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Bulgaria

Bulgarian Bible Study and Book Translation

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Starting a Home Fellowship Group in Sofia

Buxton Building

After a couple months getting to know the spiritual situation in Sofia, we have decided to start a weekly home fellowship.Our first meeting will be next Sunday with several couples who became Christian after the fall of communism, but have since left the church. This is a very common story here – America’s not the only place with a growing “dechurched” population!

Please pray that we would be able to reach people who have stepped away from the church and are questioning what they were taught about the faith. In addition to those couples, there will also be an interested unbeliever attending.

Book Translation

Discipleship EssentialsWe recognize that a lack of Biblical resources in Bulgarian is a great hindrance for the church here. Nansi has selected the first book to begin translating, Disciple Essentials by Greg Ogden.

At first we will do a partial and informal translation for use in our discipleship group, but we are exploring a way to officially translate the book and make it available here in Bulgaria.

 

Ten Basic Facts About the NT Canon that Every Christian Should Memorize

This is a great resource of 10 short statements about the New Testament that are useful when discussing the historicity and formulation of the Bible that we hold in our hands today.NT

Since this is a pretty common area of attack against Christianity today, each fact links to a more in-depth post backing up the claim. I would highly encourage you to check out the link!

Thank you for your continued love and encouragement.

Blessings,
Owen + Nansi Paun

Partner with us: Eastwest.org/PaunDonate
Our Mission: MyDailyTestimony.com/Sofia

Related posts:

Bible League and Rila Monastery Pope begins Bible-reading marathon Bulgaria Team 2018 (Grace Hill Church) Our Team

Sofia, Bulgaria

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As of November 2018, our team still needs $1000 in monthly support to be minimally funded and remain on the field. We are looking for 20 people willing to partner with us for $50 per month. As you read about our calling and mission, please consider partnering with us!

Until January of 2015 year my wife and I were missionaries in Pskov, Russia.  There we came alongside a local church and partnered in their ministry.

(Listen to the above audio for a more in-depth update)

In Pskov, our work centered around orphanages, drug & alcohol rehab centers, and youth ministry. Unfortunately, new legislation by the government forced us to leave the country.

In conjunction with our supervisor we decided to relocate to Sofia, Bulgaria – a Slavic country in Southeastern Europe that borders Greece and Turkey.

Bulgaria Total Population: 7 million
Bulgaria Total Protestants: 65,000

Ethnicities:
Bulgarian: 5.25 million (30,000 = .5% Protestant)
Roma: 300,000 (30,000 = 10% Protestant)
Turkish: 560,000 (95% Muslim)

The Roma (Gypsy) and Bulgarian populations are highly segregated. Of the ethnic Bulgarian population, less than one-half of one percent self-identifies as Protestant of any kind.

(Evangelism in a Slavic, Orthodox Context)

After evaluating the mission field, getting to know local churches in Sofia and missionaries around the country, we see several key areas of opportunity

Key Areas of Opportunity:

  • Church Planting: Initially in Sofia, with the goal of spreading around the country. (Read more)
  • Pastor Training: Travel to Roma (Gypsy) areas to train pastors in their communities who are unable to attend seminary.
  • Muslim Evangelism: Outreach to areas with significant Muslim  populations – Turks, Roma, and Pomaks. (Read more)
  • Sermon and Book Translations: Bring solid Biblical resources to the people of Bulgaria.
  • Internship program: Christian groups aren’t allowed on campus, so we’ll embed Christians on campus. (Read more)

Below are two recent sermons that I preached:

Every Christian’s Ministry

Invited by the King: Would you turn down a free invitation to a royal wedding?