NEW START, NEW STUDENTS, NEW STRUCTURE!
This marked the relaunching of SGA’s teaching programme in Bulgaria. Following a break in the teaching due to Covid, the mission school recommenced following discussions about fresh approaches designed to enhance the school. In September, the long-awaited launch took place with students gathering from a variety of backgrounds, but all with the same goal – to be better equipped to serve the Lord and reach their nation with the Gospel.
One of the new students is Sasha, from a Roma background, who grew up in what he described as the ‘ghetto’. Unfortunately, these circumstances did not make for a stable environment where he could be well established and equipped for life.
He drifted into involvement with an organized criminal gang involved in prostitution and drug trade. While deep in these criminal activities and serving sin and Satan, he decided one day to go and disrupt the evangelical Roma church. It emerged that his grandmother was a believer and had taught him the Bible when he was younger.
However, the only reason he went to this particular church was to cause problems. He thought it would just be a little prank, but soon discovered that God works in mysterious ways! While there God spoke to him very powerfully, to such an extent that he was in tears during the service.
Sasha at the Mission school
Soon after that he was converted to Christ. You can imagine the transformation that took place. Everything changed for Sasha! He got involved in Christian life and work, and later he even planted a church.
During the opening session of the school, he shared that the church is growing. Sasha wants the people to be well-grounded in God’s Word. For many Roma congregations there can be an emotional, charismatic approach to worship with little solid Bible teaching.
Sasha explained how he wants the church to be established in Biblical doctrines and principles. ‘I have come to the Mission School to be equipped to lead the church.’
He is part of a group of Roma leaders being mentored by SGA-sponsored missionary pastor, Delcho Atanassov. The long-term plan is that Sasha and some of the others will progress in Biblical knowledge so that they can in turn teach other Roma leaders.
Pastor Delcho & Nina minister to the Roma churches & communities
