Our Story

by Josh Provow

Lydia first felt God calling her to the mission field at the ripe old age of four. Every night before supper, her family prayed for a missionary from the prayer card “deck.” Even as a four-year-old, Lydia recorded herself presenting the gospel on a cassette tape with the plan to distribute that tape to the uttermost parts of the earth. Being a missionary is in her DNA.

I wasn’t quite so spiritually advanced. I first felt God’s call as an 11-year-old at Camp Canaan in Marquand, Missouri. That year we were privileged to hear the testimony of Ginger Harrison, recent missionary appointee to Côte d’Ivoire. God used her story of love and sacrifice to show me He had a place for me “over there.”

Though we came from different parts of the country, the same missionary call brought Lydia and me to Welch College in the fall of 2006, where we met, married, and ministered together for four years. God used our time at Welch to confirm His call and to equip us for the field. God also used this time to add two new additions to our family: Naomi and Phoebe.

In 2010, God led us to Texas to attend seminary and pastor a wonderful church in Weatherford. During this three-year pastorate, our third daughter, Zoe, was born, and we announced the impending arrival of our first son, Malachi. So here we are today, a growing family of six, preparing to pack up and leave our beloved homeland.

On more than one occasion, people have asked if we are crazy to take four young children halfway around the world. The short answer—yes! But let’s be honest, have you ever met a missionary that wasn’t a little crazy? We are crazy about the Creator who sent His only begotten Son to die on a tree for His creation. We are crazy about a group of people who may never hear about Jesus unless someone goes and tells them.

Why Bulgaria?

When God wanted Moses to go back to Egypt, He spoke to Him out of a burning bush. When God called Isaiah to be a prophet, He showed him a vision of the Lord sitting on the throne. When God called Paul to go to Macedonia (just a hop, skip, and jump south of Bulgaria), He gave him a vision of a Macedonian man bidding him to come. When God called us to go to Bulgaria, He…well, He didn’t do anything like that. God called us to Bulgaria by opening our eyes to the tremendous spiritual need that exists.

We learned Bulgaria is a country of economic depression. The poorest country in the European Union, it has around 15% unemployment and little hope of that changing in the near future.

We learned Bulgaria is a country of emotional despair, with a high suicide rate. Alcoholism is widespread. Many young people think their only hope is to leave Bulgaria.

We also learned Bulgaria is a country of extreme distrust. Under Communism, the government controlled people with fear. School children grew up learning there was no God to love them. In recent years, even though Communism has given way to democracy, rampant corruption has left people disillusioned and distrustful of anyone in authority.

No surprise many Bulgarians feel hopeless! Even though Jesus is the only solution to their problems, few Bulgarians are turning to Him. In fact, among an immigrant population with whom we plan to share the gospel only one person in every 10,000 people know Jesus.
Imagine living in a place where no church member ever knocked on your door. Imagine turning on the radio and never hearing a Christian station. Imagine living your entire life without hearing that Jesus can wash away your sins. For many Bulgarians, this is not imaginary. This is real life.

God used this stark realization to call Lydia and me to Bulgaria. Someone has to go. Someone has to tell them how they can be saved. We believe God is calling us to work alongside the Awtreys, Trifinovs, and Postlewaites. And we could not be more excited.

About the Writer: Josh and Lydia Provow are living in Missouri and traveling to raise the support needed to head to Bulgaria. Learn more about their family and the ministry they plan at www.fwbgo.com.

More About Bulgaria

People Groups:

32 (9 unreached)
+Bulgarian: 6,268,000
+Turks: 6,000,000
+Gypsy, Bulgarian: 246,000

Languages 

+Bulgarian: 85%
+Turkish: 10%

Bulgaria’s Population: 6,981,642

+Less than 1/2 of 1% Christian
+Bulgaria’s suicide rate: 12.3/100,000 people
+Males are three times more likely than females to commit suicide.
+Bulgaria ranked #32 by the World Health Organization for international suicide rates.

Ex Nihilo

Missionary Tim Awtrey explores the history, blessings, and challenges for the first Freee Will Baptist church in Bulgaria.

From Atheism to Faith

Bulgarian minister Trif Trifinov shares his story—a life transformed from denial to faith—and his vision for the church in Bulgaria.

God's Unchanging Faithfulness

New missionary Jonathan Postlewaite recounts his family's first year on the field, from hurdles and heartache to memorable milestones as God proved His faithfulness time and again.

Building Playgrounds, Sharing Hope

Hanna Project team leader Darren Walker provides an inside look at short-term missions efforts in Shvishtov, Bulgaria, from construction projects to forming long-term relationships with the people of that city.

To learn more about the work of Free Will Baptist International Missions, visit www.fwbgo.com.