This is Vitosha Blvd in Sofia, a pedestrian street where all of the Sofiantsi (Sofia residents) come to shop, eat, or socialize. It is a place where one can see a cross-section of the nation – a place where one can pray for those whom God loves.

We now have an easy way for those who would like to contribute monthly to the ministry of T&F International. PayPal now offers a recurring payment option on our “Contribute to T&F International” link, and you do not need your own PayPal account to do so. If you would like to donate $25, $50, or $100 per month to our ministry in Bulgaria, message either John or Sylvia and we will help you see how it is done.

Last night I attended the 500th Anniversary Celebration of the Reformation held at the National Palace of Culture here in Sofia. Protestants and Evangelicals make up a small minority in Bulgaria, so this was a very important event. We were challenged to do greater things in the name of Jesus!

What are we talking about when we say our mission is to encourage, counsel, train, and enhance the vision of pastors and their families in Bulgaria? What will it look like? What will the result be?
Well, it will look a lot like one of our own T&F International board members, Pastor Aaron Pardue, who, since the rainy remainder of Hurricane Harvey flooded its way through the southeast coast of Texas, immediately took action to help his church members who needed help by activating those church members who could give help. He and others formed groups to help those whose homes had been flooded, by tearing out soaked carpet and wood flooring, so that the drying (and healing) could begin. Their love in action blessed the people so much, the usually traumatic experience of a ruined home had to take a backseat to open-jawed AWE. We personally know this to be true since John’s own parents, Jim and Carole Putman’s home was also flooded. What an awesome example for us to see just before we head to Bulgaria! May those we minister to become such godly men and women (and children) for their own churches, and in their own communities.

Tomorrow we leave for New York City on the first step of our journey to Bulgaria. On Wednesday, August 2nd, at 8:30 a.m. CST, we ask that you pray as we meet with the Bulgarian Consul who will interview us, then take our 10 required documents, and spend the next forty days deciding upon and/or preparing our first long-stay visas.

Please see our Needs for Prayer page for updates.

Bulgaria is viewed by many within Bulgaria as a post-Christian country, that is, that Christianity was once a major religious faith among the people of Bulgaria, but through history has been replaced, first by Turkish Islam, then by Communism. And now, though the state acknowledges Orthodox Christianity as the nation’s historic faith, effectively, 90% of all Bulgarians practice no religious faith. Of the remaining 10%, 8% considered themselves Muslim, though even among these, most are not religious, but simply cultural Muslims. What that leaves is less than 2% Christians, and less than 1% Protestant/Evangelical. The good news is that, as any sociologist will tell us, it only takes 1% of any population, sufficiently motivated, to effect change within a group. And, on top of that, this 1% actually has Good News to bring to their fellow countrymen! Please take these numbers and pray for the 1% of the Gospel-proclaiming churches God’s own words: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I, send me!'”

In July, we met Pastor Vergil Boshkov in the town of Khumata near Lom, Bulgaria. Pastor Vergil ministers to the Roma people in the area. The building where his church meets was the first in Europe built for the Roma people (in the 1800’s). Please pray for this Brother as he has given his life to the Lord to minister to His people. Here, he is speaking at a conference of ministers in the area.

1.23.17

We celebrate the ordination to the Lord’s service of Nachko Zaitsev and his wife, Marusia, (both kneeling) with our friends, Pastor Stoicho Apostolov and Vlady Raichinov (on the right). We met Nachko and spoke at his church in Mladenovo, Bulgaria, in July. May God bless them as they serve Him!

We also celebrate the ordination to the Lord’s service of Orlin Tomov and his wife, Ilina, with their son, Emmo, in Kozlodui, Bulgaria. We met Orlin and spoke in his church in July. May God bless them as they serve Him!