Bulagria
Bulgarian Homepage
Bulgaria is historically an Orthodox country with a small evangelical minority. There was a short lived revival in the 90s, but sadly this has petered out. A National Youth Leaders Forum called EMO was established at the time and recently reformed, coordinated by Ivan Minchev. It is a pretty unique gathering of the strategic national leaders with a very real commitment to work together and seek first the Kingdom. Some of the fruit of this includes the 365 Prayer Movement which aims to get all the churches in Bulgaria praying for their nation, 365 days a year.
Most of the youth ministry is focused on the capital Sofia. There are very few full time workers and youth workers hold down a job or two, look after their family, perhaps study, and do youth ministry!
The largest evangelical denomination is the Pentecostal church. Yahcho Ganev coordinates the Pentecostal youth ministry which is split into regional networks led by the larger churches in the areas. These regions hold youth events, and leadership training and then work together with the New Wave movement to hold an annual youth camp of over 1000 young people each summer. Teddy Botev is a leader of one of the largest youth groups and a worship leader in Sofia. He also works with the Jesus film which is still being shown every day across country, and still bearing fruit after 25 years of viewings!
The Church of God and the smaller Church of God of Bulgaria both run youth groups in Sofia and take young people from these groups to encourage the Christian youth out in the country. There are also church youth camps, though smaller than the Pentecostals.
The Church of Nazarene youth ministry has a strong mission focus in Balkans with ministries in Bulgaria, Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania. A major focus are the youth camps to which Christian young people invite their non Christian friends. There are five camps a year and they are proving very successful in reaching young people and seeing them integrated into local church.
The other main evangelical denominations are the Charismatics, Good News Church, Free Church, Baptists and the Congregationals who were the first protestant church in Bulgaria and run their own conference centre in Velingrad. Most denominations run youth camps in the summer.
Parachurch ministries are also active. There is for instance some Christian schoolswork in Bulgaria. In one school for instance a youth worker began a weekly teen bible study, and the fruit of this was seen not only in conversions but in noticeable changes in the behaviour of the students. As a result opportunities arose for input into community events, and other activities followed like summer camps and a bible study for parents. Eventually a church has been planted as a consequence.
YWAM are active in Bulgaria, in youth and children's work, leadership training, coaching, mercy ministries and community development.
Nationals work among the Romany community with support from visiting teams in both youth ministry and social care.
Other individuals are working among youth, including British youth worker, Craig Sibthorpe who uses sport to reach out particularly to the Romany community.
Videos
Ivan Minchev talks about the National Youth Strategy of the evangelical churches in Bulgaria Click here
Ivan Minchev talks about the National Youth Strategy of the evangelical churches in Bulgaria: EMO (Bulgarian) Click here
Emil Tchalakov introduces 365, an initiative of Bulgarian young Christians to get the churches across their nation praying through the year for revival (English) Click here
Emil Tchalakov introduces 365, aninitiative of Bulgarian young Christians to get the churches across their nation praying through the year for revival (Bulgarian) Click here
Vladi Raichinov, the Baptist Union Youth Leader, gives a brackground to youth ministry from the revival of the early nineties to the needs of outh today, and how we can all help reach this nation. Click here
Peter, another leading Bulgarian youth pastor, adds his personal perspective in the present needs and opportunities in Bulgaria for youth miinistry Click here
The story of Jutvari FC in Bulgaria, a Christian ministry, which is building a Football Academy where we can prepare talented football players for professional leagues and teach life skills (be responsible fathers, husbands and citizens). Click here
Church of God Youth Ministry Click here
Free Church Youth Ministry Click here
Free Church Youth Ministry (Bulgarian) Click here
Pentecostal Youth Ministry (Bulgarian) Click here
An overview of Bulgarian Pentecostal Youth Ministry Click here
Charismatic Youth Ministry (Bulgarian) Click here
Baptist Youth Ministry (Bulgarian) Click here
A young Bulgarian's perspective Click here
An Outsider's view of Bulgarian Youth ministry... from a Norwegian persepctive! (Bulgarian) Click here
The Jesus Film winning young people to faith in Bulgaria (bulgarian) Click here
The Jesus film continues to see young people come to faith in Bulgaria. Here's how Click here
Adjusting from short to long term ministry. Have you wondered what life could look like if your short term mission experience turned long term. Here's a perspective from a Norwegian who went to Bulgaria for 3 weeks as part of a YWAM DTS. 17 years she's still with YWAM and still there! Click here
Ivan Minchev talks about the National Youth Strategy of the evangelical churches in Bulgaria: EMO
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Ivan Minchev talks about the National Youth Strategy of the evangelical churches in Bulgaria: EMO (Bulgarian)
Back to top
Emil Tchalakov introduces 365, aninitiative of Bulgarian young Christians to get the churches across their nation praying through the year for revival (Bulgarian)
Emil Tchalakov introduces 365, aninitiative of Bulgarian young Christians to get the churches across their nation praying through the year for revival (English)
Back to top
Vladi Raichinov, the Baptist Union Youth Leader, gives a brackground to youth ministry from the revival of the early nineties to the needs of youth today, and how we can all help reach this nation.
Back to top
Peter, another leading Bulgarian youth pastor, adds his personal perspective in the present needs and opportunities in Bulgaria for youth ministry
Back to top
The story of Jutvari FC in Bulgaria, a Christian ministry, which is building a Football Academy where we can prepare talented football players for professional leagues and teach life skills (be responsible fathers, husbands and citizens).
Back to top
Free Church Youth Ministry
Back to top
Free Church Youth Ministry (Bulgarian)
Pentecostal Youth Ministry (Bulgarian)
Back to top
An overview of Bulgarian Pentecostal Youth Ministry
Back to top
Charismatic Youth Ministry (Bulgarian)
Back to top
Baptist Youth Ministry (Bulgarian)
Back to top
A young person's perspective
Back to top
An Outsider's view of Bulgarian Youth ministry... from a Norwegian persepctive! (Bulgarian)
Back to top
The Jesus Film winning young people to faith in Bulgaria (bulgarian)
Back to top
The Jesus film continues to see young people come to faith in Bulgaria. Here's how
Back to top
Adjusting from short to long term ministry. Have you wondered what life could look like if your short term mission experience turned long term. Here's a perspective from a Norwegian who went to Bulgaria for 3 weeks as part of a YWAM DTS. 17 years she's still with YWAM and still there!
