Photos: Dock Hoilman

Building Playgrounds, Sharing Hope

by Darren Walker

I made my first trip to Bulgaria in 2008 with a group of men from our church. What stood out to me then, and gave me a burden for Bulgaria, was the lack of hope in the eyes of the people I met. People who believe they have no future and no hope also have no joy.

Because of this, I wanted to make an impact on as many people as I could by showing them true joy comes from God. Titus 2:13 reminds us we are “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”

I returned to Bulgaria in 2010 and 2011 with groups from my church. I began developing relationships with the handful of Christians there, and establishing relationships with people I met at the café, stores, and even on the sidewalks.

In 2012, The Hanna Project (THP) approached me about helping lead a team to Svishtov, Bulgaria. They wanted our team to bring “help, hope, and healing” to the people of the city. We completed a major landscaping project at a school for children with disabilities and taught an English class for high school students. As a result, a city worker later asked Jesus into his heart, married a Christian lady, and became a great leader in the Free Will Baptist church. In 2013, THP returned to Svishtov and installed a special needs playground at the same school we visited the year before. However, the highlight of this trip was watching the city worker follow through in his faith with baptism.

During these trips, we have developed relationships with our hotel manager, administrators and teachers at the special needs school, the mayor of Svishtov, and many other people in the area. Another THP team will travel to Svishtov in June 2014, with the hope of continuing these relationships and seeing God move in the hearts of those we meet. We want to show them there is hope in God, that He gives us joy, and our Protestant church is not a cult but a way for them to hear the gospel of Christ.

Mission work comes in all shapes and forms. God has commanded all of us to go, but not all of us to preach. We have to find different means to share the gospel, both here and abroad. I want my life to reflect the hope and joy I have in Christ, and this is a method that works for me.

This is why I am involved in short-term missions. I want to make a difference. The Hanna Project is just one way I can accomplish this.

About the Writer: Darren Walker is associate youth and children’s pastor at First Free Will Baptist Church, Washington, North Carolina.

More About Bulgaria

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.

Our Story

Josh and Lydia Provow are the newest Free Will Baptist missionary appointees to the country of Bulgaria. Travel with them on their journey to the field.

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