LITTLE DID WE KNOW
We first came to Bulgaria as music missionaries. Little did we know how far God would lead us over the next two decades!
On June 10, 1994, our family–Paul, Judy, Andrew(12), Anthony(10) and Zachary(6) arrived in Bulgaria as music missionaries with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board(IMB). After six years with IMB, we felt God calling us to do something more, which led to the creation of two separate foundations: Bulgarian Child, Inc. (headed by Judy) and Ridgway Ministries (headed by Paul.) Our children have long since grown up and are leading their own lives in the U.S., while Paul and Judy are still ministering in Bulgaria.
Over the years our ministries, with the help of people all over the world, have accomplished much for the Kingdom, including:
Shoe project. BCI has provided new shoes and socks to thousands of children across Bulgaria.
Healthy Child Project. Sponsored by the Dutch Foundation “Come Over and Help,” this project provides vaccines, vitamins, and over-the counter medications. Since its inception, this program has administered more than 6,000 vaccines.
Education/training in universities, for orphanage workers and parents of special needs kids, including seminars, on-site practical application, and provision of equipment and other resources.
Provision of funds/materials/work for remodeling or repairing of orphanage buildings and playgrounds.
Provision of wheelchairs and other equipment for special needs children.
Provision of funding for staff positions at several orphan homes across Bulgaria.
Volunteer teams provide weeks of activities: stories, music, art/crafts, out-door games, etc., to brighten the days of institutionalized children.
And So It Began
Bulgarian Child, Inc was chartered in Tennessee as a non-profit organization in January of 2001. Its purpose is to help meet needs of the thousands of children living in state-run institutions in Bulgaria. Some of these needs are very basic: food, clothing, heating, medicine. Other needs may be more specific: surgery, special needs equipment, supplementary personnel in the homes, training programs, etc.
Bulgarian Child, Inc. is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
MEET THE TEAM
Our team is made up of dedicated servants from across the United States.
President
Judy K. Ridgway
Secretary
Paul C. Ridgway
Treasurer
Diane Gregg
Board members
Dr. Rick Willis, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Lampasas TX
Dr. Mary Bukovitz, pediatrician and member of First United Methodist Church, Morristown TN
Cynthia Aulds, Missions Coordinator, Sugar Land Baptist Church, (Houston TX)
Darrell Ard (TX)
Tresa Simmons (TX)
Jim Abernathy (TX)
Bonne Jensen (ARK)
George and Dorothy Hayner (TX)
Paul Bennett (TN)
Chad Lowe (TX)
Stoian Iankov (WA)
Diane Gregg (TN)
AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU
We could not do this without the businesses, churches, organizations, and individuals who support us financially, in prayer, with resources and on teams who come to serve in Bulgaria on short-term trips!
Churches who have or are currently partnering (*) with Bulgarian Child through sending teams, containers and/or financial support:
- *The Heights Baptist Church, Richardson TX
- *Sugar Land Baptist Church, Sugarland, TX
- *First Baptist Church, Lampasas, TX
- *First Baptist Church, Cabot , Arkansas
- *Towne View Baptist Church, Kennesaw, GA
- *First Baptist Church, Morristown, TN
- *First United Methodist Church, Morristown, TN.
- *Grace Four Square Church, Camas Washington
- First Baptist Church, Jefferson City TN
- Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, GA
- Kirkwood Baptist Church, Kirkwood, Missouri
- Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, TX
- *International Baptist Church, Rome, Italy
- International Baptist Church, Sofia, Bulgaria
Organizations that have, or are currently, supporting projects of Bulgarian Child:
- Texas Baptist Men
- Tennessee Baptist Men, Nolachucky Association
- America For Bulgaria Foundation
- Buckner Baptist Benevolence, Dallas, TX
- Kelly’s Kids, Mississippi, USA
- *Dutch Foundation, “Come Over and Help”