Stoyan Tincheff and the foundation of "Bulgarian Church of God"



In 1928 Stoyan Tinchev of Dolni Dubnik buds off the main Pentecostal denomination. His conversion is connected to the evangelical work of Incho Hinkoff, well known for his strong opposition of separatism. Incho Hinkoff came to Christ in 1876 and together with Traiko Porecoff and Christo Fisinoff organize ?Jerusalem upper-room? seeking fullness in Christ. Xinkoff sold his house in Sofia and bought a place around Pleven, build a cabin and started from there his evangelical work in the regions of Pleven, Lovech, Troyan. He was called Grand-pa Ioncho Hinkoff the prophet.

The news of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit arrived in Pleven in 1920. Hinkoff accepts this blessing and adopts it in his ministry the same year.

Among the converts of Hinkoff are Georgi Komitsky, Vangel Robeff. Petco Petroff, Vasil Tcacheff and Stoyan Tincheff, known as ?the old protestant? because he was a traveling preacher for the Methodist church. Stoyan Tincheff accepted Baptism in the Spirit in 1921 and separates from the Pentecostal community in Pleven in 1928. The motives were insignificant, but the consequences enourmous.

In Dolni Dubnik between him, Marin Tsoneff, Naum Bakaloff and Boris Grancharoff occur frequent discussions about important and insignificant Biblical doctrines. Important question is the meaning of ?deadly sin?, and its definition. They argue about the practices around the Eucharist, should the bread always be unleavened, should it be cut or broken by hands. Also will there be salvation for those not baptized of the Spirit. They even argued about the name of the new group: ?Evangelical Pentecostal Church?; ?Nation of God?; ?Church of God?. Due to lack of agreement people separated in different groups.

The Pentecostal community in Pleven joined the Union of Evangelical Pentecostal churches in 1930, Stoyan Tincheff did not. He united his followers and renounced the churches of the union as apostates. Tincheff forbids handshaking with believers outside of his group(based on Isaiah 8:12). He declares the Word of God as ?outdated? and proclaims the prophesies of his sympathizers as ?fresh bread?. Everyone who stray from the true path preached by the leaders was completely shunt from the community. Only deep repentance was an acceptable way back into the church. Traditional characteristics of the Tincheff?s churches is the wearing of hair-dress for the women, mustaches for the men, washing of the feet after communion, separation of males and females during service. Stoyan Tincheff was active in Northern Bulgaria and had followers in the regions of Pleven, Dolni Dubnik, Levski and Lovech.

Missionary Grand-pa Hinkov in Argentina

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