Missionaries Bulgaria Tim and Lydia Awtrey Biography

PRESENT MINISTRY
The Awtreys are pioneering a Free Will Baptist Church Planting Movement in Bulgaria. The first phase of the work includes establishing a healthy Free Will Baptist church in Svishtov to serve as a model for future church plants throughout the country. Tim, Lydia, Yanna, and Alex returned for stateside assignment June 2010 raising support for their work in Bulgaria.

CONVERSION
Tim grew up in a Free Will Baptist home and church in California, where he dedicated his life to Christ at an early age. His early biblical training came through his father and grandfather, both of whom were Sunday school teachers. Much of his later growth came through his involvement with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as an undergraduate student at the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Lydia grew up in Bulgaria within the confines of Communism. Neither she nor her parents had the opportunity to hear the Good News under Communist oppression. It was in 1990, after the fall of the Berlin Wall that Lydia, at the age of 18, first had the opportunity to hear about Jesus and to read the Bible. The dramatic change brought about by the truth of the gospel in the lives of her friends led to her to attend a small, Christian church in Bulgaria and give her life to Christ.

EARLY MINISTRY
Lydia and Tim met in Bulgaria while both were involved in Christian college ministry through the Bulgarian Christian Student Union. Lydia led several small group Bible studies with believers and evangelistic Bible studies with non-believers in Svishtov. Tim traveled throughout the country helping pioneer new student groups in various towns. Their work highlighted the desperate need for healthy churches in Bulgaria. Tim and Lydia returned to the United States in 1998 to receive biblical training in church planting. Tim graduated from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary with a M.Div. and a Th.M. in Biblical Studies. Meanwhile, Lydia had a much more difficult challenge—raising their two children, Yanna and Alex.

CHILDREN
Lydia and Tim have two children whom they consider important members of the Bulgaria team. Yanna is in the sixth grade. In addition to her regular studies, she is actively working on improving her Bulgarian language skills. Her favorite things to do are to read and to play piano. She also likes to walk around Svishtov with her dyado (grandpa).

Seven-year-old Alex is very open and talkative. He demonstrates a great missionary spirit on the playground with other children. Alex often introduces himself as "Superman" or "Spiderman." His favorite activities include playing on the swing and judo.

HOME CHURCH
Discovery FWB Church, Stockton, CA