Stats
•Population – 7,204,687
•Percentage of Evangelicals – 2%
•Total Number of People Groups – 10
•Number of Unreached People Groups – 9
•Language Spoken – Bulgarian
•Major Religion – Bulgarian Orthodox (82.6%), Muslim (12.2%)
•Human Development Rank – 56
•Persecution Index – N/A

Bulgaria has a long history starting In the 7th century when the first Bulgarian state formed when the Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants. By the end of the 14th century, the Ottoman Empire took over Bulgaria until 1908. Bulgaria then sided on the losing end of both world wars and fell under the Soviet sphere of influence after World War II. In 1946 Bulgaria became a People’s Republic. Communism ended in 1990. Bulgaria has since struggled through the process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy. For centuries, Bulgarian Orthodox Christianity was the state religion until 1946. Although there is currently religious freedom, Bulgarian Orthodox Church still maintains a lot of influence. Even though the Evangelical Christian population in Bulgaria is 2%, there is a great need for training of the church and its leaders. In addition, 9 of the 10 people groups in Bulgaria are considered unreached. (Source: CIA World Factbook, Operation World, IMB Global Research Department)

•Ask God to work in the hearts of the Eastern Orthodox Church leaders and members and draw them to the Gospel of Christ.
•Pray for our brothers and sisters in Bulgaria to stand firm in the faith and unite for the sake of the Gospel.
•Pray for God to use the Bulgarian church to minister to those in great physical and spiritual need.
•Ask God to soften the hearts of Bulgarians who have been hardened by Communism.