From the Field

Praises: The founding of a new compassionate ministries center in the NW Bulgarian city of Montana to help people start new businesses.  Our mission is ”Helping People Feed Themselves”.  We are committed to providing long-term solutions to real problems in our communities. The visit of Hermann Gschwandtner, who was the Eurasia Regional Compassionate Ministries Coordinator.  Before he retired, Hermann visited Montana and offered incredibly useful information and worked with us on developing our project proposal for the Montana center.  In addition, the German foundation ,,Helping Hands” that he leads, provided an incredibly generous donation to allow us to open the center. God’s provision of two workers: Kameliya and Valentin to head the work of the Montana center. God’s provision of Ani, who has set up the theological library in Razgrad.  We have successfully completed this project and will be moving on to add the Montana library to the internet catalogue for the college. Prayer Requests: The developing strategy for expansion of the center.  We really need to add a lawyer, an experienced businessman/woman to mentor, and one of them needs to be fluent in English as all the translation work has fallen to me for proposals and communications between the team and sponsors. Financing for year 2 of the center (which will begin on July 1) Kameliya and Valentin, the two center employees.  Pray for strength and wisdom as they work with so many different people, who are often discouraged and have very different needs. Unity on the Bulgaria district…
Source: 2014 from Jessica Morris

Yesterday we celebrated Easter in Bulgaria, which according to the Eastern calendar rarely falls on the same Sunday as the date when the Western church celebrates.  On Maundy Thurdsay together with Dick and Cindy Phelps (volunteers in Bulgaria pictured with me above), we went to Razgrad for their Holy week services.  An interesting tradition that they have is to re-enact the Last Supper complete with costumes, the Lord’s Supper, and even foot washing.  It was a very special time and filled with laughter, rememberance, and conversation. Since I last published here, there is a BIG change in my life…I have moved to Varna (the second largest city in Bulgaria) to be apart of a new church plant there. The on-site team is comprised of the Phelps and myself but our wider team also includes the Razgrad church who bring a van-load of people almost every Saturday to prayer walk with us and to do service projects as we make new contacts and serve the community. It has been a beautiful time of re-centering and returning to what for me is the heart of ministry: prayer and building relationships.  We’ve seen God moving in the hearts and lives of people who He has brought into our lives – often to help us as we transition here and at other times for us to serve as a support to them. I’m still working in Theological Education, Literature, and Compassionate Ministries.  Here are some quick updates about those areas: Theological Education We had…
Source: New ministry location: Varna from Jessica Morris

January Sunday, 03          Open Wednesday, 06  Open Sunday, 10          Open Wednesday, 06  Open Sunday, 17          Open Wednesday, 06  Open Sunday, 24          Open Wednesday, 06  Open Sunday, 31          Open February Sunday, 07          Open Wednesday, 10  Open Sunday, 14          Goshen, Arkansas Wednesday, 17  Open Sunday, 21          Open Wednesday, 24  Open Sunday, 28          Open March Sunday, 06          Open Wednesday, 09  Open Sunday, 13-20    Indianapolis District Tour Wednesday, 23  Open Sunday, 27          Open March 30/31 – Return to Bulgaria If you would like to schedule a service, please contact me.  My philosophy is that every church deserves a missionary.  So no matter the size of your church, the answer will be yes.  🙂
Source: Does your church need a speaker??? from Jessica Morris