"Barnabas" projects
At the end of this week, our interns in the “Barnabas” program officially complete their training. Over the past few months, each of them worked on a project - something that reflects both their personal spiritual growth and their desire to serve others. Here is what they worked on:
Yoana from Plovdiv was inspired by the theme of prayer. In early May, she organized a prayer night featuring themed prayer stations based on the Psalms of David. The stations included topics such as Praise, Repentance, Thanksgiving, Help, and Despair/Encouragement. Each station offered a passage from Scripture and a practical activity that allowed participants to respond and engage with the theme.
Ivan Penev from Varna focused his project on business and career development. His vision was to organize one or two seminars that would be educational and inspiring—helping participants gain a broader view of the world, build confidence, and form relationships through which God might work.
Teodor Vinaliev from Varna organized a two-day event. On May 9, a movie night took place featuring The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, followed by a discussion exploring Christian themes in the story. The next day was dedicated to board games, designed to create space for fellowship and deepen relationships in an informal, joyful setting.
Kris Georgiev from Varna is developing a technical project—a mobile app for BCSU. Its goal is to streamline communication, support event organization, and strengthen student group connections. The interface has already been built, and work continues on its features, with the goal of launching the app at the start of the new academic year.
Gabriel Georgiev from Varna is writing a book on building deeper interpersonal relationships. The book explores how to include and communicate with those who find social connection more challenging and encourages creating inclusive and supportive environments.
Renieta Pashova from Veliko Tarnovo led a craft Bible study centered on identity in Christ. The study began with the parable of the prodigal son and explored verses revealing how God sees us. Participants selected relevant Bible verses and creatively expressed them through painted bookmarks or drawings, resulting in both meaningful conversation and personal reminders of their identity in Christ.
Emanuela Mancheva from Sofia organized an evangelistic picnic that included various activity stations. From board games to crafting with beads, the event created opportunities for students to relax, connect with friends, invite others, eat, and play sports together.
Elitsa Goranova from Sofia is preparing a live podcast project titled “The Heart of Worship.” Its aim is to highlight that worship is not just musical expression, but a lifestyle given to all of God’s children—not just the musically inclined. Although the event is scheduled for the beginning of the next academic year, Elitsa has already begun organizing speakers and envisions the podcast as a discussion space open to questions and interaction.
Sara Tasheva from Sofia organized an event titled “Evening of Prayer.” Motivated by her personal journey with prayer, she sought to challenge herself and others to rediscover its significance. The evening included biblical references, reflective questions, and discussions that helped participants explore a deeper understanding of prayer.
Katrin Petkova from Sofia created Bible study prep materials for the letters to the Colossians and Philemon. Her resource includes contextual background, summaries, theme suggestions, and discussion questions to support students who lead studies. Her hope is that this tool will serve future students and contribute to a richer understanding of God’s Word.
We are grateful for the creativity, commitment, and ideas each intern brought to their project. These initiatives reflect a true heart for ministry and a desire to build meaningful relationships through which God continues to work among students in Bulgaria.
