January 11 - From Kid-free to Kid-friendly

There were no kids
in the Sofia West church in Bulgaria.

Fast forward five years

and children enter a whole new world
with arts and crafts.

Sofia is Bulgaria’s capital and largest city.

It’s a modern and dynamic place
with more than a million people.

Here you find relaxing parks,

convenient trams,
and exquisite architecture.

Unlike most of the buildings in Sofia,

this structure looks plain
on the outside.

But in a small rented place inside,
it looks completely different.

Lyubka, a member of Sofia West church,

has dedicated her time
to reaching out to these kids.

Together with volunteers from the church,

she meets the children
at least twice a month.

Aside from the crafts,

they also teach the children
about life, family, education and health.

(Lyubka Dimitrova, Sofia West Church)
"We teach them good values,

and they enjoy a lot in our activities.

I think that in order to introduce Jesus,
we should also have hearts like children."

Georgi Angelov - Sofia West Church
"The main idea is to be able

to reach people,
especially to their social needs.

Not directly in terms of faith
and religious ideas,

but rather, interacting with children,
solving family problems,

teaching them
about the importance of health,

building connections
and establishing relationships."

(narrator) The project
was aptly named "Create Future."

A place where the church
can foster children and young adults

to be future leaders,

but that doesn’t mean that the activities
are only for young boys and girls.

"Create Future aims to attract kids
and form a Bible group.

But the kids are so happy

that they get their parents interested
in what we are doing.

We can’t turn the parents away
and say that this is just for kids,

so we work with the parents as well."

(female narrator) Everyone works together
to do something meaningful

and the masterpieces are sold
to raise funds to help those in need.

"Create Future" is
teaching people to be selfless

and to serve their neighbours.

(Georgi Angelov) "Through create future,
we can show the society,

our neighbours, the people around us,
that we care for them,

that our faith in Jesus
is inspiring us to love everyone.

Through actions, rather than empty words,
we can bring people to Jesus."

(female #1 - narrator)
Through the activities,

"Create Future" participants
grow closer to each other.

Lyubka feels like a mother
to the children,

they are like her family.

I sincerely ask God to be with us
because I am convinced

that what God can do is a lot more
than what merely humans can do.

(female #1 - Narrator) The church
that started without kids

now has 20 attending regularly.

And through them more people,
both young and old are invited.

Your 13th Sabbath offering

will help build a children’s center
and worship hall in Ljulin, Sofia.

The new facility will allow this church
to reach out to more people.

Let’s pray for our friends in Sofia

as they establish meaningful
relationships with their community.

And thanks for your support
of the 13th Sabbath Offering.