Breakthroughs in Bulgaria

The student movement in Bulgaria (BCSU) held its national conference in December in the city of Stara Zagora. The theme, Breakthrough, expressed their hope that this conference would serve as a forum where student groups could share how the breakthrough (Probiv) gospel project is going in their cities, and be encouraged by one another.

A Bulgarian pastor encouraged the students to experience a breakthrough in their character and relationships by letting go of their pride, prejudices, complexes and guilt. Link staffworker, Craig W., used John:15 to challenge students to remain in Christ and to have love for each other, so that they might bear fruit. Craig also led a session on Acts:8-10, calling students to listen to Jesus and to go share the good news with their friends on campus. In a talk about Moses, Trif Trifonov (General Secretary of the Bulgarian IFES movement, BCSU) encouraged students to respond to God’s call to them for a breakthrough at their universities as they do the work of evangelism on campus.

Students also prayed for breakthroughs at universities across the country. Each student group drew illustrations of their strategies for reaching their campus. Then Craig (Link staff) and Petyo (national staff) led groups around the room to pray for each university.

Three of the non-Christians from their summer project attended this conference as well. At the beginning of the summer project, they considered leaving when they heard it would be only “Christian stuff”. Now they came to this conference to be with their Christian friends and to keep on learning this Christian stuff!