More Services in Yambol
After so many years away from my hometown Yambol, I have been privileged to preach a number of services that are now turning into a series of evangelistic events. The last one was on July 19, 2006 as the pastor asked me to prepare a message on the concluding chapter of I Corinthians as a part of the church’s annual Bible book study. Our response was to present an in-depth study of the chapter focusing on giving, women in ministry, true apostleship and expectance of the Lord’s return. All of these issues have been and remain critical for the Bulgarian evangelical church. Therefore, the message used some elements of our common protestant heritage in Bulgaria to identify the issues with their theological and practical resolving not only in the local congregation, but in the movement as a whole.
Services in Varna
Immediately after returning from our trip to Pravetz, Etropole, Yablanitza and Sofia we departed to Varna for another ministry opportunity. It was there that we met with the local chaplaincy chapter and discussed with them some of the upcoming events in regard to the chaplaincy ministry in Bulgaria.
We were also able to meet with the founders of the New Wave youth movement to discuss some opportunities for the upcoming New Wave rally. Afterwards, we were given the opportunity to speak on their live radio show and respond to questions from the listeners.
On the following day, we ministered at the Varna Pentecostal Church, where we have minister before. We enjoyed our time there, as the Varna Church and its pastor have always been gracious hosts when we visit Varna and has become our long-term partner in the ministry of the Gospel and contributor to many of our ministry websites.
Chaplaincy Developments in Bulgaria
Just days before US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice arrived in Bulgaria, our team was called to the ancient Bulgarian capital of Veliko Tarnovo where we met with the regional leaders of the Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association. This was our second meeting with the Association which was officially introduced in 2005 at a similar national convention. We were asked to present the curriculum of a new chaplaincy class to be offered this fall as part of the Theological Institute’s masters program. The need of such education is well understood as the chaplaincy movement in Bulgaria is rapidly gaining influence in the context of Bulgaria-NATO relations. Eastern Orthodox circles are already talking about implementing their own priests into the new army structures, as the government is secretly subsidizing the building of Eastern Orthodox churches in at least two military schools. Meanwhile, active Evangelical chaplains were denied political defense in Brussels with the argument that the lack of legal procedure for training and implementing chaplains within military units, cannot be classified as restriction of religious freedom or intolerance toward Protestant ministers.
Nevertheless, such limitations can hardly limit the spreading wave of chaplaincy advocacy as many organized and independent groups are putting strong pressure for change. In March 2006, the Church of God in Bulgaria held a successful weekend seminar for prison chaplains which involved a number of Bulgarian prison directors. Subsequently, this week Nova TV aired an interview with a well-known evangelical chaplain who has worked for many years with the Sofia prison system. In this context, the chaplaincy meeting in Veliko Tarnovo was one more step closer to an adequate legal system allowing chaplaincy in Bulgaria and more specifically in the Bulgarian Army. We have also released a website dedicated to the work and ministry of the chaplain.
The reform within the Bulgarian Army anticipates the implementation of chaplains. As U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice finishes her visit in Bulgaria to ratify the agreement for NATO bases on Bulgarian soil, this long-expected opportunity for ministry within the Bulgarian Army may finally become a reality.
Back to Bulgaria Again
With a desire to return back to Bulgaria for another term of ministry, we did not know when or how it would come to be. After much prayer and belief that 2006 is our year of promise, we took a step of faith to do what seamed to be impossible and began to prepare for our trip to Bulgaria. After taking this step, miracle after miracle took place in our lives.After much traveling and ministering in North America, we were finally able to return to the small Eastern European country of Bulgaria where our team has established a permanent location for ministry work. Once again we are here in Bulgaria and door after door is being opened. We could have never imagined or planned what has already taken place just in this first month.
The power of God never ceases to amaze. We are going beyond the church walls into the market places. We are going beyond denominational barriers into the churches regardless of the name on the front door. We are going beyond the possible and allowing God to be our guide in the realm of the impossible. We have found that when we take a leap of faith, God is always faithful in His promise to provide for his children. His promises are ones we can stand upon. If we disregard what is possible and what is impossible and go where He leads, we will find that there is no impossible when God is involved.
U.S. Bases in Bulgaria
Bulgaria and the US reached a final agreement allowing the US military to use several military bases in Bulgaria.
The news was broken by Bulgaria’s Ambassador to NATO Lyubomir Ivanov and US Ambassador to Sofia John Beyrle, who told journalists that if the agreement is signed by April the first US soldiers will come to Bulgaria in 2007.
The agreement should be signed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when she visits the country for a summit of NATO foreign ministers in April, Ivanov explained. The US will be able to use three Bulgarian military bases – the Novo Selo range and the Bezmer both near the city of Yambol and close to Bulgaria’s border with Turkey, and the Graf Ignatievo airfield in central Bulgaria. US forces will also use a storage facility near Bulgaria’s port of Burgas. The bases will be used for the training of 2000 to 3000 US soldiers.The agreement, which will be valid for 10 years, must be ratified by Bulgaria’s parliament. It provides mechanisms for bilateral consultations over the actions of the US forces in Bulgaria. According to the agreement if an American soldier commits a crime on Bulgaria’s territory, he will be sued according to local laws. Washington will also inform Sofia about the actions of the US army that concern the bases in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria’s Defence Minister Vesselin Bliznakov commented that Bulgaria’s flag will be raised in the bases. The location of the US bases in Bulgaria has faced the strong opposition of nationalistic formation Attack (Ataka), whose members left Parliament to stage rallies across the country against the bases.In the context of ministry, the reformation within the Bulgarian Army anticipates the implementation of chaplains. This long-expected opportunity for ministry within the Bulgarian Army may become a reality when U.S. forces integrate with Bulgarian military units on Bulgarian soil.
Religious Freedom in 2005
Church and State in the 1990s
The Bulgarian Evangelical Church
Postmodernism has already penetrated Bulgaria and the Bulgarian church with full strength. Today, postmodern believers in a postcommunist world ask hard theological questions with doubts of every aspect of systematic theology from the creation metanarrative to the day of Christ’s resurrection. These are the signs of an ever-changing identity, which unfortunately the Evangelical church in Bulgaria is not yet able to handle.
But in the midst of this postmodern invasion, multiple trends of restorationism and revival have begun taking place. Exploring and reclaiming protestant roots is in the focus of various religious groups and NGOs, which are actively participating in the political, economical and social life of the country creating a new Christian antipode to the existing secular culture.
Shalom TV BULGARIA
In 1996, we participated in the establishment of Shalom TV – a Christian television production company located in Yambol, Bulgaria. Through the past decade the company has been involved in a number of television productions, but struggled to provide cutting edge Christian television. Upon our arrival in Bulgaria, we used the already established foundation, to contact pastoral fellowships around the country to discuss with them the need for a solid media presence of the evangelical churches in Bulgaria.One of the main reasons why our ministry in Bulgaria reached such an extraordinary potential was its direct implementation of media. Many of our events were broadcasted directly via radio or Internet. Various newspapers reflected on our work and two TV channels aired news coverage about the ministry. It was natural then, that as we worked directly with pastors and churches we were constantly asked about the use of media in ministry.
As a result, an old dream of ours came to reality. In the fall of 2005, we were able to reactivated the Shalom Group—a media consortium of evangelical churches which promotes Christian values and provides media representation for Bulgarian Protestantism. As a part of this media consortium, our team has designed a series of strategic websites focusing on various fields of Christian ministry. A website dealing with pastoral issues (www.Pastir.org) has already been launched, and another one dealing with chaplaincy is awaiting its release by the end of the year. Additionally, Shalom TV released a video sermon series for cable televisions in ten large Bulgaria cities. The series are also featured online via the websites of the consortium.
This media campaign has already brought attention with its actions. Recently, the group represented the Bulgarian Evangelicals in their opposition of a TV show mocking God and Christianity. An open letter was designed and broadcasted presenting the evangelical position on social issues like violence, pornography, foul language and negative subliminal messages via media like TV, radio and internet.
Romani Women in Bulgaria
Less than 1% of the Roma women in Bulgaria have higher education, a survey has shown. The report set the number of highschool-educated among them at 4%. Meanwhile, the average age at which Roma women tie the knot has increased, according to the report of the Amalipe center for ethnic dialogue and tolerance. Presently that age is 16 years, up significantly from the previous 12-13.
