Pastor Lyubo Petkov

He is born in 1969.

He receives Christ for Lord and Savoiur in 1989.

From 1990 to 2003, Lyubo Petkov lives and ministers as an assistant pastor at CEC Shalom, Lovech. He is a co-founder and an assistant pastor for 13 years.

In 1991 he marries Tanya Petkova and together they commit themselves to active ministry at CEC Shalom. In 1993 Lyubo Petkov is officially ordained in a pastoral ministry by Ps George Michaylov - Senior Pastor of Shalom Christian Evangelical Church, Lovech.

In 1995 Ps Lyubo graduates as a bachelor in Theology at the Vision Bible College- Ramona, California. For years he is been teaching in the national chain Christian Training and Studying Institute Vision for Bulgaria.

In 2002 he graduates from Haggai Institute in Hawaii, USA.

He is studying a Master’s Degree in Theology at TCM (Training Christian for Ministry)- Vienna, Austria.

His wife Tanya Petkova is born in Pleven, in a Christian family with a rich history and a significant contribution to the Evangelical movement in Bulgaria. She is a Bachelor in Theology at the Vision Bible College- Ramona, California since 2007.

On March 2^nd 2003- Ps Lyubo and Tanya Petkov become the senior pastors at Messiah Christian Church, Stara Zagora and are officially ordained in this ministry.

Ps Lyubo and Tanya have a blessed marriage and two amazing kids- Solomon and Debora. They are devoted to God and the church with the talents that they have.

God - the Father

God is the Creator of all. He is perfect and unchangeable, all-knowing, almighty, all-present, the redeemer of humanity.

Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 43:11;

The Son Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the second person of the Triune God, and is the eternal Son of God. He came to earth as a perfect God and a perfect man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born by Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins and was raised from the dead for our justification, and now he is on the right side of the Father as our High Priest and Defender.

Matthew 1:23; Acts 7:56; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:15

The Holy Spirit

As the third person in the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father, is sent to the believers by God after the resurrection of Jesus, to guide them in all truths, to give them power to live a victorious Christian life and to judge the world for their sin.

John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-8; 13

Church

The universal church of Christ is consisted of all newborn Christians, who represent the body of Christ here on Earth. It is revealed the local churches throughout the world.

Revelation 2:1; 2 Corinthians 11:28

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is to glorify Jesus Christ. It empowers the believers for a righteous life and ministry. This experience is something different than the experience of new birth, and the mark that testifies for it is speaking in a different language, according to the ability that the Spirit of God gives.

Acts 1:8; 2:14; 19:2-6;

Divine healing

The restoration of man’s spirit, soul and body was provided by our God Jesus Christ, after he was wounded on the cross and he was raised with the power of God. Divine health is available to every believer. Christ bought us from the curse of the law: sin, sickness, poverty and death.

Exodus 15:26; Acts 10:38; Galatians 3:13-14; 1 Peter 2:24;

Sanctification

We believe that every Christian should strive to a pure and a holy way of life, by separating from sin, washing themselves in the Word of God through obedience and holiness in a holy fear from God.

Matthew 5:48; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16;

The fruit and the gifts of the Spirit

We believe that the gifts or the manifestations of the Holy Spirit are a supernatural ministry of Lord Jesus Christ upon the church, and that every Christian can operate in the gift that God gives them. The fruit of the Spirit represents the character of Christ, who is a model for every believer to live a Christ-like life.

1 Corinthians 12:8-10; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Galatians 5:22-23;

God’s Judgment

We believe that God’s judgment has passed, is happening now and will happen. First, our sins were condemned in Christ on the cross. Second, we are learning how to judge ourselves and others by staying in the presence of God. Third, we are going to be judged by the Judge of the whole Universe, everyone will be responsible for themselves, standing before God.

Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 6:3 and 11:31-32;

Eternal conditions

We believe that the Kingdom of God is from eternity and in eternity. God’s Kingdom expands among us. The righteous will inherit heaven, and the unrighteous will go to hell, where they are going to spend eternity.

Luke 13:27-29; Revelation 21 and 22;

Prayer

Prayer is a major value. The church started as a prayer meeting on the day of Pentecost. We as a church don’t want to ever forget what the foundation is, but to be people of prayer.

Worship

Jesus is looking for worshippers. People, whose life style will worship God. The sound of praise gathers us and leads us into God’s presence. Music is an universal language and it gathers people together.

The Presence of God

We encourage everyone to learn how to enter in this great presence of the almighty God. We are called to carry a specific and a glorious atmosphere in this Earth. In this atmosphere, people are healed, set free and things happen in people’s souls. We receive salvation and experience God.

The Word of God- The Bible

God’s Word is the foundation. It gives us clear perspective about the life that we’re called to as Christians. That is why we give such a big importance to preaching, teaching and meditating in our services.

Vision and Faith

The Vision that we have is bigger than ourselves, our views and resources and it always requires faith. That is why it is so exciting, because God requires us to do things that are far beyond our abilities. That is why we trust him and his power to do this deed.

Generosity

When we give and we are generous, it brings blessing and abundance. We want to be men and women known for their giving and their generous outlook towards life.

Leadership

We are constantly building leaders. Leaders are these, who change the world. We inspire people to grow in their talents and their influence.

Discipleship

We want to have people, who are not just Christians who go to church, but we want to go farther. We want to see them become personal disciples of Jesus Christ.

Relevant

We want to be relevant, accessible and understandable, as we understand the needs of our society. Constantly shaking off the old and embracing the new.

Ministry

To surrender yourself to Christ, so you can serve for his purpose and in his house- the church with your talents and skills.

Freedom

We are not trying to control the way people live. This is always an unique and delicate balance between the areas of our life, where we want people to be free, but on the other hand to live a holy and a pure life.

Unity

The unity of the Spirit is maintained by the bond of peace and accepting one another, because we are bound together. Where there is unity, anything could be achieved.

In the center of all this culture there is one person that is lifted up above everything- Jesus. We want all words to lead to Him and to come from Him in everything we do, so that all the paths that we create and the whole culture will praise Jesus and make him desirable.