On Wednesday, Vlady and John met with five church leaders. Alex (left) is the pastor of a Baptist church just outside of Varna. Georgi (2nd) is pastor of the Christian Evangelical Baptist Church in downtown Varna. Georgi (3rd) is pastor of the Christian Center Salvation, also in Varna. Ventsislav (4th) is pastor of a Baptist church in Aksukhovo, a suburb of Varna. And Radu (last) works for a trucking company, but also leads the Baptist Bible Institute working in four locations across Bulgaria this coming year. Each of these leaders shared how God has moved in their lives, their families, and their ministries, but each also has his struggles, and they all need our prayers. Please take these photos and their names and pray as the Holy Spirit leads you.

           

               

Arrived in Varna Monday evening, woke up early Tuesday morning to meet five evangelical pastors who pray for the city each Tuesday. They gather at a spot above the city, pray over it, then go to have soup together for fellowship before starting back to their church ministries. I and our interpreter, Vlady, also met with two pastors, Lubomir, and Milco (here with his wife Silvia). Both were very good talks with plenty to pray for, but also new friendships. I look forward to ministering to these, with my Sylvia, next year. More pastors to meet today!

Just a Monday in the life of a missionary in Bulgaria…

Happy Thanksgiving to You!

We are very thankful for the opportunity that the Lord has given us to be a part of His ministry here in Bulgaria. Though Sylvia and I are apart at Thanksgiving for the first time in 32 years, it is a small but necessary sacrifice. How much greater a sacrifice did God make when He offered His Son Jesus in our place! And how great a work has He given us to be in Bulgaria ministering to those who minister His Word and love to the Bulgarian people. May your family and friends be blessed during this time of Thanksgiving to our Father and His Son, Jesus.

Monument to Kliment of Ohrid, first Bishop of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Sofia University is named after him.

T&F International has always served both missions around the world and our local community. Our year-end campaign will begin on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28th. This year we want to be a blessing to a local church that has experienced great tragedy.

Earlier this month, the congregation of Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church, just east of San Antonio, was victim of a mass shooting. Our hearts and prayers go out to the small Texas church that has captured the heart of our nation. May they be a bright shining light to the world of God’s sovereignty and goodness.

All special donations given through the end of the year will be allocated as: 50% to the church at Sutherland Springs, and 50% to Mission Bulgaria. This will allow us to minister to the Bulgarian pastors and their families, and give help to our community. Sutherland Springs FBC will need to rebuild and we can be a part of that effort.

You can donate by using the link below. The funds will be delivered by our board members in January. We ask that you prayerfully consider making a difference in the lives of others by making a contribution. May God’s goodness be upon you!

“Donate to T&F International Year-End Campaign”

Visited two Baptist churches today, one in the Mladost district of Sofia, and one in Pazardzhik. Vlady Raichinov did all the preaching and I did all the driving. Glad to help him out – and we had time to talk about possible future (and past) ministry. Please pray for these two churches.

Please pray as I meet with Pastors Tedy and Didy Oprenov of FBC Sofia tomorrow afternoon. As we begin our ministry in Bulgaria, we will have this church as a home base, and we want to serve the church leaders here in any way as well. Pray also as I speak in the Wednesday evening service (about 10:30 a.m. Texas time). May the Lord give me His words to speak to those who join with us.

   

I visited a church of about 70 people last evening led by Pastor Traycho Stefanov (below). It was a wonderful time of worship, the Word, and fellowship. The church is made mostly of young families (which is rare). Pray that this church will continue to grow, reaching out to other young families. It also has outreach to the hearing-impaired (the first I have seen in Eastern Europe).

Thank you for praying for Victor Makarov’s concert held this evening. It was a great success! There were well over 120 people, with both believers and other jazz music fans in attendance. Victor did a great job of standing firm in his faith in Jesus tonight, and blessing all of us with the excellence of his talented musicians.