From Ditch to Church: Bringing Hope to Bogdanci
Tim, an Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) global worker in Macedonia, was committed to establishing a church in Bogdanci, a town near the Greek border. The town had no Assemblies of God presence and was fertile ground for the gospel. But there was a challenge: Bogdanci was a staunch Eastern Orthodox village, and the mayor would not grant permission.
“She didn’t want anything to do with us,” Tim recalls.
When a missions team from Mississippi arrived for a week of service, Tim knew they had to connect with the local community in a meaningful way.
Along with a pastor from a nearby town, Tim visited the mayor and asked, “What is the greatest need in your village, and how can we help?”
Her answer surprised them.
“There is a retention ditch filled with muck, mire, and trash that overflows during heavy rains," she said. "It destroys croplands, businesses, and homes, and we don’t have the resources to clean it. Is this something you can help with?”
Tim said, “Yes.”
For the next week, the team worked tirelessly — pulling weeds, cutting grass, renting a backhoe, and clearing trash from the canal. They sang joyfully as they worked, their hope shining brightly.
Bladge, a local farmer, noticed their efforts and wanted to understand why they were there. Each day, he invited the team to his hut for a cup of Turkish coffee. Over daily conversations, Tim and the team shared the hope they had in Jesus.
Bladge responded,“Hope? There is no hope. There’s no hope for my life, my family, or my community. Hope is dead.”
By the end of the week, a community celebration was held to honor the mayor and the mission team’s accomplishments. The mayor spoke about the difference the cleanup had made and expressed her gratitude. Then she invited community members to share their thoughts.
Bladge stood and said, “Before this team arrived, I didn’t believe in hope. I thought it was dead. But because of what I’ve seen and heard, I now believe that hope is found in Jesus Christ.”
The transformation was evident. Because of the team’s compassionate service, the mayor allowed Bibles to be placed in the House of Culture, and she opened the door for a Spirit-filled church to be established in Bogdanci.
Pastor Zoran Kolev began renting a building and hosting prayer meetings. These gatherings became the foundation for the church’s growth. With AGWM’s support, the church recently purchased property. The next phase involves fundraising and preparing for construction of a permanent building.
Not only did Bladge find hope, but he has also begun attending the Spirit-filled church in Bogdanci. Through the compassionate “yes” of a missions team and AGWM global workers, God radically transformed his life and revealed eternal hope to him.