Bulgaria is officially a secular nation and the Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion but appoints Orthodoxy as an official religion. In the 2001 census, 82.6% Bulgarians declared themselves Orthodox Christians, 12,2% Muslim, 1.2% other Christian denominations, 4% other religions (Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Judaism) and zero percent atheists. Most citizens of Bulgaria have associations—at least nominally—with the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
According to the most recent Eurostat “Eurobarometer” poll, in 2005, 40% of Bulgarian citizens responded that “they believe there is a God”, whereas 40% answered that “they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force”, 13% that “they do not believe there is a God, spirit, nor life force”, and 6% did not answer.
NMSI first began work in Bulgaria in 2000 and frequently has short-term teams going to assist the long-term missionary work. Current ministries in Bulgaria include:
- Outreach and discipleship among Bulgarian youth
- Encouragement and discipleship to young mothers
- Encouraging local leaders and developing long-term strategies in youth ministries.
YouthHOPE is blessed to see God opening new doors for ministry in Bulgaria. Our Global Youth Workers, Gabe and Melissa Hillman, are located in Velingrad where they are determined to share the love of Christ in tangible ways to Bulgarian youths. They work to establish relationships with young people through relational ministry, connecting at local schools, and offering experiential learning programs.
Sources: Joshua Project, Every Culture—Bulgaria, Campus Crusade for Christ—Bulgaria, CIA World Factbook, US Department of State
