Strengthening
the church for serving God
ABOUT US
We are born again believers and followers of the Lord Jesus
Christ. We've been working in full time Christian ministry and
missionary outreaches in Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania since 2001.
Viktor:
"I was born in Russe, Northeastern Bulgaria, in the time when
communism and militant atheism gripped the nation. My first 25 years
were godless and hopeless. I was tormented without truth and purpose in
life and did not buy the official state propaganda that there was no
God. But there was no one to answer my questions. In 1991
I found
the love of Christ. College student missionaries brought
the gospel of Jesus to me. Since then I am committed to be a follower of
Jesus. I enjoy telling others about the love of God who gave His Son so
we may have eternal life and be free from fear, sin, and death."
Viktor is a licensed lawyer and a missionary. He holds a law degree from
Sofia University in Bulgaria and a Ph.D. degree from Fuller Seminary in
California.
Teresa grew up in a Catholic home in Southern California. She gave her
life to Christ at the age of 12 but did little to grow in the faith.
Before going to college in Berkeley, Northern California, she eagerly
sought guidance from God. Soon after she felt compelled to go to the
psych school in Berkeley. There she joined an InterVarsity student
Christian group. God used the believers from that student fellowship to
influence her. She fully surrendered her life to Christ and received
empowerment from the Holy Spirit. In 1991 Teresa was on a one month
mission trip to Bulgaria where she met Viktor.
Teresa is a homemaker, a teacher, and a charity worker. She home-schools
our boys, Daniel and Mattias and Noah. She is involved with women’s
ministry and is the mastermind behind much of our work with youth and
orphans in Bulgaria.
AFFILIATIONS
We work across
the board of Christian denominations and churches, although we are of a
charismatic theology and practice.
The mission agency we work with --
Door of Hope International -- is an interdenominational group that
works in Eastern Europe, Bulgaria, and other Balkan countries.
We also have relationship with several evangelical churches in
the US and in Wales, UK.
The work of reaching the world with the love of Christ requires team
work. We rely on the prayers and the support of Christians who have a
heart for mission and service in our area of work.
Vision
We believe in an expression of a contemporary church which upholds the
New Testament standards of prayer, life together, and mission.
"Church" is more than just the weekly meeting in a public building, or
the building itself. "Church" is
life together in Jesus. Team ministry and committed discipleship
are values in which we want to see Bulgarian, and other, Christians
grow. We seek to be co-laborers with God in raising the prophetic gift
and ministry among the Bulgarian saints. We want to help shape a
missionary faith in individuals and churches. We want to build a bridge
of relationships between like-minded Christians and Christian
fellowships in Bulgaria, Romania, the US, the UK, and other nations so
that the Spirit of God would move freely in among His people and in the
nations.
Values
*
Following Christ is a way of life, not a philosophy, a trend, or just
going to church (Matt. 7:24-27; Luke 9:23-24; James 1:19-27; Romans 12).
*
Prophetic ministry calls the church to a higher standard of
commitment to Christ and brings disciples closer to God (1 Corinthians
12:1-3, 14:1; Jeremiah 1:10).
* Church is relationships in Jesus' name, based on truth,
forgiveness and service (Ephesians 4:25). The shortest definition of
church is: "Following Jesus together."
* Missionary vision and action is the sign of a living faith
(Matthew 28:18-20).
* Teaching and studying the Bible
is essential to our walk with Christ: the Scriptures are the written
Word of God and the most credible written source for instruction for
salvation and Christian life (1 Timothy 3:16).
* Team ministry -- (Acts 13:1-2). Although it is not easy to
maintain the intensity of relationship in a team setting, the team is
still the best way to engage in Christian life and ministry. Christ
established the team model with the apostles and later sending out small
teams of workers.
* Good works and helping the orphans are a sign of a living faith
and conquer enemy territory (Matthew 5:16; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Peter 4:19;
James 1:27).
* Spiritual leadership in the church is by example (Christ's
way), not by imposing one's will (the world's way). As a movie character
once said: "Men don't follow titles, they follow courage." Authority for
leadership is measured by the extent to which we are willing to
surrender our wills to the will of God. (Hebrews 13:7; 17; 1 Timothy
5:17-19; 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 5:12-13; 1 Peter 5:1-4).
PICTURES
All of us in 2007; R: Vik and Tes on a date
(without the kids) in San Francisco
Danny, Tes, Matty and baby Noah in the middle in 2005; R: Noah Kostov,
March 2006 -- almost 10 months old
The first 20 days of the life of Noah Kostov-the new addition to our
missionary team, born May 19, 2005:
photos here!
Vik,
Tes and Danny and Matty in 2003; Right: Vik and Tes in 2001
More photos of the boys.