It was recently our privilege to host a mission team of thirteen people from the American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains, ABC of Nebraska and International Ministries' staff.  The team was composed of pastors and region support staff.  They spent five days with us in Bulgaria before traveling on to Serbia to visit with members of the Serbian Baptist Churches.

This mission study team’s purpose was to personally introduce the pastors to on-the-field missions.  Their time in Bulgaria began with a day of painting primer on the walls in the new Sofia Baptist Church and Ministry Center.  In construction now for eight years, the Center is nearing completion.  When completed the building will provide not only worship and Sunday School space, but will also allow the congregation to expand their outreach to the surrounding community and to begin new ministries which will show the love of Jesus to those living in the area near the center of Sofia.

A visit to the Rila Monastery exposed the pastors to the history and influence of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Bulgarian society, helping them to gain an understanding of the connection between the Orthodox Church and its influence in the lives of Bulgarians.  Pastor Teddy Oprenov shared with them the way this influence affects Evangelical Churches and their work in Bulgaria.

Sunday provided worship opportunities in two different settings—in the morning with the congregation of the large Sofia Baptist Church, and in the afternoon with two smaller new church starts.

The team also spent time visiting with the children who attend the Literacy Program which Terry helps run at Sofia Baptist Church.  Two of the team members gave object lessons to the children about Jesus and salvation, and several of the members taught the children a few English words using flashcards.  The children love having visitors and really enjoyed their time with the team.  After the literacy program the team met with leaders from the Bulgarian Baptist Union and heard the history of the Bulgarian Baptist churches including the struggles they faced during the years of communism.  The team also heard about the struggles faced by today’s church in Bulgaria—some of which they could relate to as being issues in their own churches.

Each of the individuals on the team has responded to God’s call on their life.  For many of them that call has meant serving in the local church, sharing the love of God in their communities.  For others the call has been to serve in leadership roles as they minister to pastors and for some the call has been to serve as support for missionaries and partners working around the world.  God calls each of us to be involved in the work He is doing—in our own backyard and around the world.  It is then up to us to hear and respond to God’s calling.
 
“Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1Samuel 3:10  

“HEAR THE CALL” to support the WORLD MISSION OFFERING!

As autumn arrives and the leaves begin to fall, it means that it is time once again to think about giving to the World Mission Offering.  We are so grateful for the many churches and individuals whose gifts to WMO are directed to us and our ministry in Bulgaria. We thank you and ask you to give generously again this year to allow us to remain here doing the work God has planned for this country. 

While WMO is a vital source of support for us, it is also the only source of support for International Ministries’ 220 Christian partner organizations around the world, including clinics, seminaries, orphanages, schools and churches.  Your gifts to WMO will allow these partners to continue their work all over the globe.  Just as the boy Samuel, with the help of his elderly mentor Eli, heard God’s call to become a prophet in Israel, you too can Hear the Call to bring joy through giving generously to the World Mission Offering.  Be assured that your gift will be used to glorify God in all the earth by crossing cultural boundaries to help people to come to faith in Jesus, grow in their relationship with God and change their world through the power of the Spirit.

Personalized Support

As we move into our new fiscal year we want to take this opportunity to update you on our support.  Due to the generous gifts received during the Matching Gift Campaign we are ending the year on a positive note.

THANK YOU to all of you who have supported us in our ministries here in Bulgaria.

The new fiscal year does bring with it new challenges.  The amount of support we are required to raise will be increasing and as it is now, our committed support (that support that comes on a regular basis) needs to increase in order for us to meet our new goal.  Our committed support still hovers around 76% and we need that to increase.  So, you can help in a couple of ways.

• If you gave to us for the first time during the Matching Fund campaign and plan on making your gift an ongoing gift, please let us know so we can mark it as such.

• If you have given in the past would you please consider committing to our support once again?

• If you have never given to our support would you please consider coming along side our work in Bulgaria?

Please know that no gift is too small.  Gifts of $10, $20 or $50 per month are a great help.  Instructions on how to give can be found below.   

Prayer Requests:
For the children who attend the Literacy Program at Sofia Baptist Church.
For the Churches and pastors in Bulgaria as they minister in difficult cultural situations.
For the team members who just returned from their trip, and as they share what they experienced with their congregations and friends.
For us as we continue to reach for our support goal.
For our family as we continue to adjust to having one son away at university in the U.S. 

If you would like to support the ministry of Tom and Terry Myers please send contributions to:
International Ministries
P.O. Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851

Please indicate that your contribution is for the ministry of
Tom and Terry Myers in Bulgaria

You can also give electronically by going to International Ministries’ web site at:
www.internationalministries.org and follow the “Giving” link.