Salvation and baptisms!

Bulgaria, Friday January 21st 2011

Today we baptised three people, one man and one woman were very happy and grateful to be able to recieve the batism in water.
The third man was not a believer from the beginning. He didn't believe in God and have had seven different wives. He has got children with every wife, has been going in and out of prison three, four times, gambled a lot of hazard, was drinking and cheating on his wife. He was not such a good person. One day he realized that he had cancer. His brother is also sick in cancer, and when Janko came to pray for him, he got healed! This made the man start to believe in God. He came to our house and said to Janko: "You need to make me a believer, I want to be saved and healed!". They prayed a prayer of salvation and two days later he got baptised in water. Isn't this a wonderful miracle that only God can do? Now he rejoices in the Lord and God continues to do miracles!

Monika Angelova
Mission SOS Balkan

A transformed man

Bulgaria, Wednesday November 17th 2010

Osman was a man that didn't belive in God. He was an atheist, but was raised in a Muslim family. He was taciturn and didn't speak with anybody, not even his wife. She tried to tell him about God, but he said that she was insane and an irresponsible woman. They lived together just because of the children, without the least love. His wife wanted him to change and to have a normal family, but he always rejected her, she and the kids were isolated from him.

His wife continued to talk with him about God, he kept the distance between them and didn't want to hear that God exists. Even when she started the Bible college, Osman accused her of having an affair there with another man. She was forced to quit when he one night had locked her out, so she and their daughter had to climb over the fence to get in.

One day, Janko and Maria went to their house to inform him that his wife was about to be set apart as a worship leader in the church, and that he had to be there for the prayer. He agreed and when he entered the doors of the church, something happened with him and he changed in an instant. He describes it as he felt love in his heart and from that day he is another man.

He got baptised soon after that and now he is attending the Bible college together with his wife. They are now out preaching together. They love each other, just signed the marriage papers and are now planning for a real wedding!

Monika Angelova
Mission SOS Balkan

New Bible college class in Bulgaria!

Bulgaria, Wednesday October 20th 2010

Squeezed together in the livingroom of the team house are future preachers and missionaries gathered. Janco Angelov and his team in Velingrad just started the fourth Bible college class in a row. Among the nine students is Irina. She was saved at the festival last summer. Now she is baptised and started the Bible college: "I want to learn much about the Bible and preach the good news" she says.

Jasen had to quit the school last time, but now he is back, determined what he wants: "I want to become a good leader and be sent out to preach to those who never have heard!".

Janco tells that he is full of faith for the future: "We are giving the future missionaries a strong foundation and are so grateful to God for everything He is doing.


Mission SOS Balkan

Healings and baptisms in Velingrad

Bulgaria, Saturday September 11th 2010

The pastor from Signs & Wonders Church Velingrad, Janco Angelov with his wife Monika, went to Sweden to celebrate the one year anniversary that SOS Church just had in Stockholm. "It is so amazing to see what God is doing in Sweden and in Stockholm", Janko said after the celebration. Now thay are back in Velingrad and the church.

Jifka, responsible for the house churches and worship leader in the church, tells that the church in Bulgaria also is growing: "We have had many strong healings, one woman got healed from cancer and a man woke from a coma after we had prayed for him. He was also one of the ones who got baptised today when we had a big baptism party, where eight people buried their old lifes and got a fresh start with Jesus!

Mission SOS Balkan

Miraculously healed from cancer

Bulgaria, Friday August 6th 2010

In March 2009 Signs & Wonders Church in Velingrad held a three day festival and Johannes Amritzer was invited to preach. One and a half years later it was time to do another festival and just as last time. the city cinema was packed with people. One of the visitors, a woman in her 40s, told us that her life got changed at the festival in March -09. "I was at that time diagnosed with cancer. The doctors said that my hope was gone, I had lost all my hair due to the chemo therapy and they didn't give me much longer to live."

She came to the festival in Velingrad in March, but tells us that she don't remember who prayed for her. "Later on, in October the same year, they tested me and then the results showed no traces of cancer in my body!". Now, approximatly nine months after the good news, she is back in the place where she believes the miraracle happened: "I dreamt about it later on, how they prayed for me, and that God healed me then." This time she stood on the platform praising God for her miracle.

Mission SOS Balkan

Miracles and salvations in Bulgaria!

Bulgaria, Saturday July 31st 2010

This weekend Velingrad exploded with salvation and healing miracles! Signs & Wonders Church in Velingrad arranged a festival in the city cinema. Janco Angelov, pastor in the church, preached all three nights and says about the result: "We have 157 names on decision cards, but I know that there were more, because when the healing prayer started people ran off to get intercession".

And the miracles came! More than twenty healings were reported, among them an 11 year old boy. Since the birth he had pain in his legs and trubles walking. After the laying on of hands and prayer, the next day he testified and said that the pain was completely gone and the legs worked properly.

Monika Angelova tells about some of the miracles: "One woman was not able to close one of her eye lid and while we were praying she began to close it more and more until she was capable to twinkle normally. Another woman had a herniated disc and when she began to try her healing, she started jumping and shouting: 'I doesn't hurt, I am healed!'."

Now the church has a lot of follow-up work to do and soon a new Bible school class will start: "The only problem we have is that our premises are too small, but that can be fixed!" Janko says tired, but thankful for a successful festival.

Maria From
Mission SOS

Outreach with salvations and healings!

Bulgaria, Friday July 9th 2010

This Sunday Signs & Wonders Church Velingrad had an outreach at the stadium in Slokutchene, a village close to Velingrad. The interest was big and many had come to see dance and drama about Jesus. "I belive there was about 400-500 people around the stage" said Janco Angelov, who also preached a message about God's son that came to earth because of your and my sins. "It was amazing! Around fifty people prayed a prayer of salvation with us and gave their life to Jesus!" Monika Angelova said after the outreach.

A lot of healings also happened immediatly after the healingprayer. A 15-year old boy who suffered from severe shortsightedness could now see and followed Janco's moves on a 10 metre distance. One woman testified that she could no longer feel the cyst in her breast after the healing prayer. "The woman kept on saying: I can't feel it anymore, I can't feel it! Jesus is amazing!" Monika said with a big smile.

Mission SOS Balkan

A summer of baptisms!

Bulgaria, Saturday July 3rd 2010

"The baptism is truly the start of a new life". The words are Janco's, he had just finished the mass baptism in one of the rivers outside Velingrad. The past two weeks, nine persons have taken the decision to start all over again.

One of the girls testified of an immidiate difference: "Before, I was filled with hatred towards my mother, but when I got baptised I felt heat and some kind of peace filled me. Now the feelings of hate is gone!".

All the happy newly baptised recieved new Bibles and are now coming to church.

Mission SOS Balkan

Jesus was preached among Muslims

Bulgaria, Monday June 28th 2010

This past month we have seen God working mighty wonders through our hands and our church. Grashevo is one of the Pomak villages surrounding Velingrad, 100% Muslim and totally unreached. Some time ago, we went there with three mini vans packed with clothes for distribution. Nearly the whole village gathered at the town square as Janko preached the gospel, straight from the bible.

Afterwards, many came up to him, hugged him and said: "This is the true believers, who come and help the people. You really believe in the gospel." Many people recieved clothes and were very thankful for the help.

Monika Angelova
Mission SOS Balkan

Dreamed and got saved

Bulgaria, Tuesday June 8th 2010

Asen has been sick for six years, he has a catheter and is in a wheel chair. His wife always spoke with him about Jesus, but he didn't want to listen. But one night he had a dream and heard a voice, saying: "Go to Janco, go to Janco's church". He woke up and told his wife about the dream. She went to the Signs & Wonders Church the following Sunday and told everyone about what happened. Janco went to meet the man and then he got saved!

Now Asen believes in Jesus, he comes to church every week and God has healed him, so that he no longer needs his catheter and is without pain. Hallelujah!


Monika Angelova
Mission SOS Balkan

Baptism!

Bulgaria, Friday May 14th 2010

Today three persons got baptized - Tsesta, Maria and her daughter Emi.
They went down in the water with excitement and before they buried their old lives they confessed Jesus as their Lord.

After the baptism Emi said" I feel different, lighter and happier".
Thank you Jesus for changing lives through the baptism!


Gala Asenova
Missionary SOS Balkan

Bible school graduation

Bulgaria, Thursday May 13th 2010

The time has finally come for the third Bible school class in Signs & Wonders Church Velingrad to get their diplomas. The last four months they have studied the Bible, learned how to preach, how to win souls and pray for the sick.

Four happy students graduated and during the same service eight people received Christ, a bit over 115 people were gathered at the theater. Walter preached about authority and everyone was very happy.

Monika Angelova, pastors wife, commented after the service: "I am very happy that they have a deeper knowledge about the Bible now and that one of the students have decided to stay and work with us".


Borislava Albenova
Missionary SOS Balkan

8 people got baptized!

Bulgaria, Thursday April 29th 2010

Last Sunday we baptised eight people in Signs & Wonders Church. One of them is Osman. He was a muslim and did not belive in Jesus, but now he is baptised in water! Among the baptised were also several youths that now want to serve God.

Rashi, a teenage girl

The people who got baptized and some of the church members

Everyone rejoiced over the baptisms and we are very glad that God is making miracles in Velingrad and that our church is growing even more.


Borislava Albenova
Missionary SOS Balkan

Sunday Service in Signs & Wonders Church

Bulgaria, Sunday April 25th 2010

Last Sunday we had a fantastic meeting. Many people was gathered and they really liked Janco´s preaching about the last days.

During the week we had prayed for some persons who had been sick and on the meeting they testified about their healings.
Among others a man who had been in coma but woke up after prayer, a girl who was healed from a viral disease and a woman whose sick husband who wasn´t a believer before but after a dream he believes in God and feels much better.


Gala Asenova
Missionary SOS Balkan

Easter celebration and 27 new saved

Bulgaria, Sunday April 4th 2010

In the third city district of Velingrad, Chepino, this morning an outreach was held. A lot of people were gathered to see the drama about Jesus and to listen to the preaching. 27 people responded for the first time on a salvation call and another 33 returned to Jesus. After the preaching the team prayed for sick for a long while and several healings of head ache are reported.

In the afternoon whole Signs & Wonders Church gathered for an Easter celebration. Everyone brought some cookies and when they were eaten up Janco Angelov preached about the importance to obey the Father. Many people came, some for the first time, and everyone were happy to celebrate the resurrection of Christ as one big family.


Mission SOS Balkan

Leader initiation

Bulgaria, Sunday March 28th 2010

The church in Velingrad continues to grow and last Sunday it was time to separate a leader. Jifka Dedova, 28, was separated as worship leader and responsible for the house churches. "It feels very good, but at the same time I am very nervous!" she told after the meeting.

Janko Angelov, who is pastoring the church together with his wife Monika, separated her for ministry with the church's approval. "She is a very good woman, she has a big heart for people and I trust that she will do a very good job." Monika commented after the ceremony.


Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

Woman healed from TB!

Bulgaria, Wednesday March 17th 2010

Sonja testified on the Sunday service at Signs & Wonders Church how she recovered from the deadly disease tuberculosis (TB): "The last chest x-ray didn't show anything! My lungs are well again!".

Soon two months ago the doctor confirmed that Sonja was infected with TB. The test answers together with the x-ray left it beyond every doubt. Sonja and her husband are members of the church since a couple of years, she had started the bible school but had to quit due to her condition. The future didn't look too bright. But they believed God for a miracle and the church persisted in prayer for Sonja's healing.

Sonja tells about her healing.

Now, the miracle is a fact. With a big smile and tears of gratitude in her eyes, she told the good news to the church: "The doctor said that he never had seen anyone recover from TB this fast! It has to be God, he said".


Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

Family serves God

Bulgaria, Tuesday March 9th 2010

"I'm so happy, so very happy. I'm finally baptised!". The words come from Vanja, a mother of six living in a poor gypsy area outside Velingrad. Three of her teenage daughters were baptised together with her.

Janco and Monika with Vanja and her daughters.

Janco, pastor in Signs & Wonders Church Velingrad, met Petjo, the father in the family, for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Except for him, more than half the family has now been baptised in water.

This Sunday, they brought several new friends to the Sunday service. Vanja and Petjo say eagerly: "Now we invite people to our home, we read the bible to them and pray. We gather them every Wednesday and Friday. It's so good to do something for God!".


Mission SOS Balkan

Visit by Walter Zuniga

Bulgaria, Wednesday February 24th 2010

This Sunday Walter Zuniga, pastor of SOS Church Stockholm preached here in Signs & Wonders Church Velingrad. The church was packed with people and many were there for the first time. Zuniga preached that the Kingdom of God is in you, prayed for sick and four people prayed a prayer of salvation for the first time.

Gala Alexandrova, missionary at the base, describes the Sunday meeting: "It was a really strong meeting, you could tell that people got filled with faith and power. You could really feel the presence of the Holy Spirit."
One of the women that got saved is a muslim and was there for the first time: "Before the meeting I just wanted to attend once to see what it was all about. But now I will definitely come again!" she said before she went home.

With all our heart, Signs & Wonders Church thank SOS Church Stockholm for the honor of having Walter with us for a whole week!

The Missionaries
Mission SOS Balkan

She read the koran but today she is reading the Bible!

Bulgaria, Friday February 12th 2010

We took our Bible, passed it to Avishe and asked her to read. With a clear voice she read the first verses, but when she understood what the words meant her voice became low. She was absorbed and continued to read much more verses than we had told her.
We let her go on, enjoyed to watch a newly saved woman, living in a Muslim village and having a Muslim culture, hungry reading the Bible.

After some minutes she looked up, told us that the Bible we gave to her is at her work. As soon as she has finished her tasks she grabs her Bible. Sometimes she reads out loud for her colleague. Avishe do not understand everything in the Bible but she loves its message. Little embarrassed she admits that sometimes she use the Children's´ Bible, it is easier to understand.

Before she read the Koran, but today it is just the Bible that nails her. The Word of God has changed her life!


Emelie Berndtsson
Mission SOS Balkan

New house church!

Bulgaria, Wednesday February 3rd 2010

Two graduated students from our Bible College, and now missionaries at our base, tell us about their day;

"Today, we have started a new house church in Ruchka´s house. We gathered four women and we read the Bible and prayed together. Afterwards, the women said that they felt happier and strengthen from the Word of God.
Until the next time we´ll meet, they will invite their neighbors to come."


Borislava and Gala
Mission SOS Balkan

Stomach pain disappeared after prayer

Bulgaria, Sunday January 31st 2010

Sonja after the baptism

Sonja, 29 years old, have suffered pain in her stomach for two years. The medicine that the doctors gave her didn't help. But two weeks ago everything changed. "I went and asked for prayer on the Sunday service, and when pastor Janko said that I was healed, I felt heat covering my whole body. Since that prayer I haven't had any pain at all!".

Sonja also testifies about how her anxiety and unease disappeared after the baptism in water: "I have peace in my heart now, it's like the days pass by easily.
I'm not worried anymore!".


Monika Angelova
Mission SOS Balkan

The Baptism - a new start

Bulgaria, Thursday January 21st 2010

Janko and the Bible college students after the baptism

Some of the Bible college students tell about the difference in their life, before and after the baptism in water:

Bore 17 years old: "It feels like I have started a new life. I used to drink and smoke a lot. I lived in constant sin. All I could think about was girls and parties. But I decided to give my life to God and to start living for Him. Now I want to be your strongest missionary and pastor. I will never leave you!"

Jasen, 23 years old: "I lived a life in the church, but in the meantime I smoked and drank. I was never sure whether I was really saved or not, and I always felt that I needed to pray for forgiveness. The baptism made me sure on my salvation and I am convinced that God will use me - to preach, save and heal people. I want to be a missionary!"

Azim 17 years old: "I lived for the card gambling. My life was all about discos, girls and money. But now everything is totally changed. It feels like I was born just 4-5 days ago. I don't think in the same way anymore. Now I just want to study and live as God wants."



Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

Starting a new bible school class!

Bulgaria, Friday January 15th 2010

This spring's class at Evangelska Missija SOS bible college, Velingrad, is in this very moment gathered in a home in one of Velingrad's neighbourhoods. Among the students you will find hard working mothers of three, a middle-aged couple, just baptised streetguys, men who has left both bottles and cigaretts and many faithful members of the church. They have one thing in common: they want to learn as much as possible about the life with God, to be able to reach the unreached.

Ivan, the father of five and living in one of Velingrad's most poor areas, commented after the start on Wednesday night: "I just want to live for God, there are no other options!".


Now, a four month long education starts, an education that will provide these people with the knowledge, the experience and the understanding that everything is possible for the one who believes!


Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

The Students do the Job

Bulgaria, Thursday October 1st 2009

The team receive victory reports from new missionaries all the time. Reni, a graduated student from Mission SOS Balkan, just baptized a friend. " She didn't want to wait any more!" Reni says with full enthusiasm. Determined they went to the river outside of Velingrad and there her friend started her newborn life.

It doesn't end there. Reni continues: "I've been longing to testify to my neighbour for a long time but not had the opportunity. Just some days after the baptism I visited her and talked to her about Jesus. Together we prayed a prayer of salvation that night." Now Reni is looking forward to another baptism "She will also be baptized soon!" She ends the conversation with a big smile.

Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

A living Miracle

Bulgaria, Monday August 17th 2009

Ferdi has graduated Bible School

Ferdi is a living miracle. He has never gone to school and could hardly write when he came to us. For many years he lived as a drug addict, thief, Mafioso, a life together with pimps, handlers and prostitutes. He was, and still is, known in all of Pazardjik. "Here comes Ferdito" they said about him when he came back from his trip to Germany. The guys gathered around him to hear about all the cool and dangerous things he had been through.

They still say "Here comes Ferdito" when he comes walking in the streets of Pazardjik. But now it is followed by a whisper "he is really changed." People notice the change in him. He explains how the guys who used to come up to him nowadays don't dare to meet his eyes, they put their hands deep down in their pockets and look down as the meet him. They know that he is a man of God now. You can tell. Now he is walking the streets with pride, he is carrying the strongest testimony of them all: His life was crap but then he met Jesus and was totally changed. For real!

His eyes are shining when he tells about it. He testified for a guy last time he was home. There was something on the inside telling him to do it. He is so in love with the Holy Spirit.

He can hardly spell a single word correctly, he hade to re-do half of the tests and reads like a 12-year-old. But he can explain to you how to cast out an evil spirit, what will happen in the last days and why we cannot live without the Holy Spirit.

This Sunday he received his diploma. The four life changing months in the Bible School is fullfilled. He is so happy and so grateful. "Thank you so much" He says over and over again. But what can we say? We haven't performed the miracle. Jesus has!

Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

Festival in Velingrad

Bulgaria, Thursday August 6th 2009

A Festival is just completed here in lovely Velingrad, Bulgaria. Pastor Michael Williams, Calvary Temple Worship Center, Modesto, CA and Johannes Amritzer tock turns in showing Jesus for the people. It was a great atmosphere every night that made the crowd expect miracles. Many of the visitors where just people that had passed by on the street, hearing that something was going on inside of the movie theater, others had raveled many miles by buss to be present.

Johannes Amritzer preached the first night to the crowd consisting of Muslims, Orthodox Bulgarians and Gypsies. A woman was healed from a slipped disc and lifted a chair on the stage with no difficulties. Another woman was healed from internal bleeding that she had suffered from for several years.
A total of 124 people decided to follow Jesus during the festival week and we got their names and addresses for the follow up.

During the second night when Pastor Michael Williams preached, a man that had suffered from consistent headache the last 18 months was healed in the sight of everybody. After the meeting we realized that he really was drawn by God, he told us that a couple of months ago he started to dream about the word "miracles", the very word that now was written on every poster all over town announcing the festival. Once he passed by the team house and without speaking to anybody he realized that there was something different about the people living in that house and they could help him be free from the life that he now lived. That night he gave his life to the Lord and was welcomed into his new family in Christ.

The week continued with numerous healings like that, one night around 20
just saved people also received the Holy Spirit.

Thank Jesus for all the miracles that took place during this week, we are now looking forward to the follow up!

Mission SOS Balkan

Reni, Preperd for the edventurers life!

Bulgaria, Sunday July 26th 2009

Another "child" of Mission SOS is being traind on the bibel school in Velingrad, she is a singel mother with a three year old dother and is also in the act of taking her drivers licens. With such a joy for life and a strive to develop wich is rear among the gipsy women Reni came to the bibel school to learn how to preach and save people. She is often without foults in the tests, love to prech in homes and is always glad and generous. Reni and her sister have bin saved since Mission SOS made a festival in Pazardjik. Her mother, father and brother was baptised last year. In the cuestion on what the greatest mirecle in her life was she gave an answer without hesitation - That my entire family are saved! And I have seen many get heald. For example my doughter got heald in her kidneys. Reni likes to pray for the countries of the world, sha have faith in the future and can see herself working as a missionary in an arab country together with her husband. - Only where it's warm, she says whit a laught.

Annelie Persson
Mission SOS Balkan

Community in the Backyard

Bulgaria, Wednesday July 8th 2009

Last Sunday a church meeting was held in the backyard of the team house on blankets

in the grass. It was a wonderful summer evening with grilled meat, soda, community, homemade fruitcake and teaching by Walter Zuniga. It was a simple, personal and down-to-earth preaching about to never sell your faith. Afterwards, sitting together in the grass we prayed for healing and one guy realized that he had to get baptised. Of course we did this, that same night and the young guy was baptised in water. To open up your home for a b-b-q including salvation and healing must be the most wonderful way to spread the gospel!

Mission SOS Balkan

A Word from the Festival Coordinator

Bulgaria, Tuesday June 30th 2009

Bulgaria has been the home for both my family, my friends and for God's calling on my life. For almost five years we have started churches and a school for missionaries. We have made one larger festival that reached out with the message about Jesus Christ. We are now ready for the second round. The first time was successful, we won a lot of favour and people were saved! The last six months we have been building up house churches, and now we are ready for the second round.

Jifka has Baptized 8 People

Bulgaria, Tuesday April 14th 2009

One of our missionaries was confronted: "Maria, is it true that You speak in tongues and teach the Bible? I want to learn everything from You!"

Jifka, a woman born and raised in Jakoruda, a village outside of Velingrad, believed in Jesus and had a great hunger to know more about Him. She moved into the city when she got married and now, hearing there was a group preaching the living gospel in her city and she decided to find them.

Salvation in the park

Bulgaria, Monday February 2nd 2009

The bible school students continue to impress us. Every day they are here from 8 to 12 for prayer, worship and teaching. After lunch they go with the missionaries out to house churches or witness about Jesus on their own. One day Sergej and Mehmed were on their way home from visiting some friends, when they ran into a middle aged, Muslim man in a park. The man took his Quran from his pocket and the students their Bible. From trying to convince them to become Muslims he got curious of Jesus. The guys got to lead him in a sinner's prayer and the man said that he suddenly felt light. Over and over again the students get to see that there is power in the gospel.

Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

Christmas in Bulgaria

Bulgaria, Tuesday December 30th 2008

The Bible school class December 2008

One week into the Christmas break the students have already prayed with seven people to salvation among their friends and relatives. Over the last few months the Bible school has transformed our students. They have started living their lives with Jesus and can't help talking about Him and pray for the sick now while they are home for the holidays. The Bible school class is our pride and they are the best at winning souls here at the base. Yesterday we celebrated Christmas. We had a roasted pig, loud music and many presents. Now we thank God for 2008 and are looking forward to an even better year to come!

Happy New Year from Mission SOS Balkan!

Jesus Walks the Streets in Velingrad

Bulgaria, Saturday December 6th 2008

Last week many people met Jesus in Velingrad, Bulgaria.

Vera and Elli, two lovely teenage girls, were sitting in our kitchen drinking coffee. There and then, for the first time, they prayed a simple but sincere salvation prayer. The morning after, we went to the hot springs, where the girls and a neighbor were baptized.

A woman with a cyst got a happy surprise when she realized the day after going to the doctor that Jesus had healed her the day the missionaries prayed for her. Another woman received her miracle when the pain in her hip and leg disappeared.

In the backseat on the way home from the hospital, a woman with Muslim background, prayed to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. Two other women have also been baptized this week when our bible school students have been out witnessing to people in Velingrad.
Thank you Jesus for another wonderful week!

Ellinor Byrmo
Mission SOS Balkan

Seven Saved at Soccer Field

Bulgaria, Saturday December 6th 2008

-We didn't know what to do, but we thought let's play some soccer with them!
Last Thursday the guys from the bible school went out with one single mission; to come home with a victory report.

In the morning they had taught that it is only the true, full gospel that saves and heals people. When it was time for the daily outreach they gathered a group of guys at the soccer field in a nearby village and after a tough struggle for the ball they all sat down to rest. Asen says: We just started talking and when we had told them about Jesus and salvation they understood that they also could receive Jesus. There and then they led seven guys to salvation, two of them with Muslim background.

-We thought, now we have to tell them everything about Jesus, and it worked! Next week we will get their friends! Saprin said very excited on the way home from the victory.

Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

He Saw Jesus after Surgery!

Bulgaria, Tuesday November 18th 2008

Mladen saw Jesus

Mladen, 13, fell of a high climbing frame at his school. At the hospital they could see that the hip was cracked and they also found a cyst on his hip. A couple of days later he had surgery with just local anesthetic and when he was rolled out of the OR he saw Jesus holding his leg.
-I felt Him holding my knee with his hands and in that same moment all pain disappeared. I know it was Jesus, Mladen says.
He has not had any pain since the surgery and has not been throwing up, something the doctors warned him about before.

Rosa, Mladens mother, tells us what happened:
-Immediately after rolling him out to me he opens his eyes wide, eagerly pointing to the foot of the bed shouting;
-Can you see? The Lord is holding my leg, can you see it? Look mom! Can you see it?
Then he started to pray loud, something I've never heard him do before, and he started to cry. He really saw Jesus!

Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

Bible School Student Train Disciples

Bulgaria, Friday October 24th 2008

Boris is baptized.

One of our Bible School students is already training disciples! Boris, 38, came to an outreach last week and decided to give his life to Jesus for the first time. Only a few days later Segej, a Bible school student, baptized him in the river outside of Velingrad.
- It feels great, I feel like a new person! Boris said after the baptism. Sergej, who had baptized for the first time, was just as happy himself.
- This is what I want to do!

Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

Saved and Baptized in Holy Spirit at the Kitchen Table

Bulgaria, Wednesday October 8th 2008

After a wonderful summer, with many outreaches and a lot of evangelization we have no less than 68 new believers to take care of! Therefore this past week has been all about follow up. The team has visited many people in their homes, preached baptism and baptism in the Holy Spirit, prayed for the sick and taught them the first steps in their life with Jesus.

Miglena wants to live for Jesus .

One of the highlights this week was when we were sitting at the kitchen table praying with Miglena both to salvation and baptism in the Holy Spirit.
-OH, I'm all warm on the inside... she said and laughed, after praying in tongues with us for a while. Later that night we baptized her in water. Thank you Jesus for more devoted disciples to You!

The team in Velingrad
Mission SOS Balkan

Healed from Gastric Catarrh

Bulgaria, Monday September 15th 2008

God confirmed His word and healed Velichka Ivanova, 39. For three years she had been suffering from a constant pain in her stomach because of gastric catarrh and problems with her gall bladder. She had been eating medicine and followed a strict diet as a result of it.
-But when one of my friends confronted me and said that the disease is not from God, and explained that He wants to heal me, my eyes were opened, Velichka says.

During healing prayer a couple of days later she heard an intense noise and the pain disappeared instantly.
-Now I have stopped eating all the medicine, I eat whatever I want and I have no pain anymore! A happy Velichka says.

Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

Sergej, a Future Missionary

Bulgaria, Monday September 8th 2008

The Bible school in Bulgaria is enrolling new students to equip them for a life on the front line.
Meet Sergej, who was one of the first to sign up. He has left family friends and his business behind to sit down and learn more about the power of the gospel.

Sergej and his family.

What is your name?
Sergej Michailov Petrov

Where do you come from?
I'm from Pazardjik, a city about 30 minutes from Velingrad. I recently moved to Velingrad with my wife and our daughter to go to the Bible school.

Why do you want to go to a Bible school?
I want to know the Bible, I want to learn all about it. I want to do everything the Bible says I can do. I want to follow Jesus, to live with him.

What do you want to do in the future?
I want to be a missionary. I have to. The Bible says that we should preach the gospel and I want to be one of the people doing it. People need the gospel. I want to preach all over the world, pray for the sick and baptize people. That should be my life.

Emelie Berndtsson
Mission SOS Balkan

Church of Miracles

Bulgaria, Thursday August 7th 2008

Healed from STROKE

After a two week summer break the church gathered again. About 30 people came together on the grass behind the yellow house which is the Bulgarian base. It was a relaxed gathering and traditional meat dishes and salad was on the menu. Among the people was Angel who had a STROKE in the beginning of the summer. He lost the ability to walk, breathe and eat without help. Jesus has now healed him completely and he can do all of these things.

Pepa was healed in her back.

Pepa was also there. She came limping to an outreach because of problems with a disc in her back, someone prayed for her and she was completely healed. Our Assistant Pastor, Janko Angelov was preaching on the goodness of God, and now we and the church are looking forward to a fall together with the miracle worker; Jesus Christ.

Janko preaching outside the Mission Base.

Annelie Persson
Mission SOS Balkan

Baptismal Feast in the Middle of the Village

Bulgaria, Tuesday July 29th 2008

During our outreaches in the gypsy areas the last three weeks 24 people have decided to follow Jesus. On Thursday night we had a big baptismal feast in the middle of the village. Many people gathered around the inflatable pool to see and hear what was going on. Janko Angelov, Assistant Pastor at Velingrad Signs & Wonders Church, was preaching and when these five people buried their old lives in the water you could not miss who is Lord in Velingrad!

Five people baptized in water.

Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

An Appreciated Visit

Bulgaria, Tuesday July 29th 2008

Samuel Strandberg, SOS Field Director in Ethiopia came to visit for a couple of weeks. Samuel; thank you for the encouragement and for all the people you were ministering to in house churches, on church services and on outreaches. We, together with the cafe visitors in Grashevo and the disciples of Velingrad appreciate that you took the time to visit us.

Church members and curious people passing by are listening to Samuel Strandberg, seven people received Jesus for the first time.

The Missionaries
Mission SOS Balkan

Filled with Holy Spirit

Bulgaria, Tuesday July 29th 2008

Magdalena and Elena

One of our missionaries, Maria From preached in the restaurant where about 20 of our church members were gathered to listen. When the invitation was given to be filled with the Holy Spirit 10 people came forward. We prayed for them individually and soon you could hear a noise of girls and guys starting to speak in new tongues for the first time. 15 year old Elena was one of them. Happy she hugged me over and over again and was shining with joy in a way I haven't seen before. The Holy Spirit is really the best counselor there is, in every way!

Magdalena Gustafsson
Mission SOS Balkan

Dignity of a Queen

Bulgaria, Tuesday July 29th 2008

Twenty year old Elena grew up in the mist poor parts of Velingrad. Her family of eight people was living in a house with one room. There was no electricity in the house, just a simple fireplace. For several years Elena made a living by selling her body. We met her in a parking lot two years ago. She came out of a car with a man older than her with full makeup and very little clothes and her eyes were empty. We said to each other and to God; "God, we want to see girls like her be saved."

Elena is not her real name and this photo is arranged.

Last summer she came back to Bulgaria to take care of her little daughter. She had been abroad to sell herself on the streets and she was very broken. When we came to her house she was sitting in the entrance of her mothers house crying, no one could comfort her.

Now God has transformed her life. A couple of weeks ago she received Jesus and buried her old life through water baptism and has been baptized in the Holy Spirit and fire. God has given her a good husband who was baptized a few weeks ago. They live in a simple house and in a couple of months they will have another child. Elena is not the same woman anymore. Jesus is the one who takes a dirty girl from the street and gives her the dignity of a queen!

Maria From and Lisa Edlund
Mission SOS Balkan

A week of Miracles

Bulgaria, Tuesday June 17th 2008

We thank Jesus for the week that has passed: 13 people have received Jesus as their saviour for the first time; at meetings, picnics or in their homes. One woman was healed from having a cyst in her body and being ill for a long time. After prayer she went to the doctor. The doctor said that the cyst was gone. 8 people have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and started speaking in tongues. During the week 8 people have also been baptized in hot springs or in rivers.

Sofie being baptized this week

On Tuesday night Janka came to our meeting. A couple of weeks ago she found out she had a ruptured navel. She had been in severe pain and at the hospital they said that surgery was definitely needed. We laid our hands on her and prayed in Jesus name that she would be healed. The next day when she went to the hospital to be examined, she was completely healed! All tests showed that the rupture was gone and all her pain has disappeared. The good news about Jesus continues to spread in Velingrad.

Annelie Persson and Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

The Bible School Visited the Ruins of Philippi

Bulgaria, Friday May 2nd 2008

Walking the streets of ancient Phillippi

A bus with 12 people from the Bible school in Velingrad went down through the mountains to visit Philippi and Kavala (Neapolis in the Bible). It was a big experience for many of the students who have never been outside of Bulgaria or seen their neighboring country Greece.

This became a trip that has given them a bigger perspective of the world and shown them that they are living in the middle of the area where Jesus preached his first years. The students saw the remains of Philippi and the dungeon where Paul and Silas sang worship and the shackles fell off. At the gates of the prison the whole class was praying for the salvation of Greece and to re-conquer the areas of the first church.

Saved at Bible School

Bulgaria, Tuesday April 15th 2008

Maria and Elena

When Elena filled out the applications for the Bible school she was not saved or baptized. She came to church to get help with some family problems, but just a few weeks later she was one of the students when the Bible school started. She started speaking in tongues that same night at two days later she was baptized in water. Now she comes to Bible school every week and is longing for an adventurous life with Jesus!

Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

Finally Her Husband is Baptized!

Bulgaria, Wednesday April 2nd 2008

Rosa and Giorgi

Rosa, a faithful member of our church and a Bible school student, had been praying for her husband for a long time. He believed in Jesus but was not baptized and not living his life as a disciple of Jesus. One day when they where driving around with some of the missionaries Rosa finally received answer to her prayers; her man decided to be baptized. A few days after he had buried his old life he was convinced; I want to live completely for Jesus now!

Gunnar André Lund
Mission SOS Balkan

Healed through her Daughters Faith

Bulgaria, Wednesday April 2nd 2008

The mother of a 13 year old girl had high fever for three days and had not been able to get out of bed. Determined the daughter came to our prayer meeting and eagerly asked us to come to her house and pray for her mother. The next day both mother and daughter came to our house at the base just to say that Jesus had healed her!

Maria From
Mission SOS Balkan

Salvation among Pomaks

Bulgaria, Wednesday April 2nd 2008

Fatime and her husband have met Jesus!

It is one week since Fatime received Jesus, she lives with her family in a village outside of Velingrad. Now we are back in her home. Her husband also wants what has transformed his wife. The Pomak man has been seeking God all his life in the mosque, and now he closes his eyes and prays a salvation prayer. With each sentence it's harder for him to hold the tears back. Afterwards it's only relief and light in his eyes.

Mattias and Lisa Edlund
Mission SOS Balkan

See Video: First Day of Bible School!

Bulgaria, Tuesday March 25th 2008

The second class has just started their four month long education. A clip of Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke in front of a huge crowd has just been shown. He is a good example of what God can do through a simple man following Jesus.

Walter Zuniga, Director of the Bible School, sets the direction of the education: "The world is our job!". The future heroes of the Rhodopi Mountains and Balkan are lined up with their Bibles and notebooks; one of them has been working for the Mafia, another is a notorious fighter and someone has been a prostitute. Among them is also the beggar-girl from the center of town and the former fortuneteller of the Gypsy village. The class is praying out loud and the five people who has not yet received the baptism in the Holy Spirit start speaking in tongues and are baptized in Spirit and fire, equipped to do the work.

See clip from the first day...

Annelie Persson
Bulgaria

Fifi Threw the Tarot Cards!

Bulgaria, Wednesday March 12th 2008

Fifi together with Emelie, SOS missionary in Bulgaria

Fifi has been predicting peoples futures for ten years; in coffee grounds or with Tarot Cards and been paid a lot for this. One night she came to our meeting and her life was turned around. Before the night was over she was saved, baptized, baptized in the Holy Spirit and decided to start Bible school.

When we meet her the next day she says that she read the book "Saved in the Last Days" until she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. Her eyes are shining with joy and she says: "I have felt God so close since I prayed that prayer; when I told God that I wanted Him in my life. I have thrown all my Tarot things out. I will never do that life again. Now I belong to God. Satan has no power over me anymore!"

Fifi is almost 40, we are sitting in her simple house, just one room with some furniture. The phone rings, it's costumers who wants to have their fortunes told and they offer her money, but Fifi is not interested anymore, she has a new Lord. Her husband recently died of cancer and she has no job. It's embarrassing for her to not be able serve any food, but she looks me in the eyes and says, very convinced: "I know God will help me. I have no food, but the day isn't over yet, God will fix that by tonight."

Fifi doesn't want to have anything to do with her old life. She longs for the future, to start Bible school. Her new life has just started. Jesus has really saved and transformed Fifi!

Healing Power made the Girl completely Well

Bulgaria, Saturday February 9th 2008

Healed from kidney problems.

A family in our church was concerned about their little daughter who was eating medicine for a kidney problem. When her mother came to one of our meetings she had brought one of the girls' sweaters and we prayed for it that healing power would make the girl completely well in the name of Jesus. After that the girl wore the sweater all the time and after a visit to the doctor a few days later they came to the missions base and said.
- The doctor wondered why we went to an exam, because the girl was totally well. Everyone in the family and in the church rejoiced with the girl who was healed through prayer to Jesus, our greatest doctor.

Now I really Feel Saved!

Bulgaria, Thursday February 7th 2008

The former Muslims Misha and Radka have received forgiveness of sins.
To pray with two Muslim women to salvation and baptism in the Holy Spirit on the same night, and the next day baptize them both in water is a very good start of a new year!

Misha and I have been friends for more than six months now. Her husband Vesko pulled us in from the rain a summer day last year. We became friends fast, and it didn't take long until we prayed with Vesko to salvation, but It took a little longer for Misha. She came to our meetings during the fall, and when I witnessed to her she's answered;
- There will come a time for me too, but I need some more time.

Misha and Radka baptized in water!

Finally the day came. We went to their house a Saturday night and it started with one of Veskos cousins, Radka. She had a terrible headache. I told her that I believe Jesus can and wants to heal. The night ended with Radka wanting to receive Jesus, and when I said;
- It's probably time for Misha today too, she just said;
- OK!
Misha and Radka received forgiveness of their sins and started living their new lives with Jesus.

After that I preached very simple to them about the power of the Spirit of God and speaking in tongues, and suddenly they started speaking in tongues too. Misha said;
- I have to call and cancel my appointment tomorrow, we need to be baptized tomorrow!
So, the two friends were baptized in a hot water spring. Straight after the baptism Misha said several times,
- Now we are new, now we have no more sin, now I feel really saved!

They Do the Work Themselves!

Bulgaria, Thursday December 20th 2007

We are on our way to a mother of five children who's husband is in prison, to give them some clothes from SOS Aid. On our way there, we meet Slafka together with her friends. She is 11 years old and the daughter of one of our house church leaders. Every time we meet in her home, or teach the leaders, she is there. She is one of those girls that will always show up whenever there's a Jesus-meeting. Today she is beaming and she tells us that she and her friends went up to the mountain the other day to have a picknik, and she brought her Bible... There she read the Bible for them and they sang worship songs and prayed. Then she tells us - with a bright smile - "then I preached a little for them about the Holy Spirit as well, and I laid my hands on them and prayed for them, it was she and she" and Slafka points to two of her friends. "And they speak in tongues now - that cool right?"

It is at times like this that I am so strongly reminded that it is God who does the work down here. It's not about us, Mission SOS or Walter, it's about Jesus, and His desire to transform people's lives here in the mountains of Bulgaria! We are just pipelines, channels between God and them until they start living their own lives with God - just like Slafka has. (The names are changed for security reasons).

God at Work in Muslim Village

Bulgaria, Tuesday October 30th 2007

One of our house church leader's are from Jakoroda, a Muslim village and her parents still live there. Earlier, during spring this year we met with her parents and told them about Jesus. The mother had been a believer for some time, but was not yet baptized in water. Her father did not believe in Jesus and drank quite a lot. The meeting resulted in both of them being baptized in the river and her father was delivered from his drinking problem. This is wonderful, Jesus continues to deliver and heal families!

Baptism in Muslim village

Later when we meet this family again and sit down to teach them about their new life in Jesus, a 16 year old girl steps forward and wants to know more about this Jesus. We share the beautiful gospel of how Jesus died so she can be free of her sins. Immediately the girl wants to be baptized, and we go down to the same river where we baptized earlier in the spring. The river roared as we baptized this former Muslim girl to Jesus.

Her cousin, the house church leader, tells us that she is so happy and that her father notices the difference in his daughter. And even tough he is still a Muslim, he is happy for his daughter.

The Follow Up Work in Pictures...

Bulgaria, Tuesday October 30th 2007

The follow up work in the different areas of Velingrad have gone very well. Here is some photage of the work, pictures say so much more than words...

Click here to watch the video!

Jesus Heals Allergy!

Bulgaria, Tuesday October 30th 2007

Alicia and her grandparents.

After the festival in Velingrad in April, a rumour has spread around Velingrad that Jesus heals the sick. It's not unusual that people grab a hold of us, asking for prayer when we are out in villages visting the new believers. One of them were Pepa. She came to us with her 2 year old granddaughter Alicia. Alicia had gotten an allergy chock from eating a Kiwi fruit and had red blemishes all over her body. They had just come back from the hospital were Alicia was given a shot - which made the allergy chock worse. Pepa came to us and asked us to pray for Alicia. Right there on the street, we anointed her with oil and prayed.

We continued our day, visiting new believers. After about 20 minutes Pepa is back, she is beaming and she lifts up Alicias shirt and shows us; there are no blemishes left! Jesus healed this little girl! We hugged and thanked Jesus for the miracle. Later we met Alicia's dad, who thanked us for the prayer, but we said to thank God who performed the miracle.

This is an ordinary day with Jesus!