August 2002

Two members of Winstanley's handbell ministry were members of a volunteer mission team to the country of Bulgaria. This was the first team in Bulgaria which had an emphasis in handbell music ministries through the partnership between the Southern Baptists of Illinois and the Union of Evangelical Baptist Churches of Bulgaria. The team ministered in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and the far northwestern part of the country up to the city of Lom on the border of Romania.

"kom-ban-ke" (which means "bells" in Bulgarian)

After each concert people would come up and asked questions about the handbells, and were given the opportunity to ring the bells. Watching the faces of the children as they lit up when they were given a chance to hold and ring the bells was a real blessing.

	"It’s like angels singing..." "I’ve always wondered what heaven would sound like. Maybe now I have a small idea..."

Fourteen hours of training sessions were held teaching the art of handbell playing. In addition, five hours were spent mentoring the directors. A three additional three octave set of handbells were given to the Bulgarian Baptists as a gift from the Illinois Baptists. It is our prayer that God will use this instrument to bring many people to Christ, and to bring joy to our fellow Christian brothers and sisters in Bulgaria.

Members of the Sofia Handbell Choir.