Bulgaria is a country still struggling to find its way in a free market economy. Many areas outside the capital city of Sofia have unemployment rates greater than 90%. Here, Tom Myers, the Baptist Union of Bulgaria, and the local Baptist churches are developing ways to help families by creating long-term solutions to the problems of unemployment, while ministering to the families’ immediate needs. One of the ways they are helping is to provide micro-enterprise loans that enable individuals and families to start their own businesses or to expand existing businesses. In addition, Tom and the local churches are helping families by providing animals, seeds, fertilizers, and the necessary training so the people can raise some of their own food.
Terry is involved in teaching English to a group of teenage orphans who attend an after-school program near the orphanage where they live. She is also involved in developing markets for handicrafts made by the women of the Baptist churches. In addition to these responsibilities, Terry coordinates the partnership between the Baptist Union of Bulgaria and International Ministries. In this position, she will provide the link between American Baptist congregations and individuals in the U.S and Puerto Rico, and Baptist churches in Bulgaria that are interested in developing closer relationships.
The vibrant and growing Baptist Union of Bulgaria currently has 65 churches and 4,562 members as well as numerous preaching points and mission stations.
Population: 7,707,500 (2001 est.)
Size: 42,823 square miles (110,910 square kilometers) or slightly larger than Tennessee
Location: South eastern Europe, bordering Romania, Turkey and the Black Sea.
Ethnic groups: Bulgarian 83%, Turkish, Roma, and others
Language: Bulgarian
Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 83.5% Muslim 13%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, others
Language used in ministry: Bulgarian
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