"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is
set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven"
(Matthew 5:14-16).
Many churches in the United States reach out to the community by hosting a big event at their building, advertising on local radio stations, or sending teams to knock on doors in the neighborhood. What do you do when you don’t have a church building? What if you can’t advertise on the radio or door knocking is impossible? Is outreach stymied?
On the contrary! In Bulgaria, despite these hurdles, our community outreach is thriving and growing day by day.
Boryana
Years ago, when our children Alex and Yanna were little, Lydia, along with other young mothers, met in the park to watch the kids play. Many mothers wanted their children to play with Alex so they could learn English while playing games with him.
Lydia took this idea and began an English Club at church. She read stories to children and chose ten English words each week for them to learn. After a few weeks, we noticed the mothers in the back of the room wrote down the words, too. They also wanted to learn English. As a result, we started weekly English lessons. For over 15 years now, we have hosted a weekly English class for children, adult beginners, and adults who are more advanced. This has proven a strategic outreach for our church.
A few years ago, we invited a lady we met at the bank to English Club because she said her daughter was interested in learning English. Boryana attended English Club for several years. From time to time, she also attended occasional ladies’ gatherings we hosted. All the while, Boryana observed everything we did as a church, and the Holy Spirit worked in her life. One Sunday, Boryana gathered the courage to attend our little church. She began coming regularly on Sundays and, one day, gave her life to Jesus.
She has been through a discipleship course and now oversees the church finances. Boryana, like many others, simply had an interest in English. But God used English Club to do so much more in her life.
Rumyana
We know God often speaks to people through His Word. Sometimes, He speaks to them through unusual means — like a paint brush. Rumyana, a doctor at the main hospital in Svishtov, runs the children’s ward. In partnership with The Hanna Project (THP), we helped renovate the entire children’s ward.
For Rumyana, who loves the children for whom she cares, this was a living example of the gospel. Her introduction to the love of Jesus did not start with a Bible verse or a prayer, but with a can of paint and a brush. Seeing the gospel in action led her and her husband to attend an outreach event. They heard more about the Jesus who sent people from thousands of miles away to care for her sick children.
Many people in atheistic cultures like Bulgaria have ears closed to the gospel. It is difficult to overcome mistrust and barriers erected over decades. Often, simple, practical service unplugs their ears and opens their hearts to receive the Good News.
Dessi
A single mom with two little ones walked into church a few weeks ago. You could tell by the way they huddled together nervously this was their first time in church. They were unsure about what they would find in a place many Bulgarians label a cult. I knew I had seen Dessi before, but I couldn’t remember where. Then it struck me: the Christmas party.
Every year, in conjunction with Samaritan’s Purse, we host a Christmas party. We play games, listen to a story about Baby Jesus, eat snacks, and hand out Christmas shoebox presents. Dessi and her little ones came to our Christmas party at a time the Holy Spirit was speaking to her about needing to change her life. A simple shoebox present, and a deep longing for something real, led Dessi to the Jesus who had been reaching out to her since she was a little girl.
We rarely see the whole picture. Many parents whose children receive a shoebox simply take the box and go home. However, on that day, Dessi received much more than a simple present. God opened her heart so she could receive the greatest gift ever — new life — all because of a shoebox gift.
Community outreach is like a pair of shoes. One shoe just doesn’t get the job done. If we serve the community without the gospel, we are walking around with one shoe. If we share the Word, but neglect to meet people where they are, again…one shoe. Of course, we can get around town on only one shoe, but the experience is not the best, and it slows us down. Let me ask you, in your church or ministry, are you wearing both shoes?
Or are you hobbling around on only one?
Perhaps, the Lord would have brought these wonderful people to our church some other way if we had not reached out to our community, but perhaps not. But I do know we can experience no greater joy than seeing lives changed for the Kingdom of God by a few words of English, a paintbrush, or a shoebox.
About the Writer: In December 2005, IM, Inc. opened Bulgaria as a field of work for Free Will Baptists. In April 2006, Tim and Lydia Awtrey were approved to pioneer this work in the challenging country. Learn more: iminc.org/.
