Summer has come and gone and for once in my life I can say that I am ready and excited for the fall to be here. Why? Because I am excited about what God is going to do this next year here at the Christian Baptist Church in Sofia, Bulgaria. We have spent much time this summer, praying over and planning programs that will help us reach out into the community and bring more people to Christ.

One of the programs that we starting, in partnership with MANNA, is an after school program at our church. We have offered parents in our community free care for thier 1st - 4th grade children after they finish school at noon. We will feed them a hot lunch, help them complete their homework, teach them a Bible lesson and songs, offer English and computer lessons and then just supervise them as they play until their parents pick them up. You might be thinking, "Well is there a catch to this program?" Yes there is, because nothing is really free in life. In order for their children to come to the program for free they must attend church at least once a month with their children because they will put on a program at the church. We have already had one meeting with the parents and not one of them had a problem with coming to church. Please pray that we will see these parents and their children come to know Christ as their Savior and then become productive members of our church.

Janelle and I will also have the opportunity to lead a Bible study in our church with a handicap club that meets once a week. We will have the pleasure of being able to minister to around 40 or 50 people a week through this Bible study on the book of John. Please pray that we will see many people come to know the Lord through this opportunity.

Our AWANA program will be starting up on September 10 so please pray that it goes well. I was at the school where we run the program last week and several students came up to me and said they were looking forward to being part of it this year.

Blessings,
Steve Swann