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Bulgaria
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Capital: Sofia
Border Countries: Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey |
The Bulgarian national motto, "Unity
Makes Strength," is true not only in
society but in the church, especially when
Christ-followers don't have full religious
freedom. Even though communism fell
18 years ago, Bulgarian society still bears
the scars of that history and continues
to struggle with the notions of distrust,
greed, authoritarianism, and secrecy that
the communist system engendered. These
pervasive issues are also present in the
Orthodox Church and manifest themselves
particularly in the areas of leadership,
church government, and financial
management. Today, most Bulgarians
claim to be Orthodox. Just 1.4 percent of
Bulgarians are evangelical believers.
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More Bulgarians are open to consider personal faith in Christ today. The Holy Spirit continues to work in the hearts of both old and new believers to slowly but surely break down the problems of the past and provide hope for the future. The survival of the church during the communist era, despite its idiosyncrasies, is
a great testimony to God's love and power and of His people's desire to follow Him. National church leaders are seeking ways to reach out in their communities with Jesus' love. Ultimately, it is the stories of changed lives that give the Gospel relevance and attract new believers.
Bulgaria is a nation in flux. With rapid globalization has come massive change politically, socially, and spiritually. These changes have also accelerated the growth and maturation of evangelical denominations. National church leaders are seeking individuals and families to partner with them to promote discipleship, evangelism, and outreach in the community, workplace, and among the poor. The places to focus in Bulgaria are on effective role modeling, servant leadership, and support for churches. Western workers could help national believers develop a healthy understanding of lay leadership, lay ministry, and a commitment to living the Christian life. When this happens, more people will consider the claims of Christ.
- Pray for continued unity among evangelical denominations and organizations as they partner to share about Christ.
- Bulgaria recently joined the European Union; pray that Bulgarians would be open to the Gospel amidst pressures of materialism and politics.
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