From: George E. Markakis
30 May 2008
Subject: News from Bulgaria and our fast growing Apostolic
Ministry
Dear
family and friends
Tuesday May 20 2008 was a historic
day; I want to share the good news so that we may all rejoice together. Yet,
that was not the only historic event in the recent weeks; so many things have
been happening that indeed we have come to see that 2008 is a year of change,
new developments and overall growth.
Following a severe challenge on my
health earlier this year, after I had overcome by faith in the power of Jesus
to heal me, He said: "Now you will see my power flow like never before"!
Indeed we are witnessing a tremendous power flow.
When His power flows changes come.
We felt a strong and confirmed leading to come out of the spiritual authority
of Alex & Sharmaine Meek in April, to stand on the apostolic authority He
has given us, and focus on the global ministry that He has commissioned us to
establish. We immediately saw new blessings flow!
One of them is that we started a
new fellowship in Yambol, Bulgaria. Let us call it for now "the Yambol
House of Prayer", until the Lord speaks to the local leaders and
confirms the name in their hearts that He wants to call it by.
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The main leader is Mima
Gotcheva (2nd from left). She is supported by Veska
Dimitrova (who has potential to be a prophet, on my right side). Bozjhana (prophetic but
primarily pastoral, 1st from left). Nela (in the center, is the teacher
type). Maria is the other person between Nela and Veska. |
The above five I consider to be
the foundational pillars. There are others already part of the prayer group
that Mima had started, which led to this new ministry. The Lord spoke to Mima
last December through a dream: He took a cloak that was on me and placed it on
Mima's back He wanted her to come under our apostolic mantel of authority and
resulting spiritual and practical support.
While the Lord was preparing Mima
for the new minisry, two ladies (Nela and Bozjhana), that had been members of
our Shalom Center in Athens, decided to relocate back to their hometown in
Bulgaria, few weeks apart from one another. They both came from, and back to,
the same town as Mima, without being related with her from before! I was the
connecting link between them.
Bozjhana had the confirmation of
the Lord that this was the main reason that she had come to Athens for a year,
but now needed to return to Yambol for i.e. to help build this new fellowship
as co-leader in the likeness and spirit of Shalom Center in Athens. She
committed to dedicate all her time to do the work of God (while at the same
time helping her daughter at home with homework and child rearing). She
understands that this new ministry is what the Lord is calling her to do in
this season of her life.
Nela has the same strong desire,
and with agreement and encouragement of her husband, she is now part of the
co-founders of this new ministry.
Mima, Veska, Bozjhana and Nela
attended the teaching & practice meetings at the Plovdiv House of Prayer
(which we inaugurated 2 months ago-photo below). We then had several hours of
meetings on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 May 2008.
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In the presence, participation and
contribution of Pastor Angel Peltekov from Plovdiv, I presented to them the
Apostolic Vision which the Lord has shown me about the starting of Houses of
Prayer (more follows later in this letter). Mima and Veska presented their
confirmations as well as fears, insecurities and reservations. Bozjhana
presented her many confirmations and commitment. Nela confirmed with her firm
desire and decision to follow. Angel confirmed through the understanding of
timing which the Lord revealed to him following my presentation.
We therefore agreed to start the
ministry under the apostolic mantel of our "Christian Development &
Revival Ministries", with Mima as the responsible leader, and the
co-leadership and co-responsibility of Pastor Angel Peltekov from Plovdiv.
-- More recent news in brief from Bulgaria --
In Plovdiv I continued the
equipping for the House of Prayer, with teaching and sharing with Angel's
leaders and others. We heard wonderful testimonies of the Lord's goodness in
operation, after people had started ministering to the Lord in the House of
Prayer. Angel and I also ministered in 2 other churches during my stay in Bulgaria.
We went to the church (of Martin and Vessi) in Triavna photo below. We were invited to go
again when possible. Triavna is a beautiful place!
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We also ministered in Irechekovo,
at the church of Nela's husband, Doncho. The Lord touched several people with
amazing healing power some people were instantly healed of problems they had
suffered for years 15 years in one case; 7 or 8 years in another. About 10
were baptised in the Holy Spirit photos below.
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Need to rent a physical House of Prayer in Yambol
The
"Lydia Prayer Office" from where Mima has operated till now is a 2x5
m. (6x15 ft) small room that can sit no more than 7-8 people max 10 if
squeezed! I instructed the new group to start looking for a new place to rent,
which has enough space for meetings with freedom to dance and move about. It
would also be good if it has an office room and at least one room to be used
for sleep.
Finances needed for the missions now also in Yambol
Pastor
Angel and I will supply the financial support for the group to rent the place
that will become the Yambol House of Prayer, trusting in God that He will
provide all the needed finances for this immediate and strategic need.
Till
now we have been supporting financially the Rodopi missions and missionaries
and overall the ministry in Bulgaria. Now we have the added burden of the newly
born Yambol ministry, which the Lord has placed under our care. We pray that
the Lord will raise up more people to
support this apostolic ministry.
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Giunai (wife Boriana not in photo) Vasil & Zlatka These are the 2 families that we support financially on
monthly basis for the missionary work in Djebel, Rodopi (photo from the House of Prayer in Plovdiv on May 24, 2008) |
Partnership for the "C.D.R.M." Apostolic Vision and Mission
Since
I founded the "Christian Development & Revival Ministries" in
June 2000 I have never done fund-raising, or, used other methods for the
financing of the ministry, other than trusting in the Lord for His provision.
At one time He told me: "to the degree you will trust Me, to that
degree you shall see my Glory".
He
meant that for the finances and all the other aspects of ministry, such as with
which people of His choice to work with. However, I recently felt in my heart
His leading to make known the vision and mission to the people we are connected
with. I felt that He wants to use the sharing of the work to speak to the
hearts of certain people; to motivate them to share in this ministry
through financial support with special emphasis on the missions to the
Rodopi mountain.
Presentation
of the Apostolic Vision and Mission
On Mon. 19 May I presented to the
leaders of the Yambol House of Prayer what the Lord laid in my heart, in the
presence and assistance of Pastor Angel Peltekov.
The
recording of the 2½ hours of presentation of the Apostolic Vision is available
in MP3 audio CD for anyone who wants it and would ask for it
Here below short version of key
points & updating on our apostolic ministry
The
task the Lord gave me for His Kingdom in Bulgaria (and beyond):
To establish centers for the
Gospel in the big cities around Bulgaria, which are more than just churches. We
need ministry centers to make available to the people the Kingdom resources
that will lead the Church to the next level. The Lord called me to establish
Houses of Prayer, of the kind of the "Tent of David" on Mount Zion,
which would make available to the people, first of all, the Living Voice of the
Lord, and then His Power (which is absent from most churches).
There is a cause
Ref. 1 Sam 17:29 And David said, "What have I done now? Is there
not a cause?"
There is a need for the
children of God to grow up. Most of today's church in Bulgaria is like social
or Night Clubs, hospitals, or, primary schools, but God called His Body to
become an Army and a Royal Priesthood. The Church in Bulgaria has perverted the
call and the Anointing of the Lord that He gave her for His Glory.
The cause is to stop playing
games that look like church, and to start fighting the enemy, storming the
gates of Hades to set the prisoners free, turning those who are perishing to
Jesus; to come out of the infancy and childhood and become an army of the Lord
and the priesthood of our High Priest Jesus Christ.
There is a cause I am saying
"follow me" to serve that cause:
I am
here to build a "Zadok priesthood"; to build "Tents of
David"; to build a "Royal Priesthood"; to build an Army for the
Lord; to tear down Goliath the local territorial strongman in every place
where Jesus sends me; to build a group of people that will know the Lord in a
very intimate way and personal relationship.
We
are not called at this time to evangelism and the harvest. We do that too, but for
this season we are primarily called to prepare the Lord's Army and Priesthood.
We want to build ministries and people who are hiding from the world, hiding
from the lukewarm and compromised churches, hiding in their caves...
Those
are caves of worship, of intimate relationship with the Lord, of priestly duty
before the King of Kings what duty? Of intercession, of worship, of ministry
onto the Lord in every form and shape, building the spiritual temple of the
Lord which Jesus called the "secret place", the "inner
room" of our homes and churches.
That
means: offer our ministry to God as before the Holy of Holies, from where the
Light of the world shines out into the world. Through our ministry to the Lord
in the secret places, the Light emanates outwards, to the world the Light is
Jesus Christ. As we minister to God, the people can see Jesus and turn to Him.
The nature of the ministry relationship that leads to fellowship
On a
corporate setting, the House of Prayer is the concept of the fellowship of the
saints, where the Holy Spirit uses the gifts of each one for the edification of
every one, and all together come into fellowship & minister to the Lord.
It is
the Fellowship of the Saints in the
Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, where the dwelling Presence of God
manifests (in that environment people become transformed by the power of God
through the revelation of Jesus Christ).
So,
it is a relationship based, family
oriented, army training, worshipping priesthood that keeps the
duty of the Lord that is the vision!
The Scripture-banner of our Ministry
Isa 56:7 Even
them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of
prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My
altar; for My house shall be called a House of Prayer for all Nations.
The mission is not to build
churches as we know them today
but to establish Houses of
Prayer, worship and ministry on to the Lord
Churches
may be born through the Houses of Prayer which we are called to establish; the
same thing happened with the Shalom Center in Athens the Church of the Holy
Spirit was born through the House of Prayer.
However,
those churches will not be like the typical churches, but they will have the
core substance and nature of what a real church ought to be: based on personal relationship and contribution of the gifts of each member,
rather than organization, outward form and appearance, or, religious
formalities.
Angel Peltekov's co-leadership in the Apostolic Ministry
Pastor
Angel Peltekov (a growing Apostle) and I have been united by the Lord for this
common cause; to do this ministry in Bulgaria (and beyond?).
Angel
is fast developing into a national leader, one of the younger fathers in the
Church in Bulgaria. He is called to bring truth to the local churches, with
pastoral love, leading other pastors to come back to the right path. He is
already active in the corporate setting, with initiative and leadership for
regional and national intercession.
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Pastor
Angel (photos above) is not called to do it with prophetic sharpness that comes
to rebuke and correct by exposing sin, but through a fatherly pastoral loving
invitation and gentle teaching to shape the Church as God wants.
The
Lord has given to Angel and me similar visions: to bring the love of Jesus to
the (now predominantly Muslim) Rodopi mountains through missions, missionaries
living there and spiritual warfare; to establish Houses of Prayer all over
Bulgaria; to build a network of prayer and intercession for the country.
He
has received the "spirit of Zion" and the "Kingly
Anointing" which I carried (by the Lord's initiative) to him and his
church. It was recently put upon him as a mantle. Now Angel has risen to higher
levels of authority; he has risen to a higher place of authority than the
(demonic, territorial) "ruler of Plovdiv".
Angel
will soon be recognized as an elder of the city and the region. He is now
becoming prepared to lead the army of the Lord for a major breakthrough. At
this time he entered a new long-term season in his life and ministry, whereby
the work expands beyond his church and House of Prayer, and the focus turns to
the spreading of the vision of the Houses of Prayer in other places too. That
is the strategic timing that we have come to Yambol for this specific
breakthrough of this new ministry birth. Angel will be visiting regularly
Yambol to help the group grow.
I
have the testimony in my spirit, that, in Sept 2002 was the first stage, and
now we are moving into the next stage. This is the next level up that is why
now Yambol is opening up, for which the Lord had spoken already from before.
More confirmation came from Bozjhana, who received a word from the Lord about
her coming to Yambol for that ministry. That bears witness to what we have
known.
Lori Garcia's practical co-leadership & strategic partnership
After
about 2 years of close cooperation with us, mainly through the Bible School
(which she brought to birth, is developing and directs) Lori (US missionary)
has decided to fully join the "Christian Development and Revival
Ministries".
We
have understood that this is the call of the Lord, for us to work together and
co-lead this ministry "ship", which is growing and expanding very
fast.
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Lori
until now was the Director of our Shalom Ministry Equipping Center.
She
is now also the Operations Manager of the CDRM. As much as this was a
much needed addition for us to be able to carry out the calling of the Lord,
it is also a good operational basis for Lori's own organization
"K.I.D.S.", which now has the added power and resources of CDRM to
accomplish her own calling of the Lord. |
Lori's "KIDS" vision and mission have
now also become ours! We want to see the
"KIDS" ministry touch many lives and even transform the Church!
Lori
has already been working with Pastor Angel's church in Plovdiv. While Angel and
I were ministering in Triavna on May 18, Lori was ministering to Angel's church
in Plovdiv. The people were greatly blessed by her ministry, which we have
known to be impactful and with power to transform lives and ministries.
As
Lori and I have committed to help Angel and his church grow, we shall continue
to do so with each local group that the Lord connects with us, or, gives birth
to through us. Lori will now have to work with the new group in Yambol to help
them lay the right Biblical foundations, as she has been doing at Shalom Center
Athens.
While
talking with people in Bulgaria, I realized how impactful and helpful is the
material that we have been producing at the "Shalom Ministry Equipping
Center" in Athens. Elenka has been working hard by Lori's side translating
the material into Bulgarian that has proven to be a strategic move that is
already blessing people in far places. Nela is using that material to teach the
church in Irechekovo (where we also ministered while in Bulgaria)!
Elenka Atanasova's ministry
Elenka, from Bulgaria, has been with Shalom House
of Prayer almost from the start. She then started working with CDRM. She has
been a person for every job, and the reliable "homemaker" for the
Shalom building, which has earned her the right to be a Deacon(ness).
She then became the office person that
facilitated the start of the Bible School, under the leadership of Lori Garcia;
she is now the Administrative Assistant of Shalom Ministry Equipping Center,
working with Lori.
She has been a connecting factor and the main
leader of the Bulgarian section of Shalom Center which eventually grew to be
the main section of the ministry. That was apparently due to the Lord's calling
for us to work for Bulgaria, but Elenka played a very significant and practical
role to make it happen.
The Lord is preparing Elenka to operate as a
Prophet; in the Lord's timing I am prepared to ordain her in the Office of the
Prophet, which is a very serious position and ministry (that is why it takes
even longer than for other positions). Meantime, Elenka has a lot of practical
work to do, both for Shalom in Athens, and for the Houses of Prayer in
Bulgaria. I have seen the need for her to come and spend several days both at
Plovdiv and now in Yambol, helping the people who come to minister to the Lord,
to learn what to do and how to do it.
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I have also felt the need for her to travel with
me and operate in her prophetic gifting, thus supporting and complementing my
apostolic ministry. She is also an excellent worship leader. Even though she is
not trained to a high level of formal musical education, the Lord's anointing
has led her to a place where her prophetic worship can release open heaven and
lead people into God's Presence.
I would like to have her with me to prepare the atmosphere
of the meetings through her worship and prophetic release. Naturally, all that
requires financial capacity, which makes me ask for more finances from the
Lord, especially as we are growing very fast into a larger Apostolic ministry,
and we are being formed into an Apostolic group of leaders and ministers of the
Gospel.
The
Word of God separates the 2 kinds of Church & Ministry
Malachi 3:15
(NKJV) So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are raised
up; They even tempt God and go free.' "16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord
listened and heard [them]; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For
those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name. 17 "They shall be
Mine," says the Lord of hosts, "On the day that I make them My
jewels.
And I
will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." 18 Then you
shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.
Who
are those who are 'raised up' & succeed? Some churches that have become
Night Clubs, and, ministries that have become social clubs, which, have
compromised the message of the Gospel for the sake of alluring large numbers of
people in, seeking power in the size and wealth for earthly glory.
The
other kind of church and ministry are the people who fear the Lord, and are
dedicated to serving Him. God is gathering the people who fear Him, and who are
willing to serve Him; those who are truly righteous, who are not proud, who
meditate on His Name, who do not do wickedness, to be ministers onto Him!
The
way to understand it is through Ezekiel 44, where the difference is shown
between 2 kinds of priests: the Zadok priests who have kept the duty of the
Lord, and who are allowed to minister to the Lord. Then there are the others,
who have feared the people and compromised. They shall not be allowed to go
near to minister to the Lord (but they will only be allowed to minister to the
people).
"Shalom Ministry Equipping Center", Athens, Hellas
Photo from last Tuesday's evening Special Bible Study for
Pastors-Leaders
Shalom! George (founder of CDRM & Shalom
Center) www.cdrm.org