DEDICATION of Our New Church Building

May 9, 2004

Dear Friends, We have not written anything for a long time, but the reason for this was that we were extremely busy. As you know in January our contract for the old school was canceled and we had to leave it. Thank you to all of you who responded to our need. With your help we were able to fulfill our goal and on 9th of May we had the dedication ceremony of our new church building. In the last few months we were able to finish the floor with its thermo insulation and tiles, the fireplace and warming system of the church, and all the painting of the walls. In addition to this we thank God for the possibility to buy 80 new chairs. All of this was impossible without the help of God, you, and our faithful brothers here.

Following are some pictures from our dedication service. All the church was full with members, guests and neighbors. From the first service we experienced Mark 2:2:

2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, no, not even about the door: and he spoke the word unto them.

OFFICIAL GUESTS

Our official guests were Pastor Victor Virchev, the president of Pentecostal Assemblies of Bulgaria and pastor Stoyan Zhelev, founder of our church and currently pastor of the church in Aytos.

The message of pastor Zhelev was based upon text from 2 Chronicles 7:12-16:

12 And Jehovah appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and hallowed this house, that my name may be there for ever; and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.

PROPER DEDICATION

The proper dedication was with confession and prayer. We dedicated this building:

• to the Glory of God, our Father, from whom comes every good and perfect gift;
• to the honor of Jesus Christ, Son of God, and our Lord and Saviour;
• for the worship of God in praise and prayer; for the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the observance of the holy ordinances commanded by Him;
• for the comfort of those who are in sorrow; for the strengthening of those who are weak; for the encouragement of those who are in the throes of trials or temptations;
• for the teaching of the eternal truths of God's Word; for the shaping of our lives to conform to the image of God's Son;
• for the salvation of the lost who shall come to this house;
• in loving memory of all who, with heart and hand, have served this church; with deep gratitude to those whose gifts and ministries have made this present construction possible;
• in remembrance of those who have finished their course, and with prayer in faith for those who shall worship and minister in this place in days to come;
• for the promotion of righteousness and for the extension of the kingdom of God.

GOD IS LOVE

This weaver hand-made banner was gift to the church from the church in Zheravna. On it is written "Bog e lubov" which means "God is love". The wish was according to the banner: Love each other us God has loved us!

We thank God for the possibility He has given us to built for our generation and for the next generations building in which church of God could gather together and worship her God. And let all the glory for this be unto God. As it is said in Psalm 115:1: