NOV

18

Simple Obedience Changes Lives in Bulgaria

  • posted by: admin
  • posted in: Bulgaria
  • posted on: November 18, 2011
I had an incredible opportunity to witness how God is using a Bulgarian couple to share the gospel and win many Bulgarians to Christ because of their obedience to God's Word. I am a video producer with GemStone Media in Germany, and I was asked, along with a colleague, to fly to Bulgaria to interview Harry and his wife, Pinkeh, and tell the story of what God is doing through them.
 
Harry is in his mid-fifties, an artist, a husband and a father... a normally serious guy who laughs at his own jokes and can't quite get the punch line right when telling them in English! Pinkeh is an artist as well, and a wife and mother. Pinkeh is quiet, but she loves to sing and often leads others in worship. As we began to interview them, I was struck by the simplicity of Harry and Pinkeh's faith. It seems so often that in western culture we've complicated religion, the language we use, and what we're supposed to do as Christians... But their focus is simply to obey what God tells them through the Bible and the Holy Spirit. The same week that Harry became a believer, he started to share the gospel and teach others, his wife being among those. His first reaction was not to be fed, but to feed others!
 
Harry and Pinkeh share the gospel with whomever they find using their favorite tool, an Evangecube. They have no fear. Once when Harry and some of his friends were driving in a rural area, the Holy Spirit prompted Harry to stop and wait. Harry immediately told the driver to "Stop!" No hesitation. Immediate obedience. They were near a spring, so he got out of the vehicle and waited there. After a few minutes, a woman came to the spring to draw water, so Harry began sharing the gospel with her. Soon, another woman joined them, and he shared the gospel with her. The women invited Harry and his friends to join them for coffee, where he was able to share the gospel with more relatives. Two or three people were brought to Christ because of Harry's obedience! This is just one of many true stories of people coming to faith through Harry and Pinkeh's willing availability.
 
Harry and Pinkeh live very modest lives. Before they became believers, they were professors who taught art, and had consistent paychecks. After God changed their lives, God told them to quit their jobs and do full-time evangelism. At one point, they needed money for food and for their rent. Pinkeh began to worry, pressing Harry to get a job to provide for their family. Harry refused, saying that God told him He would provide for them. He then sat on the floor and said he would stay there until God provided. Five minutes later, the phone rang. A Turkish man was on the phone and wanted to purchase a painting Harry had done of Jesus, giving them enough money to get through the month! Harry was obedient. And God provided. What an amazing testimony!
 
Harry and Pinkeh are powerful examples to me... and to all of us. God is using this couple's simple faith and obedience in amazing ways in the lives of Bulgarians. "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says... the man who continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:22, 25

 


Countries: Bulgaria

Categories: Evangelism