The vision is a big one!

Bulgaria is one of the poorest countries in Europe. The vulnerable suffer poverty and inequality,

Family in the Roma Ghetto in Sofia

For example, this family lives in a gypsy shanty town in Sofi a in one room with no electricity or running water. In winter temperatures are rarely above freezing, and in the summer it rises to over 30 degrees.

Sofia Baptist Church has been providing practical help to the most needy since before the fall of communism in 1989. Although itself poor, it has raised over £1/3 million to provide food for the hungry, medical care for the poor, help for the elderly, training for the undereducated, and regular support for children in orphanages.

Teddi Oprenov, Pastor of the Sofia Baptist Church, explains how working with the underprivileged communities in Sofia has inspired the vision for a new centre:

“As a Christian, I cannot just look at that and do nothing. As a pastor, I cannot just go there and preach to them. We had to do something practical. Yes, we can share our faith, but unless we show love we haven’t done anything.”

Inspired by Pastor Oprenov and his dedicated congregation, a group of people in the UK formed the Bulgarian Partners Trust – a charity dedicated to raising money and support to help make this vision a reality.

Today this vision has taken shape with the construction of a new £1.6 million Social, Medical and Training Centre in Sofi a. It is already complete structurally, and being fi tted-out inside. The Project is a social enterprise model planned to be self-fi nancing through letting offie/shop space and high-quality conference facilities.

New Building but lots still to do!

Bulgarian Partners Trust is a UK charity (registered in England and Wales, number 1095373) dedicated to supporting Sofia Baptist Church in its fund raising for this new Centre.

With £1.5 million raised to date we are on the home stretch and God willing the Centre will open next year.

If you would like more information about the project please contact us