A MULTICULTURAL MISSION FIELD IN EASTERN EUROPE

Sofia, Bulgaria

The Well Internship

The Well is a 2 month mentored internship in Sofia, Bulgaria that is open to young adults, between the ages of 20 and 30 years old. Spend time in a cross cultural team learning about a wide range of ministries from church planting to university ministries. Grow in faith and begin to discern God’s call in your life for ministry.

Sofia Christian Academy

Join our team and teach at Sofia Christian Academy, an MK school that serves as a traditional school (K-12) and a home-school cooperative for multiple missions organizations throughout Bulgaria. A college degree is preferred, but an education major is not necessary. Come for a semester, or join the team long term! If you have a passion for teaching and shaping lives,

English Language Outreach

Help facilitate weekly English language classes and outreaches. These events serve as relational platforms that focus on young adults and professionals. EFL (English as a Foreign Language) is an effective outreach tool as it puts non-Bulgarian speakers in immediate contact with nationals who are very open to relationships.

Mentored Internships 1-11 Months

Join the MTW team in Bulgaria, for a mentored internship up to 11 months. Interns ages 20 to 30 will be working alongside career missionaries in a variety of ministries depending on the needs of the team and the gifts and interests of the intern, all while experiencing day-to-day life as a missionary.

Administrator

MTW’s team in Bulgaria has an immediate need for someone gifted in administrative skills to join the team. Maintaining the administrative aspects of the team’s ministry is an invaluable asset to their work on the mission field. This role encompasses coordinating and organizing team activities, planning trips, assisting the publishing ministry, helping new team members as they move to Bulgaria, and providing support for the team leader.

Bulgaria Mentored Internships

Meet the Team

  • Dave moved to Sofia in 2006 after serving as a family doctor in the US for a number of years. He currently serves as our team leader and is involved in supporting church planting, medical and evangelistic ministries, and directs The Well, our team’s summer internship.

  • Trevin, Ruthie, and Kids

    The Hoots arrived in Sofia as long-term missionaries in March 2019, although both served as interns here before their marriage. Trevin is working with the development of leaders in our church plant, New Life Church, and hopes to help plant more reformed and covenantal churches in Sofia. Ruthie recently took on the role of language coach for the team, where she assists all of the Bulgarian learners in how to more effectively learn language. She is also looking for ways to be involved in community outreach to moms. 

  • James served as a summer intern in 2022 and returned in May 2023 as an 11-month intern. He serves in an administrative/organizational role within the team in addition to sports ministry where he’ll look to build relationships with locals through soccer.

  • Jacob, Suzanne, and Kids

    After a short term trip to Bulgaria in 2013, God brought Jacob and Suzanne and their daughters back to serve with the team in October 2021. After a few years of language and culture learning, God opened the door for them to move to Ruse, where they are partners with a church planter. They seek to support the church plant’s vision for supporting and encouraging families in their spiritual walk with the Lord.

  • Taylor, Katherine, and Son

    Taylor and Katherine both served in Sofia as singles, Katherine for 7 years and Taylor for 2. After completing degrees in theology (Taylor) and counseling (Katherine) they returned to Sofia in May of 2023 to work in church planting and helping equip the church to care for people who have been oppressed through being trafficked.

  • Vladimir, Poli, and Kids

    Vlado has served with our team since the fall of 2007. He is on New Life Church leadership and works with our short term teams and internships as well as maintaining an administrative role. Poli is also involved in New Life Church and serves as the chairman of the board of Spring of Hope, an outreach ministry targeted to reach victims of sex trafficking.

  • Zach, Joy, and Kids

    After participating in our summer internship, the Well, in 2017, God brought the Sales back to Sofia in July 2020 to serve as long-term missionaries. While they currently are working on learning Bulgarian, Zach hopes to work with university students, The Well internship, and meet people through involvement in sports. Joy is focusing on raising their three, soon to be four, children and enjoying being involved with women and children in our church plant and in the community.

  • Lydia has been serving in Sofia since December 2010. She helps run a school for the children of missionaries from several missions orginizations, is a part of the planning team and women's, children's and worship ministries of New Life (our church plant), and co-leads our English ministry.

  • Boyan, Fani, and Kids

    Boyan has served with our team since 2011. He is the main coordinator for our publishing house and is involved in selecting texts, overseeing translation, publishing, and distributing Christian texts—both on theology and on Christian living. Fani teaches at Sofia Christian Academy. Boyan and Fani are both highly involved in New Life Church.

  • Lizzy has served in Sofia since November 2014. She co-leads the English Language ministry with Lydia Goeglein. Lizzy also assists with the music and women’s ministry at New Life Church and is involved in mentoring interns during the Well, our team’s summer internship program.

  • Jacob arrived in Bulgaria from Tennessee in December of 2024. He has a strong desire to serve in student ministry. He will be leading weekly events with university students as well as seeking to build relationships and spend time with them. He will also be participating in the English Language ministry.

SOPHIA, BULGARIA

The 20th Century was one of many changes—Ottoman rule, a monarchy, communism, and the modern republic. Since the beginning of the 21st Century, Bulgaria has become one of the most rapidly developing countries in Eastern Europe. It is a place where people believe in the spiritual, have a heritage of being a Christian country, yet are pulled toward the more materialistic culture of the West.

The false promise of happiness and peace found in a good job, a better car, or a nicer house is exposed as empty hope. There is a deep craving for real connection and deep friendships, and this is where we see opportunity to share the gospel. We see a growing longing for discipleship within the church and a desire for some kind of lasting hope from those far from the church. Our team, currently working in the capital city of Sofia and also the northern city of Ruse, seeks to serve the Lord by developing relationships in order to share Jesus with those who need encouragement and those who need eternal life.