Sunday, September 30, 2012, in Bulgaria, part 2

It was a glorious day.  Perhaps you've already read part 1; but if not, you may wish to.  Go ahead.  I'll wait.

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There, now you're up to speed.

The rest of the day made the morning, rich as it was, seem a bit impoverished by contrast.  After rather forgettable lunch at KFC inside the huge and very-American style Mall of Sofia, several of us got into the church van from Purva Baptistka Tsyrkva (PBT) of Sofia and rode with Pastor Teodor ("Teddy") Oprenov  about 100 miles or so southeast of Sofia to the town of Pazardjik.

On the drive, Pastor Teddy shared with me the story of the efforts of Bulgarian Baptists to recover from 45 years of communist oppression, as well as the brief history of the Pazardjik Baptist Church.  Just four years old, it has outgrown the home in which it began and only lately moved into a rented store-front location, a tiny spot of about 300 to 350 square feet.  He told us how the church has struggled, but now has several new people.  Six different men from PBT go to Pazardjik to preach on a rotating basis.  Three willing folks from the church lead the worship.  He expected a couple of down to be there.

As we entered the town from the north, we passed Pazardjik Prison, built by the communist regime just after WW2 (and still operating, though torture is no longer used) for political and religious dissidents.  Almost all of the Baptist pastors in Bulgaria during the 1950s and 1960s spent time there, some up to 8 years, including Pastor Teddy's father.  It was chilling to drive by the walls just a few feet from the road, knowing that behind them, dozens of protestant pastors were tortured or starved to death; and yet, not a single Baptist pastor died while imprisoned.

The next substantial building we passed was a mosque.  Most of Bulgaria's Muslims (who make up about 10% of the population) live in the south, and Pazardjik is over one-third Muslim.

We arrived at the church just minutes before the 5:00 p.m. service was to start:  Pastor Teddy plus seven American church leaders and pastors.  When we walked in, there were only 4 empty seats.  Some folks moved, some stood, and some chairs were found.  It was packed.  Within minutes the service began.  Pastor Teddy assisted by playing guitar, and we sang a Bulgarian hymn plus three hymns that I've known since childhood:  "I Know Whom I Have Believed," "He Hideth My Soul," "My Jesus, I Love Thee," all in Bulgarian, of course.

We read several passages of Scripture, and each of the guests was given a chance to introduce himself and share remarks.  As I stood up to introduce myself, I looked again at the little congregation, mostly over 50, without a single child in attendance, and thought, "Lord, did I miss something?  I've got a message that end by saying, 'Your attitude toward Jesus can be measured by your attitude toward children.'  There are no children here at all."  But Pastor Teddy had told me, "Just share with us whatever the Lord lays on your heart," so I forged ahead.

As I spoke, Pastor Teddy stood just to my left.  It was hot.  It was close.  I couldn't see everyone, because some were seated behind a little partial wall that separated the "kitchen" from the "sanctuary."  Because Pastor Teddy was to my left, I could not see out the door, but others apparently could, because they kept looking out.  I wondered if my sermon was so bad, they were losing interest.

What I couldn't see was that about the time I was starting to tell them that their attitude toward children revealed their attitude toward Jesus, a little girl had walked up to the door and was looking in from time to time.  As I found out later, her grandma had invited her to come, but she forgot what time the service started, since she had never been there before.    As the message came to an end and we closed in prayer, someone invited her in.

You may reach your own conclusions, but I think God sent little Simona to Pazardjik Baptist Church at just the right time, when her arrival would illustrate the point of the message more clearly than any words I could speak.

I am praying for Simona and the Baptists in Pazardjik.  I hope you will too.

Simona