With the arrival of five missionaries in 1993, tracts were translated and
distributed. Bible information classes began. A Christian Information Center(CIC)
was opened in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
One year later the first worship service was held. Sunday school classes and
humanitarian aid work were begun. The church was registered in 1994 with the
Bulgarian government.
In 1996 the Lutheran Bible Institute and Seminary of Bulgaria were opened.
During the years 1997-1998 the work spread to four areas in the city of Sofia:
Lozenetz, Boyana, Mladost, and Lulllin.
In 1999 a CIC was opened in the city of Varna located on the Black Sea. The
first Bulgarian pastor and his deaconess wife were ordained in 2000 and assigned
to work in Vidin on the Danube River.
From 2001 to 2003 there was a gradual reduction of staff until in 2004 the
WELS budget shortfall resulted in the recall of all American missionaries from
Bulgaria, thus making the Bulgarian Lutheran Church an independent national
church.
In 2004 two national pastors were graduated from the seminary and ordained,
one to serve the Lulllin congregation and the other to serve in Mladost.
Since February 2005 a friendly counselor has served the BLC in an advisory
capacity. He also continues the worker training program. Under his training one
seminarian has graduated and been assigned to serve the congregation in Lozenetz.
A vicar serves the congregation in Varna.
