By Amy Postlewaite, IM missionary to Bulgaria
April 2026
“I want my child to learn more about God and Christian values. Do you have any ideas of something that could help with that?”
A lady named Galya brought up this topic in a conversation with her coworker Vesela, a believer who goes to our church in Pleven, Bulgaria. Vesela suggested that she visit the “Good News Club” that I (Amy) was leading for kids every Saturday in our home, which was right across the street from Galya’s house.
When Vesela mentioned that it was a Protestant/ Free Will Baptist church, Galya didn’t react with hesitance and suspicion, as many Bulgarians might have. It made her remember a group of believers (including the granddaughter-in-law of former IM missionary June Hersey) who had shown much kindness to her when she had worked for a summer in Gatlinburg, TN, as a college student. Galya made plans to take her child to the children’s group and see what it was all about!
Galya and her son started joining us for the “Good News Club” and for small group Bible studies every week, growing in their understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. There was initially much opposition from her family to their coming to church services. She prayed that God would make a way for this to happen. Following advice from us and from the Bible, Galya started being intentional about showing respect in her relationships with her family. This made a huge impression on them, and their attitude about the church changed from opposition to support!
Now the Lord is using Galya and her gifts and talents to serve our church and community in many ways. She loves talking about her faith with her friends and coworkers, and she does an amazing job greeting and getting to know the new people who visit church gatherings. We have lost count of how many children have come to church and heard the good news because Galya’s son invited them.
God used a ministry to international students in the U.S., the friendship of a coworker, and a neighborhood Bible club to help Galya learn more about His love for her. He used our church, which was planted by IM workers, to give her a place to grow in her faith. Now he is using her to share the good news of Jesus with many who still need to know Him.
