Bulgaria Votes 2007 Finals
Bulgaria’s ruling Socialists and the GERB party of Sofia mayor Boyko Borissov have emerged as the biggest winners in the final tally of mayors elected in Bulgaria’s 27 regional capitals. Socialist runners and independent nominees backed by the senior partner in the ruling coalition won 11 of the cities and towns that serve as administrative centres of Bulgaria’s regions. The biggest win for the Socialists was to retain the Black Sea port of Varna, where the nominee it backed, along with a host of other parties and local initiative committees, Kiril Yordanov was re-elected for a third term in office. The other ten cities are Blagoevgrad Lovech, Pernik, Razgrad, Russe, Silistra, Smolyan, Targovishte, Haskovo and Shumen. But the Socialists also lost several towns traditionally considered their strongholds, such as Burgas, Stara Zagora or Vratsa.
GERB, showing only at its second election after the MEP vote in May, has made its presence on the political scene known by taking three of the country’s big four cities – capital Sofia, Plovdiv and Burgas. It has also wrestled control from the Socialists in Stara Zagora and Vratsa, while also imposing themselves in Vidin, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Sliven and Yambol.
Rightist parties, represented mainly by the alliance between the Union of Democratic Forces and Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB), occasionally backed by other parties, won five seats. In addition to securing the re-election of rightist mayors in Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven and Montana, the alliance won Kyustendil and Pazardzhik.
The ethnic Turk Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), a junior partner in the ruling three-way coalition, won only one major town – their stronghold of Kardzhali, where the incumbent was re-elected in the first round of voting.
Despite the fact that the Socialists secured more municipal councillors and mayors, primarily because of its strength in rural areas, GERB got a bigger chunk of the popular vote, thanks to its stronger showing in urban areas, and capital Sofia in particular. If the same figures as during the first round of voting last week were recorded at the next parliamentary polls, it would become the biggest party in the parliament, with 61 out of 240 seats.
The current ruling coalition between the Socialists, MRF and the ex-king Simeon Saxe-Coburg’s party, would get only 111 seats, well short of the current domination it enjoys in the legislature, where it has 168 MPs. The rightist coalition between UDF and DSB would see its presence boosted from 32 to 48 seats, with nationalists Ataka and MRF also seeing small gains. But the fairly even distribution of seats, without any party dominating the vote, and the fractious relationship between most Bulgarian parties would make it very difficult to create a workable majority in the legislature.
Bulgarian Chaplaincy Associations Recognized by U.S. Department of State
BREAKING NEWS [October 8, 2007]
Original source: U.S. Department of State www.state.gov
For immediate release
Bulgarian Chaplaincy Associations Recognized by U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State has released its annual International Religious Freedom Report for 2007. In the section about Bulgaria, the work of Cup & Cross Ministries has been noted through the recognition of the Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association.
Cup & Cross Ministries has worked toward the establishment of the Bulgarian chaplaincy Association since the year 2000. After five years of training chaplains, strategic professional placement and providing ministry in all respective areas of chaplaincy, in 2005 we began the process of registration with the Bulgarian government. This process was both difficult and a long test of our endurance. Although we were not openly denied registration under the 2002 Religious Act, various courts throughout Bulgaria hesitated and delayed our legal registration. Our ministry activities were closely watched and members of our staff were called in for interrogation on various occasions. After resorting to international human rights and religious freedom organizations, finally on February 23, 2007 the Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association received registration by the Sofia Municipality Court to become the first legal chaplaincy organization in Bulgaria officially recognized by the Bulgarian government. The current U.S. Department of State report overviews the above process. The direct quote of the report follows:
International Religious Freedom Report 2007
Released on September 14, 2007
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90168.htm
Section II. Status of Religious Freedom
Improvements and Positive Developments in Respect for Religious Freedom
Some religious denominations reported that the Religious Confessions Directorate had become more active in assuring that national and local authorities respect and promoted religious freedom and that the national government was more receptive to their concerns. For example, a Protestant group, the Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association, gained legal status on February 23, 2007. The association represents approximately 120 Protestant pastors and individuals mainly affiliated with the Church of God and Assemblies of God but also includes Baptists and Lutherans.
Pentecostalism in Bulgaria
By Kathryn Donev, M.S.
As the first Slavic nation to adopt Christianity, Bulgaria began Protestant work on the Balkan Peninsula in the 1800s when British and American missionaries were allowed to enter the Ottoman Empire. In 1868, the first Bulgarian Protestant Church was founded in the town of Bansko. By the time Bulgaria was liberated in 1878 and became an independent Balkan state, Protestantism was well established in the Bulgarian culture. In 1920, Ukrainian immigrants Zaplishny and Voronaev preached in the Congregational church at the Black Sea port city of Bourgas, where several were baptized with the Holy Spirit. This event marked the beginning of Pentecostalism in Bulgaria.
During the Communist Regime, the Bulgarian Church of God remained underground and was severely persecuted by the authorities. In 1949, Communist authorities tried and convicted fifteen protestant Bulgarian leaders on false charges of treason and espionage. Due to this persecution there arose division among Bulgarian Pentecostals that was prevalent and continued throughout the Communist Regime. Read more
Cup & Cross Ministries in the Church of God News
The work of Cup & Cross Ministries has been again recognized by the World Missions Media Department. Two reports were published in reference to our summer revival campaign in Bulgaria (http://www.cogwm.org/news.cfm?sid=3223) and the consecutive X Youth Event (http://www.cogwm.org/news.cfm?sid=3245) which we held at the Black Sea coast. Additionally, our article with observations and persecutes on the state of ministry in Bulgaria (http://www.cogwm.org/news.cfm?sid=3278) was also made available through Church of God World Mission’s website. We are thankful for this high recognition as it allows many internet visitors to become familiar with, pray for and participate in our ministry work in Bulgaria.
Roma Evangelical Killed in Bulgaria
The Bulgarian town of Samokov has launched an investigation in the death of the 17-year-old Roma boy Asparuh, who was beaten to death on Tuesday night. Four youngsters were detained Wednesday for starting up the fight that erupted between two groups of teenagers – Roma and Bulgarians – at the central square of the town. The two groups had a verbal conflict that quickly grew to a violent clash. The group of Bulgarian boys, who were later arrested is from the opposite side of town and may have never met Asparuh or his friends before before.
It is still not clear what had exactly happened that night to cause the clash between the youngsters. The only known part of the story so far is that Asparuh collapsed on the ground after a strong blow and was later declared dead by the paramedics, who arrived on the spot. The incident in which Asparuh was killed is not based on any ethnic prejudice, the Samokov authorities said Thursday, but the Roma population in the town was put on high alert. They even went out on protest.
The number of police patrols in the town was raised and gendarmerie was sent to prevent escalation of the social pressure. But Bulgaria\’s foreign minister Ivaylo Kalfin refuted on Thursday the claims that ethnic tension was building up in the country, in the face of mounting evidence to the contrary. Talking to reporters in the Black Sea town of Kavarna, Kalfin said last week\’s Roma revolt in Sofia and this week\’s mass brawl between Roma and Bulgarians in Samokov were not indicative of the overall situation in the country.
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.
Preaching Through All Means
Since the completion of the Bulgarian Audio Bible project in 2003 and its following success, our team has focused in the development of ministry related media. Among the number of websites which we have released in the past two years, we have been striving to recover a large amount of sermons, teachings and other Christian materials from church and personal archives. In this process, over 2,000 audio and video sermons and the curriculum of two Bible schools in the Bulgarian vernacular have been published on the internet, as we are continuing to work with a special focus on the Church of God School of Ministry classes. Our ongoing work with several Bulgarian Christian televisions and production companies has allowed us to increase the success of this ministry. The results have exceeded our greatest expectations, as over 3,500 Bulgarians around the world visit our websites and use the available resources every day. It has been several months since we passed the 1 terabit (one million megabits) monthly download mark. This number alone exceeds several times the overall book, audio and video tapes, CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray sales and distribution of virtually all Christian bookstores and organizations operating on the territory of Bulgaria.
Of course, this ministry over the internet requires a great amount of resources and knowledge and even greater dedication, as the demand for more Christian media in the Bulgarian cyberspace is growing at a fast pace. Beside all ongoing projects, our team has made the decision to open a new website in the next few weeks will combine all available Christian media available in the Bulgarian language in one easy to use resource. This website will implement a You Tube like structure, which will allow the visitor not only to view and experience the media content, but also to participate in its development and distribution. It is our sincere hope that through this means the message of salvation reaches places where we cannot personally go and ministers to people which we cannot reach through our hardest physical efforts. In order for revival to go on in Bulgaria, the Gospel must be preached through all means.
