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YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
The History of Door of Hope Ministries
Haralan Popov
Dr. Haralan Popov, the founder of Door of Hope - International, was born in the tiny Bulgarian village of Krasno Gradishte on the 7th March 1907. Although a dedicated atheist, he was led to the Lord Jesus Christ in his teen years by a friend. His spiritual life developed so rapidly that by 1929 he was already accepted as pastor in the Bulgarian Pentecostal Church.
Shortly after Bible School in London he marries Swedish Ruth Pernevi, and returns to Bulgaria before the outbreak of World War II
In the early morning hours of 23rd July 1948 he is arrested by the new post war Communists on bogus charges of espionage against the state and is forced to leave his wife and two small children . He spends the next 13 years and two months in jail. Released on the 25th September 1961 he is reunited with his family in Sweden a year later.
Moving to USA in 1970 he founds "Door of Hope Mission "and writes his prison testimony "Tortured For His Faith".
In October 1988, just after Glasnost and for the first time in 26 years, Dr Popov was able to return to his Church in Bulgaria. It was a wonderful homecoming where he could see the fruits of the many years laboring for the Suffering Church.
He went to be with the Lord on 13 November 1988.
Nationals on Nationals
We believe that nationals should be mobilized from the very outset. They know the country, the culture, the language and the job. It is their birthright and it is this which has best prepared them for the task of evangelizing their own people.
The DOHSA Method
Firm relationships exist as a result of years spent in the mission fields of Russia, Ukraine and the CIS. We believe that the only effective method is working through existing churches. With identification of suitable leaders who not only desire to evangelize their own people but also have the dynamic qualities required to implement their vision, we have one of the keys to world evangelism. We do not see our position as above or parallel to the church, but beneath it in a support position.
Radio and Church Discipleship
Radio Discipleship On The Air is one of the most powerful ways of linking society to the church:
The local church is thoroughly trained and prepared beforehand in order that it may deal with the fruits of the radio programme. Any outreach action or discipleship activity by the local (or foreign) church finds it easy and beneficial slotting into the radio programme at any stage. The programme simplifies their own work in the mission field. The real success of the entire project depends on the support and co-operation of the local church for the crucial back-up and counseling work.
While the Orthodox church is mobilised through its connections with the State, the remnant of the persecuted Protestant church is the true key to Evangelism in the New Soviet Union. They number less than 1%, but with the help of Christians in the West are growing rapidly. Many new churches are planted with the true missionary zeal for the Gospel, and the numbers in the existing churches grow, winning many converts from both the Orthodox and the Atheist camps. Currently, their biggest handicap is the lack of education - a legacy of the persecution - and proper support materials. Committed Christians form a high percentage of church membership.
These powerful, spiritual people acquired special survival skills during the terrible years under the Communist yoke, which prepared them in a special way to deal with the difficult changing conditions in Russia today. Other sectors of the society, hitherto privileged, find themselves ill equipped for this new life and are now looking to the church to find balance and meaningful answers.
ISAIAH 41:17
"When the poor and the needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongues fail for thirst, I the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them."
Most Russians consider themselves "Orthodox". The committed ones are fine Christians but the overwhelming majority are nominal believers. Some practice shamanism, the occult, other religions and many are still Communists in essence.
Regarding itself as the father of the people, the image of Orthodoxy is one of self-sufficiency which is deeply rooted in tradition and it still wields tremendous authority politically.
Atheists in Russia are in essence the real fruits of Communism. These hard-liners are well-educated, highly materialistic, arrogant, aggressive but a sizeable percentage dabble in alternative Eastern religions, the occult and para-psychology.
Due to effective indoctrination they are difficult to evangelize. They have little concept of a spiritual realm, nor do they understand the real existence of God.
Supporting the Russian Church
Working through the existing church makes good sense: they want to evangelise their own people; they are on the spot, needing only the material means to become mobilised; they can save foreign missionaries much effort and time and many, many thousands of dollars which would otherwise have been spent on establishing foreign efforts to implement the work; ánd, they wíll do a better job than foreigners. They need our support. Let us help them!.
Linking society to the Church
Linking society to the Church is a severe problem. The church imploded in order to survive, because of the persecution years , which resulted in its purification and although small in number, the church is now well prepared with sincere believers who are willing to take on the mighty challenge of Evangelising their own people. But, old habits die hard and the inward-looking phenomenon of the past still persists. Making the transition from "introrse" to "extrorse" is a great effort on the part of the local church.
The radio programme will draw the church into the surrounding society, thus facilitating this transition. The programme is the result of more than 20 years intensive research in the mission field and has already had a number of successful runs in China With the successful completion of the fourth broadcast there, we hold part of the key to world evangelism.
This work enriches the church, brings new believers - as also the Intelligentsia - into the Body of Christ, strengthens church leadership and mobilises the church into the society around it. All of the above areas are addressed nearly simultaneously and they all come in one turnkey package under one label!
Most mission strategies have a "reach and teach" concept to bring others into the body of the church. This strategy says in addition how do we link others to the church and, not only how do we influence others through the church. The church is still the key through which to work, but now a desire for the Gospel is created, not only how to spread the Gospel. Here the Gospel becomes hunted or sought after, not only as it often was in the past, itself the hunter or searcher for new converts
Luke 24:48 says plainly that it is through being witnesses that others will also want to be disciples. Surely these few simple words constitute the most important commandment of our Lord Jesus? They come to us with an awesome responsibility.
How can we be witnesses, if we are not disciples? If we are not disciples ourselves, how can we disciple others?
Current Operative Locations
"The workers are few but the harvest is plenty..."
Moscow
Ekaterynburg
Kyzyl
Voronesch
Vladikavkaz
Many living in anguish now and are looking to the Church for real answers as Russia surfaces from the shed blood of the Martyrs. Door Of Hope South Africa has been active in Russia and Ukraine. Good relationships exist with the churches for follow up. The churches need to be trained to get the best results out of the programme’s goal.
Vision for Radio Evangelism
As Russia emerges from the dark Tyranny of Communism, churches pinpoint the light of the Gospel. However they need proper training and education. If these vantage points are used to multiply the discipleship and radio strategy, fruitful Evangelism can take place on a large scale. Depending on locality, the cost of radio transmission varies radically, but is budgeted at $25 000 per radio station. Time is running out and the advent of the Lord is near; persistent threats of returning to the old ways are ever present. The darkness is upon us - we have a great task to fulfill. Will you help us?
THE GOSPEL BELT
The Need for the Gospel Belt:
The Russian Gospel Belt is currently being formed working through established churches. Other ministries are encouraged to operate in this area also, over and above other areas in which they may be active. When established, a Gospel "no-mans land" will exist from where it can spread unhindered. From the platform thus created, effective Evangelism can be planned - Southwards into Mongolia, China, and many other Buddhist, Hindi and Islamic countries, as also Northwards into the former USSR republics and into the heart of Russia itself.
World Evangelism
It is a fundamental Scriptural principle that those who support must also be ministered to. Material is currently available in English, Afrikaans, Russian, & Chinese. English is the source material. It can easily mobilise a large sector of Western society to Evangelism. A number of other languages are already on the drawing board: Georgian, Portuguese, Turkish, Hindi. Those in the West who support this work, want to share it with others who need it. Will you help in this sincere, well-proven effort to reach the lost?