One WEC team in Southern Bulgaria works among Turks, the most unreached people group in the region. Descendants of the Ottoman Turks have lived here for generations.

We have seen fruitfulness in the past, and desire to increase the team to see more effective church planting in the larger Turkish communities, and to see local believers discipled well in their emerging church.

Most muslim peoples in Bulgaria are unreached regarding their understanding of the gospel, yet Bulgaria has thriving tourism and welcomes Christians especially those from EU countries.

Qualities & Gifts Sought

You have a warm heart towards Muslims and have the stamina to invest much time in relationships.

You have a good Biblical grounding and training, able to teach the Bible with confidence; and share the Gospel confidently.

You will be required to learn Bulgarian as well as Turkish language and culture well; you enjoy working in a team trusting Holy Spirit leadership.

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About Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a country in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. Bulgaria is Europe's 16th-largest country.

Bulgaria's population of 7.2 million people is predominantly urbanised and mainly concentrated in the administrative centres of its 28 provinces. Most commercial and cultural activities are centred on the capital and largest city, Sofia.

The strongest sectors of the economy are heavy industry, power engineering, and agriculture, all of which rely on local natural resources.

Bulgaria adopted of a democratic constitution in 1991. 

Religion:

The Constitution of Bulgaria defines it as a secular state with guaranteed religious freedom, but designates Orthodoxy as a “traditional” religion. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church was made official in 927 AD, and currently has 12 dioceses and over 2,000 priests. More than three-quarters of Bulgarians subscribe to Eastern Orthodoxy.

Culture and the arts:

Bulgarian cuisine is similar to those of other Balkan countries and demonstrates a strong Turkish and Greek influence.

Bulgaria performs well in sports such as wrestling, weight-lifting, boxing, gymnastics, volleyball, football and tennis.

Bulgaria has nine UNESCO World Heritage sites including ancient monasteries and churches.

Bulgaria has a rich folklore and Bulgarian folk music is by far the most extensive traditional art and is a fusion of Eastern and Western influences.         

[Source: Wikipedia. Read more about Bulgaria here.] 

Bulgaria has 31 people groups and 25% are considered unreached.

The largest religion is Christianity at 82% of which 1.8% are Evangelical. Islam is 11.7% and the non-relgious are 6%.  

[Source: Joshua Project]

Some of the people groups and their numbers in Bulgaria:

Bulgarian - 5.8 million 
Turks - 560,000
Bulgarian Romani - 230,000
Millet -  89,000  

[Source: Joshua Project]

Pray with us for:
-training of Christian leaders
-new churches to start in Sofia
-renewal of the Orthodox Church
-the challenge of organized crime and corruption
-unreached peoples: Turks, Millet and Romani
[Operation World, 2010 print edition]  

You can also use Operation World’s online resources to pray for Bulgaria here.  

WEC Bulgaria

WEC Bulgaria’s vision is not limited by political borders: “We believe that God has placed Bulgaria at the threshold of the Turkic world. We believe that God’s desire is to see the fire of spiritual renewal spread from the Rom, Millet and Bulgarian ethnic people movements to their Turkish neighbours in Bulgaria and out across the borders into the Balkans, Turkey, Central Asia and the world. We are committed to facilitate the spread of this fire”.

WEC Bulgaria’s ministries pray, serve, and work towards:

- a rapid and exponential increase of indigenous churches planting churches among the Turks, Millet and Rom Gypsies.
- multiplying ethnic Turkish churches in the Turkish regions of Bulgaria
- Millet and Roma believers discipled and envisioned, to plant multiplying churches in their own towns, as well as in unreached towns and villages.

More about WEC in Europe