Bulgaria

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Official name: Area: Government: Official languages: Monetary unit: Cities:

DEMOGRAPHY Population: Population density: ECONOMY GDP (PPP): per person: </small>

LIFE & LIBERTY HDI

Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Location 1.2 Climate 1.3 Natural Resources 2 Demographics 2.1 Peoples 2.2 Provinces 3 Life 4 Economy 5 Government 6 Religion 6.1 Islam 6.2 Buddhism 6.3 Christianity 6.3.1 History 6.3.2 Churches 6.3.3 Church and State Relations 6.3.4 Mission 6.3.5 Broadcasting 6.3.6 Councils and Networks 7 Future Trends 8 For More Reading

[edit] Geography

[edit] Location

[edit] Climate

[edit] Natural Resources

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Peoples

• The population of 8,200,000 consists of an 86%cent Bulgarian (Slavic) majority, a significant Turkish-speaking minority (1,200,000) and 300,000 Gypsies.

[edit] Provinces

• The Provinces of Bulgaria

• The Cities of Bulgaria

[edit] Life

• Bulgaria is a country struggling to re-establish itself after the fall of communism in 1989. Fifty per cent of its people now live below the poverty line. Ethnic tensions still smoulder in a land which was one of the final outposts ofthe Ottoman Empire and still occupies a strategic position

as the gateway to Turkic Asia.

[edit] Economy

[edit] Government

[edit] Religion

[edit] Islam

[edit] Buddhism

[edit] Christianity

[edit] History

[edit] Churches

• Maturing the Church is a major challenge. Pray for: The training of church leaders. The right structures to enhance growth. The discernment of doctrinal error.

[edit] Church and State Relations

• Bulgaria has transformed from harsh repression in the 1980s to today's relative freedom of religion and hunger for spirituality.
• Religious freedom is still not fully achieved. In the past, persecution was severe with many Christians imprisoned or killed and by manipulation through informers, infiltrators and imposters in the churches. The subversion of the Orthodox hierarchy was particularly widespread. Some leaders courageously suffered, others compromised — a fact that still breeds division, mistrust and lack of cooperation in Orthodox, Protestant and Pentecostal churches alike. Pray for repentance, reconciliation, healing and spiritual unity. Some Orthodox leaders have orchestrated a virulent media campaign against non-Orthodox, and particularly Evangelicals. There is a need for bridges of trust to be built between the major Christian bodies.
• Pray for, complete religious freedom for Evangelicals.

[edit] Mission

• A predominantly Slavic-speaking, Orthodox country long influenced by Byzantine culture, Bulgaria was part of the Ottoman Empire for 500 years before gaining its independence in the 19th century. There is need for long-term missionaries and tentmakers who will learn the culture and language, stay long enough for mature ministry and earn the confidence of the people through effective role-modelling.

• A number of creative means of evangelism are used to build goodwill in unreached Muslim villages and neighbourhoods. Finding People of Peace in each Muslim community is the first step (Luke 10:5). Then chronological story-telling is used to introduce the Christian faith. Prevailing, powerful prayer is needed to break old spiritual bondages, to bring healing and reconciliation between ethnic groups and to transform society so there is release from poverty, jobs for all, harmonious family life and just leaders.

[edit] Broadcasting

[edit] Councils and Networks

[edit] Future Trends

[edit] For More Reading

• Wikipedia
• Joshua Project
• GRN