Meet the Team

Arielle arrived at the end of September 2022 and is serving as an 11-month intern with the team. She assists in English language ministry and teaching at Sofia Christian Academy, and is involved with the youth ministry at First Evangelical Church in Sofia. She is also currently learning Bulgarian to aid in relationship-building with locals.

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.

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.

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.

Lydia will be serving in Bulgaria as a 9-month intern starting October 2023. She will be caring for some of the missionary families' children, teaching at Sofia Christian Academy, and will be pursuing one-on-one friendships with locals through English Clubs and community contacts.

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.

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.

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 hopes to be involved in community outreach to moms when the pandemic restrictions ease. 

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 on the steering committee of Daughters of Bulgaria.

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.

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.

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.

Does it seem like God is calling you to Bulgaria? Our team has an open seat! Click the button to see some of our specific needs.