At the end of March (March 28-30, 2025) in the town of Banya, Karlovsko, the annual meeting of pastors’ wives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bulgaria was held. The event was special and inspiring, bringing together women dedicated to ministry and spiritual growth.
Guest speakers were Varta and Ventsislav Panayotov, responsible for the Ministerial and Shepherdess’ Departments at the Inter-European Division. They presented a series of inspiring topics dedicated to hospitality. Through their words, the participants reflected on the power of acceptance – to open our homes and hearts, to love our neighbors and to accept them as they are. With personal testimonies and Biblical principles, Varta and Ventsi emphasized how hospitality can be a way to share God’s love and win friends for Christ. Emi Staneva, the head of the Children’s Ministry at the Bulgarian SDA Union, shared that their home has always been open to others, and this is still one of the greatest blessings for their family. Many lives have been positively influenced precisely because of the gesture of hospitality.
One of the most memorable initiatives during the meeting was the prayer walk “At Home in Your Heart: Inviting Christ into Every Room.” This symbolic practice focused on the idea of accepting Christ into every corner of our lives – both literally and spiritually.
The program also included sharing, prayer, and reflection in nature, which allowed the participants to feel closer to God and to each other. The blessed Sabbath spent together left lasting impressions in the hearts of everyone.
"I came home inspired, encouraged and motivated to serve in the best way possible," shared the head of the Shepherdess’ department in Bulgaria, Galina Stanoeva.
