The Church of God in Bulgaria has been reformed and reorganized since 2009 with new leadership and new spiritual revival among the pastors and the local congregations. The new National Bishop, Pastor Velichko Velev, was elected by all participating pastors in 2009 unanimously. He is an elder with many years of ministerial experience, knowledge and expertise in church administration, as well as a skilled historian of the Church of God in Bulgaria.
Instrumental in this renewal was Dinko Zlatarov who after coming back to Bulgaria from the USA took over the administrative position in the denomination and put in order the membership of the COG. Currently he serves as Assistant National Overseer. A new administrative foundation has been laid with clear principles. The goal has been synchronization with the international structures, so that the Church of God in Bulgaria will act as a full member of the international of the international Church of God.
The church has been reorganized on the basis of the guidelines set by the European and International COG. Most of the pastors have undergone ministerial training and the licensing procedure and have received their international certificates. Currently, the church ministers and leaders are being trained in order to receive their certification. The new Minutes of the COG in Bulgaria have been finalized and implemented. God is doing a miraculous deed of rejuvenating our church in this country. The local pastors are more optimistic about the denomination. They wholeheartedly participate in denominational events, councils, gathering and educational seminars. The strategy is to revive fully the COG in Bulgaria and to inspire the pastors to be part of the global Body of believers all across the world.
The Mission Bulgaria Center is now a center of numerous activities – church services, prayer meetings, youth gatherings, women’s monthly seminars, etc. Every week a group of ministers are being trained through the MIP program. The Christian education emphasis is very strong and is reinforced by trainings and seminars. Every week we conduct basic and advanced English courses, as well as computer training for lay people and pastors. Also, now the building is open also for social ministry. The local team here, along with the team in Stara Zagora focuses their efforts on ministering to poor Roma minority groups, elderly people, socially disadvantaged, children and elderly people.
