Current Radio Channels for our Ministry Live Broadcasts
Addressing the Masters of Chaplaincy Ministry Program Graduating Class in Bulgaria
WEBSITES for MINISTRY: The Creative Process
Before moving into social media, it is helpful to establish a personal and/or church website where most resources are located conveniently for visitors to find. Recommended, this would be a WordPress based blog-like website, which is designed for easy content management i.e. text, pictures, audio and video:
- First thing to do is get a .com domain name for the website(s). Other choices may also prove suitable
- Second, hosting for the website needs to be purchased. This is the virtual web space where the files and database of the website will be stored. For a WordPress hosted website, a basic hosting plan from GoDaddy would be around $5/mo (https://www.godaddy.com/hosting/wordpress-hosting)
- Finally, the design for the website is determined by a web template – a set of files that makes your website look the way it will be seen by the visitors.
- GoDaddy hosting installs WordPress automatically so you don’t have to worry about the technical stuff. The whole process in detail is described here: https://cupandcross.com/webministry-for-churches-step-by-step-guide-wordpress-installation/
- If the above seems too complicated, an alternative free and simple blog could be setup in minutes with free hosting on WordPress.com. It is not as good as a owned and personalized website, but it will get most of the job done (with some minor limitations).
Once the website(s) is established, the blogging process begins as described here: https://cupandcross.com/webministry-for-churches-step-by-step-guide5-things-to-learn-about-webministry/
When enough content is built up, you can proceed with:
- Social networking (promoting the content to the targeted group of people)
- and Social events (meetings with the targeted group of people in person)
Top 10 Ministry Projects Completed in 2016
- Nehemiah Inductive Bible Study Series
- 25 Years of Miracles Series, online e-book publication
- 30 Days of Prayer in September Event
- Published Second Edition of Complete Greek-Bulgarian Interlinear of the New Testament
- Bulgarian Bible website, Bibliata.com celebrates 20 years in online ministry with the Great Read through the whole Bible
- Published expanded edition of Cooking Traditions of Bulgaria
- 10 Year Anniversary of the Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association
- Launched BulgarianCooking.com to feature authentic Bulgarian recipes
- Partnered with new Bulgarian Church in Atlanta area
- Comprehensive report on the state of Bulgarian Chaplaincy update for NATO’s Manfred Wörner Foundation
Bibliata.com celebrates 20 years in ministry online
One of our first ministry websites, Bibliata.com just celebrated 20 years of ministry online. It began in the fall of 1996 with the sole purpose to reach Bulgarians online with the Bible. We began the Bibliata.com anniversary celebration with an out loud reading through the whole Bulgarian Bible on September 16-18, 2016 involving many churches and Christian communities in Bulgaria and abroad.
After 20 years with several million annual views and visitors, it has become the standard for the Bulgarian Bible online. Through the years, virtually all Bulgarian Bible versions as well as many others in foreign and original tongues were published. Audio Bible, Video Bible, extensive Bible commentary, a national sermon archive, multiple device apps and Bible study platforms are only a few of the projects completed. Additionally, a new Bulgarian translation in the works since 2007 is close to its publication date for the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. But this is not all…
The story of the Bulgarian Bible online is centered not only in products and projects, but in the very people we work with to create a community of believers, who pray, talk, grow and live together in the footsteps of the Savior. And this is worth much more than just 20 years of work and perseverance…
An Urgent Call for Chaplain Ministry on the Balkans
Our ministry has been working in the country of Bulgaria for over 25 years now. During this time we have ministered in over 300 local congregations across the country. While we do a lot of ministry in the capital Sofia, we are even more often on the road evangelizing in remote locations. When we minister in Bulgaria we do 3-5 services on any given Sunday. Additionally, we travel to teach and minister to various local churches during the week.
With this vision in mind, over a decade ago we organized and established the Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association as a Christian ministry outside of the church walls. Today, our first responder chaplains trained by our Masters of Chaplaincy Ministry Program face extreme conditions on the Balkans and in Europe as follows:
7/2016 – Christians pay price as extreme Islam surges after attempted coup in Turkey
6/2016 – 30+ people were killed in an attack at Ataturk International Airport by three suicide bombers
3/2016 – 31 people are killed and 150 injured in three explosions at the Brussels airport
11/2015 – 130 people killed in a series of attacks by gunmen and suicide bombers at Paris stadium
1/2015 – 11 killed after attack on Paris offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo
5/2014 – 4 killed at the Jewish Museum in Brussels
Also important [click to read]:
- U.S. Department of State recognizes our chaplaincy efforts in Bulgaria
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Integration Proposal with Local NATO Programs
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Vision and Resolution
- Chronology of our role and involvement in developing Church of God chaplaincy in Bulgaria since 2001
- Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program in Bulgaria Reflections
- The Past Decade of Chaplaincy in Bulgaria (2006-2016)
- Related Publications and Presentations by Cup & Cross Ministries International
The Road Ahead for the Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program (2016-2020)
We are proud to announce that the Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program, we designed and launched in Bulgaria in 2006, has been selected to be part of the Social Service Program of New Bulgarian University. After being for years a valuable part of the regular curriculum of the Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute and the St. Trivelius Institute in the capital Sofia, the chaplaincy program has received the highest level of recognition as successful graduates will be finally able to receive government recognized degrees and apply their knowledge and training in chaplaincy on a professional level. The chaplaincy program can also serve within the Integration Proposal of local NATO programs and be instrumental in dealing with the enormous wave of Middle East migrants crossing through Bulgaria today.
In the beginning of the 21st century in Bulgaria, law and chaplaincy meet on the road to democracy. But before chaplaincy could be legalized completely and endorsed by the state to its full functionality, several changes must be undergone. Some of them are:
- Legal provision allowing chaplains to work as staff in the army, which guarantees the equal presence of protestant chaplains as well.
- The approval, acceptance and implementation of a NATO based model for chaplaincy within the structures of the Bulgarian Army.
- Periodical and systematic educational strategy toward chaplaincy workers among Bulgarian evangelicals.
- A paradigm for cooperation of Bulgarian chaplains from various ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.
- Further research publications to enhance the efficiency of chaplaincy within the Bulgarian national context.
Also important [click to read]:
- U.S. Department of State recognizes our chaplaincy efforts in Bulgaria
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Integration Proposal with Local NATO Programs
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Vision and Resolution
- Chronology of our role and involvement in developing Church of God chaplaincy in Bulgaria since 2001
- Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program in Bulgaria Reflections
- The Past Decade of Chaplaincy in Bulgaria (2006-2016)
- Related Publications and Presentations by Cup & Cross Ministries International
Further Developments on the Master’s Degree of Chaplaincy Ministry in Bulgaria
We are proud to announce that the Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program, we designed and launched in Bulgaria in 2006, has been selected to be part of the Social Service Program of New Bulgarian University. After being for years a valuable part of the regular curriculum of the Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute and the St. Trivelius Institute in the capital Sofia, the chaplaincy program has received the highest level of recognition as successful graduates will be finally able to receive government recognized degrees and apply their knowledge and training in chaplaincy on a professional level. The chaplaincy program can also serve within the Integration Proposal of local NATO programs and be instrumental in dealing with the enormous wave of Middle East migrants crossing through Bulgaria today.
The Master’s Degree of Chaplaincy Ministry in Bulgaria was:
- Upgraded to the necessary educational and professional levels, applicable to the specific context of ministry in Bulgaria (December 2010)
- Presented in its upgraded form for approval before the educational board of BETI in 2011 (January 2011)
- Applied in its full capacity with the remaining modules in Theology (Spring 2011), Counseling (Fall 2011) and Master’s Thesis (exp. 2012)
- Transferred to the New Bulgarian University in Sofia under their new social worker studies program.
Also important [click to read]:
- U.S. Department of State recognizes our chaplaincy efforts in Bulgaria
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Integration Proposal with Local NATO Programs
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Vision and Resolution
- Chronology of our role and involvement in developing Church of God chaplaincy in Bulgaria since 2001
- Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program in Bulgaria Reflections
- The Past Decade of Chaplaincy in Bulgaria (2006-2016)
- Related Publications and Presentations by Cup & Cross Ministries International
Church of God Chaplaincy in Bulgaria: In the beginning…
Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Celebrating a Decade of Ministry
We are proud to announce that the Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program, we designed and launched in Bulgaria in 2006, has been selected to be part of the Social Service Program of New Bulgarian University. After being for years a valuable part of the regular curriculum of the Bulgarian Evangelical Theological Institute and the St. Trivelius Institute in the capital Sofia, the chaplaincy program has received the highest level of recognition as successful graduates will be finally able to receive government recognized degrees and apply their knowledge and training in chaplaincy on a professional level. The chaplaincy program can also serve within the Integration Proposal of local NATO programs and be instrumental in dealing with the enormous wave of Middle East migrants crossing through Bulgaria today.
But let us backup just a moment and start from the very beginning. In the summer of 1995, while pioneering the first Bulgarian church in the Chicago Metro, the local Church of God state office offered a civil chaplaincy training course for beginners. Unfortunately, due to our heavy church schedule, the chance to attend was low and virtually unobtainable. It was not until five years later that our interest in the field was finally rewarded, as in the summer of 2000 both my wife-to-be and I completed the required course work for chaplaincy accreditation, followed by an intense module at the Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, where essentially the whole idea for the resurrection of chaplaincy ministry in Bulgaria was born.
Today, our Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program has produced a number of graduates who are serving in various chaplaincy positions and civil services in Bulgaria. Please continue to pray for all our named and unnamed chaplains on mission. (Click here to read more)
Also important [click to read]:
- U.S. Department of State recognizes our chaplaincy efforts in Bulgaria
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Integration Proposal with Local NATO Programs
- Bulgarian Chaplaincy Association: Vision and Resolution
- Chronology of our role and involvement in developing Church of God chaplaincy in Bulgaria since 2001
- Master’s of Chaplaincy Ministry Program in Bulgaria Reflections
- The Past Decade of Chaplaincy in Bulgaria (2006-2016)
- Related Publications and Presentations by Cup & Cross Ministries International
2015 Ministry Projects
- 20th anniversary of the first Bulgarian Church of God in Chicago (July, 1995)
- All Slavic Pentecost Celebration in Atlanta
- Good Shepherd Missional Conference
- Published European Delights cookbook
- Published the Greek-Bulgarian Interlinear New Testament (Nestle-Aland 28)
- La France District Revival
- Published Bulgarian Prayer New Testament
- Mission Bulgaria 10 years in a row
- Celebrated 25 years of ministry
- Presented Scrolls of 2nd Varna Declaration
- Revelation Series in Straldja
- Reformation Leadership Summit
- Lectures and videos for the 95th anniversary of its Pentecostal Movement in Bulgaria
- The Life and Ministry of Rev. Ivan Voronaev published in Bulgarian
