Sofia Baptist Church (BC) has been partnered with Cairns Road BC in Westbury Park for about 10 years now.

Teddi Oprenov, Pastor of Sofia BC, is in Bristol with four Bulgarian trainees helping with the church's outreach to St Pauls Carnival.

Soon after the demise of communism, Sofia BC set up a 'Good Samaritan Trust' (GSF) to carry out humanitarian relief work in Bulgaria.

Since the early 1990's it has supplied food, medical care, and clothing to schools, and carried out modernisation to amenities in more than 20 orphanages and children's homes.

The church's outreach work began after the demise of communism

'Divine support'

The trust's work has also extended to providing food for the elderly and homeless in winter, and giving medical care and other forms of support to disadvantaged families.

Official exchange visits take place a couple of times a year, but members of the Bristol congregation visit Sofia more regularly thanks to the links and friendships established by the twinning.

Geoff Wallis, Bristol resident and honorary secretary of the Bulgarian Partners Trust, which supports the GSF, has visited the country many times.

"On a spiritual level I think this project is extending the kingdom of God - and we've seen some definite signs of divine support," he told the BBC Bristol website.

"Over the years my wife and I have developed friendships through the partnership but we're also motivated to help because we share their vision.

"It's also good value for money! We get tax relief via Gift Aid on everything which is donated and when that money is spent in Bulgaria it's worth five or six times its UK value.

"As a businessman that makes great sense to me!"