The packed hall at the National Palace of Culture.
Almost 35 years have passed since communism collapsed with the Berlin Wall. With the democratic changes in Bulgaria, all of us evangelical Christians, who at that time were no more than 6,000 people in the whole country, gained the freedom to share the gospel of Christ.
During the first two to three years, the gospel had an incredible upsurge. Bulgarian Christians who were tortured and marginalised for their faith were ready. Our church in Sofia, which during communism was underground and persecuted, grew from 200 to 2,000 people, along with many churches in the cities and countryside.
Since then, our country has been tossed between European and Russian influence and has endured a series of economic, political, pandemic and spiritual crises, which have affected the evangelical churches too. Many converted Christians went abroad, others became passive in their faith, so churches divided into smaller groups and reduced their activity.
But all of us who experienced it shared a hope and longing to relive that revival at the beginning of democracy. We have been praying for a new awakening to the gospel in recent years. Last year, revival began in our church in Samokov. For three to four months, between 1,000-1,200 people from the city and surrounding villages flocked to the church building almost every night for worship and prayer. It is as if Heaven is opening again.
For Palm Sunday, our church rented the hall in the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, which we used in the years of revival. It was packed. People who had accepted Christ in this hall more than 25 years ago came in tears, accompanied by their families and children. We pray that this revival continues and awakens not only the sleeping believers but also transforms people who don’t yet know Christ.
This is the only hope for our country. Support us with your prayers!
By Roumen Ivanov, Mission Possible Bulgaria
