About BGP
BGP exists to support healthy church growth — patiently, relationally, and with an end in mind.
Our vision
Balkan Gospel Partnership exists to support the strengthening and planting of healthy local churches in the unreached region of the Balkans. BGP provides a structure and resources for Balkan local churches to implement pastoral internships, raise co-elders, and send qualified planters.
Why the Balkans
The Balkans remain one of the least reached regions in Europe. Religious division and political conflict have hardened identity along ethno-religious lines, and evangelical churches remain extremely small. Many cities still have little or no healthy Protestant witness.
Local believers often face social suspicion toward evangelical Christianity, economic hardship that limits church sustainability, and a shortage of trained pastors and elders.
Balkan growth barriers
Centuries of foreign oppression and religious influence divided the Balkan people into three main ethno-religious identities — Roman Catholic, Muslim and Eastern Orthodox. Continued conflict cemented those divisions and produced deep skepticism toward evangelical communities. BGP exists to remind the Balkan body of Christ that they are not alone.
The decades-long transition from Communism to capitalism left hundreds of Balkan cities economically depressed and millions without steady employment. Thousands of young adults are migrating west. That scarcity has made it hard for churches to sustain their own ministry — financially and in local leadership.
Well-meaning foreign para-church ministries often attract the local church's best and brightest with spiritual purpose, discipleship and income. Much good can come from this, but it often draws them away from service in the local church — reducing the possibility of being developed into qualified elders and pastors.
BGP strategies
External support is needed to begin gospel-centered activity in unreached places, but caution must be exercised to avoid foreign financial dependence. BGP's giving plan includes ceasing funding — strategically assisting local pastors and churches toward self-supported ministry.
BGP doesn't just give and move on. We stay connected and assist Balkan churches throughout the entirety of their training and planting phases — whether through regular video calls or in-person visits.
Healthy churches have a plurality of elders. When funding an individual's vocational pastoral development, BGP also strives to include a prospective lay-elder in the training program, countering the historically top-down leadership culture in the Balkans.
Missiology includes a variety of planting philosophies. But in a Balkan context where institutional Christianity is already present, traditional church planting is better suited for societal visibility, credibility and lasting impact. It may be slower than movement methods, but strong ecclesial foundations last longer.
BGP desires that individuals and churches grow in awareness of this obscure unreached region. We offer financial partners opportunities for vision trips and involvement in training for contextual needs.
Local churches are each unique. While maintaining close ties, BGP provides tailored training and resources for each church's season of growth — strengthening membership structures, elder development, deacon implementation and financial accountability.
Our board members
Jesse's love for the Balkans began in 2004 when helping a Brazilian missionary in Bosnia. Jesse returned to serve local churches in Bosnia (2010-11) and Montenegro (2022-24). His experience leading MNE's first pastoral internship is serving as a foundation for BGP's ministry and methods.
Don has been faithfully serving as a Discipleship Pastor for many years. He's raised many children in the faith and mentored many men aspiring to become pastors.
Chris has leveraged his entrepreneurial skills and success to support Eastern European pastors, churches, missionaries, and start a Christian camp in Moldova.
Jess' love for the nations was shaped by time served in Swaziland and Nepal. Today, he lives out Christ's Kingdom ethics in the research tech space and local church.
Partner with us
Pray for the strengthening of churches across the Balkans. Give toward the training of the men who will lead them. Come and see the work for yourself.