Joining Hands Conference in Sofia, Bulgaria
From March 17-19 The International Federation of Free Evangelical Churches (IFFEC) hosted the Joining Hands conference in Sofia, Bulgaria. The goal was to equip and encourage leaders in the next generation of church planters in Europe. There were representatives from 18 countries in Europe and the Middle East.
Planting churches in “pre-revival’” Europe
During the opening session of the Joining Hands conference, Thomas, a leader in the German free church said something that set the tone for the whole gathering. He said, “we have been talking for so many years about post Christian Europe. But what if we began speaking about, praying for and trusting God in terms of pre-revival Europe?” Thomas named what many in this gathering are witnessing in their local contexts. God is at work in Europe! Throughout the gathering I heard stories of small but dynamic movements of the Holy Spirit, giving joy, passion and courage to a new generation of church planters.
Our small group throughout the session with pastors from Switzerland, Finland, Czech Republic, Ukraine and Kosovo. In our small groups we had the chance to share from our lives, pray together and learn about the joys and challenges in our ministry contexts. I really appreciated the openness and vulnerability among the national leaders as they shared their stories and what they have learned along the way. It opened up safe space to ask questions and learn from each other in very encouraging ways. People left the meeting in a spirit of hopefulness and with a feeling of being part of a bigger movement of God in Europe.
Sharing in the Lord’s Supper
One of the gifts of this gathering was the deep sense of unity in Christ. Throughout the gathering I kept having a sense that people were experiencing a real joy in one another’s presence as they were welcomed and encouraged in the body of Christ.
Visiting the oldest free church in Bulgaria founded in 1864.
Learning about the church from one of their pastors.
Visiting one of the largest Orthodox churches in Sofia while the priests are holding evening prayers. This church was built shortly after Bulgaria gained its freedom from Ottoman rule. Incredibly the Turkish Ottomans ruled over Bulgaria for 500 years until it received its independence in 1908. The majority of Christians in Bulgaria are Orthodox and the number of protestant free churches in Bulgaria is quite small but growing.
On the central walking street with friends from Norway and Finland.
Central Plaza in Sofia with the mountains rising in the background.
Prayer points:
For IFFEC as a catalyst for encouraging Christian unity and partnership in the Gospel around Europe.
For young pastors stepping out in faith and using their gifts to love and reach out with the Gospel.
For national church leaders as they seek to inspire missional imagination in their churches.