What would it look like? Honestly, probably a bit messy! Even the nicest, gentlest most godly Bulgarian turns into a monster behind the wheel of a car. But putting that to one side, I think it could be a better place....
Here's what those of us in EEA21, the European sister movement to NNYM, think we can all learn from Bulgaria:
1. They like one another. I love going to Bulgaria because the youth leaders all get on so well together regardless of denominations, church splits, or anything else which causes the rest of us to get so hung up we don't hang out. We just don't like each other the way these guys do.
2. They work together. They've worked out that they can achieve more by pooling their limited resources. Again it isn't rocket science. If we were more interested in seeing the kingdom come, rather than furthering our own ends or those of our denominations, ministries or whatever, then we'd do the same.
3. They pray together. The 365 prayer movement was initiated by Bulgarian young people last year and has nearly achieved its goal of getting one church to take one day a year to pray and fast for the nation.
4. They work hard! Youth ministry isn't an easy option for them. It normally comes on top of a job or two, family commitments and perhaps study. It is a labour of love, not a profession.
5. They don't rule people out because they are young or female. Most of us miss out on perhaps 70% of our talent pool! The Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance have not only appointed the only young General Secretary in Europe, they also have the only female one.
6. They care! Yes, on top of all the things they do in point 4, they want to serve the wider church. They're planning a conference for Balkan youth workers, and honestly if the other Balkan countries can learn the Bulgarians have learned, then this could be the happening part of Europe.
Bulgaria may be poor, and the church small, but just maybe God can use the weak to confound the strong. And anyway those of us who think we are strong need to watch out!
Two thousand years ago the apostle John was prompted to write letters to a number of churches in the Balkans region, and today the message of Revelation 1-3 remains the same. What would the European church or even just our youth ministry look like if we copied the Bulgarians? So why don't we?
To find out more about the Bulgarian story or European youth ministry, visit www.eea21.eu.