some 150 members of the Apostolic Church of Bulgaria.
9:55 AM: Almost at the Apostolic Church of Bulgaria in Plovdiv, Bulgaria following our host to the church location.
3:00 PM: Heading back east after a long service and great fellowship afterwards in a hurry to our next ministry location in Sliven, Bulgaria.
3:30 PM: Not much improvement on the interstate, but thanks to the temperatures the snow is melting. We are very grateful. For Bulgaria this is normally the time in which the snow begins to freeze over after being melted by the noon time sun when temperatures permit.
4:00 PM: Passing Stara Zagora for a second time in one day.
4:15 PM: Quickly going through Nova Zagora as evening traffic begins to pick up.
4:30 PM: Passing the turn to our home office in Yambol to reach our ministry location in Sliven, Bulgaria.
4:55 PM: Entering Sliven under severe winter conditions, perhaps the worst we have seen all day, just in time for the evening service. The church is located in somewhat secluded back streets of the town which had not been cleaned all day.
6:15 PM: Altar call at the Antioch Project Church of Sliven, Bulgaria – worth every effort we have made for the ministry all day long.
