A Place For Us…
From our Friends in Tulovo, Bulgaria
You don't build a [ministry], you build people -
then the people build the [ministry]."
---Zig Ziglar
Read about the ways God is BUILDING in Tulovo. And He is using people like you!
“If you ever have the chance to buy the building in Tulovo, we would love to help,” long-time partners shared with us some time ago. This promise stayed with us as we prayed for that very opportunity during the past 18 months. Just a few weeks ago, the long-awaited invitation came from the owners – “would you like to purchase ‘The Gathering Place’?” Would we ever?! That’s a YES!
With your help, along with local volunteers and professionals, a ramshackle, forgotten building has become The Gathering Place. It has slowly transformed to a vibrant center, buzzing with the voices and energy of dozens of youth and children each week. What draws them to this space? The love of God as shown through our work together. Changed lives. Gifts discovered. Empowerment to serve. Give thanks for what we have accomplished together!
Meet Andre. A life transformed. Once tentative. Uncertain in his faith. Today he shares insights from Scripture. He initiates, brings youth together. He is ready to serve the Tulovo community. A budding artist, weekly he shares pencil sketches, often depicting his faith story. “I will give 100% to help in any way I can,” he wrote recently. He is just one example of a rising young leader – a life impacted through The Gathering Place.
We have been BUILDING. Removing tiles, plastering, sanding, painting, cleaning and organizing. God has provided willing local friends with these skills. Working together, The Gathering Place has become more inviting as we enter the dynamic summer season.
But the BUILDING doesn’t stop there. God is bringing passionate, young teammates to join us in Tulovo. God is BUILDING a team that will reach farther and deeper across Tulovo in new, creative ways.
BUILDING trust means conversations with the mayor, neighbors, shopkeepers. What needs do they see around Tulovo? Discipline and education are mentioned often. And yes, our friends want fewer potholes – better roads (sound familiar?). Listening, even as we network, is leading us to new insights and connecting points around this community.
“As I sat around the table with several teens a few days ago,” Albena shared, “Something in Tulovo has changed. We don’t notice such a division between Roma and Bulgarian teens. We can sit and have brief conversations. I think now is the time to invite them to join us in some small way.” The teens plan to boldly reach out to Bulgarian youth – ultimately welcoming them into The Gathering Place, providing games, conversation, friendly hospitality. Tiny, encouraging steps towards BUILDING a reconciled Tulovo.
If we have learned nothing else these last six weeks, BUILDING is hard, costly, time consuming. Sometimes we want to give up – “Nothing is changing, this isn’t working!” And yet, patience has prevailed! Thanks to you and your generosity, the LORD is BUILDING on a firm foundation in Tulovo – the Words and ways of Jesus – at first, implanted in just a few, but now rippling in ever wider circles. Friends, we are BUILDING something bigger than us, something with eternal value. May the ripples continue for generations to come! Thanks be to God, The MASTER BUILDER!