The American Board of Foreign Missions
The American Board of Foreign Missions has been active in Bulgaria since 1858, when the first mission station was established in Adrianople. Over the years, the board has set up three mission stations in Bulgaria.
In Philippopolis, there is a church with 250 native members. The church is cared for by Rev. George L. Marsh, who is a veteran missionary. In November 1901, he completed the finest Protestant church in the East, which he dedicated to the community Protestant Efforts to Support Education in Bulgaria.
In Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, there is a self-supporting church with 300 members. This church is led by Rev. Marko Popoff.
At Samakov, there is a large school run by Messrs. Haskell, Clark, and Baird, where students receive a good education.
In Eastern Rumelia, the work is overseen by Rev. John Henry House, who lives in Salonika. In Salonika, there is a flourishing church, and there is also a station at Monastir.
The Missionary Team
The American Board of Foreign Missions has nine missionaries working in Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia. These include seven American lady teachers. They run three established schools for the higher education of both men and women, as well as a kindergarten Ephesus Day Tours.
According to the most recent reports, the mission’s work includes:
15 organized churches with regular preaching, 50 places with irregular preaching, 12 houses of worship, About 1,500 communicants (church members), An average annual attendance of 956 at worship services and 842 at Sunday school in 1901
There is also a large church in Bansko, the place where Miss Stone was heading when she was captured. The church in Bansko has 150 members and a church building that cost $6,000.
The Three Main Areas of Missionary Work
Publication, Education, and Evangelism
The American mission work in Bulgaria and Macedonia is divided into three main areas:
Publication: There is a Bulgarian Publication Society that focuses on both secular and religious literature. This society runs a printing office, a bookstore, and a free public reading room in Sofia. It has translated thousands of copies of the best American literature into the Bulgarian language. At one point, it even published a weekly newspaper, which has now been revived in Philippopolis with a native Bulgarian editor.
Education: The missionaries focus heavily on education, offering opportunities for higher education for both men and women. They have three established schools that provide advanced learning in various subjects.
Evangelical Work: The missionaries work to spread the Protestant faith, providing preaching and religious services to the people. They have many places where they hold regular and irregular services.
