Bulgarian Evangelical Mission at St. Louise, MO Founded 1910 by Dimiter Gradinaroff, it concentrated on preaching the Gospel among the Bulgarians and other South-East European immigrants. After his death in May 1913, his work was continued by his wife S.D. Gradinarova. She continued his preaching and social work among the immigrants.
Rev. D. Gradinaroff. After the Bulgarian liberation he worked as accountant in Bulgarian Financial Ministry, and then financial control of the Plovdiv region. Between 1886-99 he was in Constantinople as an administrative assistant of newspaper ?Zornitca?. After his return to Bulgaria he served as evangelical preacher, he traveled across Bulgaria and Macedonia. Came to America and started his mission in St. Louise, MO in 1910 (close to his son-in-law Rev. Tzvetko Bagranoff, who founded the first Bulgarian mission at Granite City, IL ).
Rev. Veselin D. Gradinaroff(Gardner) 4156 Connecticut Ave. St. Louis, MO Son of D and S. Gradinaroff, born in Constantinople, graduated the gymnasium at Plovdiv. He came to America in 1906 where he graduated St. Louis College and latter Dubuke Seminary Iowa, 1918. He was a pastor to Cuba Church West Alton, MO and Cushakua, PA (to American congregations). Latter he was a Sunday school leader Sunshine Mission, St. Louis and led a few American churches.
Sevastica D. Gradinarova 1501 E. Grand Avenue, St. Louis, MO Born in Sopot 1856, daughter of Baba Nedelia Petrova this first Bulgarian teacher in Macedonia. 1868 she started studying in the first American School at Stara Zagora, when it moved to Samokov she follow it. She was a teacher at Kazunluk and Plovdiv. She was one of the founders of the society ?Pomosht? in 1880, and served as its president for 7 years. During 1886-1899 she was in Constantinople with her family. Back in Bulgaria she was director of the agricultural school in Plovdiv for 2 years. In 1910 she came with her husband to St. Louis where they found their mission, after his dead 1913, she lead the community for 5 years when it was united with ?Victory Street Mission?. After that she took the position of missionary and social worker for the female section of the Presbyterian Mission at St. Louis. She published articles on spiritual and moral issues in the Bulgarian newspaper ?Naroden Glass?. She is one of the founders of the Bulgarian society ?Bulgarian women in America?. Her missionary work extends to Bulgarian prisoners in America.
First Bulgarian Christian Church, Chicago Found February 1932, by a group of Bulgarian immigrants, located at 4200 West Adams Street with pastor Rev. Iosiff Hristoff.
Bulgarian Evangelical Mission Battle Creek, MO There were two active missionaries in the region: Rev. Atanassoff and missionary worker Nedka Evanova . Nedka Evanova was born in Panagurishte, came to America in 1912. She was a missionary to the immigrants in Battle Creek, MI. She led a regular Sunday School for kids and English Language classes for immigrants. She is sister of Rev.Tzvetko Bagranoff of Granite City, IL.
Rev. Radoslav Katcunov: 117 Dobble ave. Montreal, Quebec Canada. Born in Sofia, graduated Sofia gymnasium, then studied in Berlin Germany. Graduate of Robert College Constantinople. He took part in the Balkan War. Moved to Toronto in 1913 where he graduated in seminary and conservatory. He was pastor to churches in Toronto, Branford, Kitchenier, Manitoba. In 1929 he was called as overseer of the missions to the European immigrants in Montreal. He was conductor of the great Ukrainian choir and Montreal Pastor choir.
Georgi Hr. Preslavski: 502 Ironwood Drive, Mishawaka, IN. Bulgarian preacher evangelist. He is a representative of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World based in Indianapolis, IN. Born in Preslav moved to USA 1914.
Rev. Nikolai Nikolov 580-23rd Street, West New York, NJ. Born in Carnobat and came to study in New York. Graduated form Bible Institute Betal Newar, NJ. In 1926 after that he was a music teacher there. He also conducted a number of choirs during this period. Then he returned to Bulgaria where he found the Pentecostal Churches and was their president. He founded the religious magazine ?Blagovestitel? and ?Pedesiatni vesti?, he was a traveling evangelist and lecturer.
