BULGARIA
BREAK , BREAD NOT BOARDS
2
A
nton was fascinated by the martial arts. Karate, judo, kung fu, kickboxing—he loved them all. He became so skilled, he was selected to study in the prestigious Bulgarian National Sports Academy, where he started a sports club and competed in scores of tournaments. Anton was pleased with his hard-won success, but he felt that something important was missing in his life. One day, he discovered what that something was when he learned about Christ. He fell in love with Jesus and became a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church family. 1
10
Anton was a changed man. He had never felt happier—or more unsettled. The tournaments he had once relished not only created a conflict with Sabbath keeping but also generated an internal sense of aggression that he found incompatible with his new life. But what was he to do? Martial arts competitions were the only way he knew how to make a living. It was during this time of Anton's struggle that God answered a special prayer for a group of his Adventist friends, including a businessman named Chris and his wife, Gabriela. They had been praying for two years, asking God to show them how to reach their city of Ruse for Jesus. They had never heard of Urban Centers of Influence, as advocated by Ellen White, yet they felt impressed to start such a center in one of their rental properties. Chris and Gabriela wondered what services they could offer to meet people’s needs and form friendships with them. As they evaluated their community and the resources God had given them, they discovered some amazing possibilities. Their pastor was a psychotherapist who was willing to conduct weekly seminars. A church member was a masterful seamstress. Community members wanted to volunteer their talents to teach classes in fitness, English, and German. Gabriela could create
