Nadya Dineva is the founder and owner of a Christian cafe and bookshop in Bulgaria.
When did you trust Christ?
I grew up in an atheist family, but our neighbours were believers. From a young age, they answered many of my questions about God and faith. Through their example and conversations, I grew up with a deep conviction that God exists, that He created everything, that He loves me, and that one day we will be with Him in eternity. As I grew older, however, I realised that believing in God is not the same as actively following Jesus. There were many things I still needed to understand about what it truly means to live for Him. Over the years, several key moments strengthened and clarified my decision to trust and follow Jesus. The most significant and personal turning point came after many years of prayer — for ministry, for a second child, and for a return to Bulgaria. In a very personal and powerful way, God answered those prayers with a specific promise that He unexpectedly and remarkably fulfilled.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
One of the most formative seasons was my involvement in the Bulgarian Christian Student Union. Serving there helped me understand what it means to live out my faith actively rather than passively. Being surrounded by committed believers strengthened my spiritual discipline, deepened my understanding of Scripture, and taught me how to serve others with humility and purpose. Another significant period was my time in England. During those years, God spoke to me in both strong and gentle ways. It was a season of personal growth, refinement, and deeper intimacy with Him.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I expect attending the European Leadership Forum to bring fresh inspiration, encouragement, and practical ideas for evangelism and ministry. Learning from experienced leaders and practitioners will help me grow in both vision and effectiveness, especially through shared stories, strategies, and tested ministry models. I also value the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with other Christian leaders and organizations across Europe. Establishing connections for prayer, mutual support, collaboration, and encouragement would greatly strengthen both me personally and our ministry. Being part of a wider network of leaders who share a heart for renewing the church and evangelising Europe would help ensure that we do not serve in isolation but in partnership and unity.
What is your ministry?
I am the owner and founder of Giraffe Café, a Christian café–bookshop and free Christian library located in the heart of Sofia, Bulgaria. It serves as a welcoming community space for cultural events, conversations, and meaningful relationships. We host literary and music competitions, regular concerts, discussions, poetry evenings, weekly language cafés, a 60+ club, and other initiatives, but above all, we are present for people seven days a week. Over time, we have built trust, an authentic community, and lasting relationships that continue to grow every day.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
Throughout my life, I have had the opportunity to serve and grow in leadership across ministry, business, and nonprofit contexts. One of my early leadership roles was with the Bulgarian Christian Student Union, where I served as a leader, investing in students and helping build Christian community and outreach initiatives. This experience shaped my understanding of servant leadership and discipling others. I was also among the first members of the church to which I belong, contributing to its early development and growth. Being part of a church plant required initiative, responsibility, and long-term commitment. At the age of 27, I fulfilled a long-held dream by opening my own pharmacy. As the founder and owner, I was responsible for business strategy, team leadership, financial management, and customer/patient care. While in England, I worked my way up to reach a senior management position. In that role, I led teams in a professional environment, managed performance and operations, and developed strong organisational and people-management skills.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
Investing in my training is not an investment in one individual, but in an entire ministry ecosystem. I lead both Giraffe Café and Giraffe Foundation, where a team of staff, volunteers, artists, and partners work together across multiple projects and community initiatives. Any knowledge, strategies, and inspiration I gain will be immediately shared with and implemented by our wider team. Because our ministry operates daily and serves thousands of people annually—through events, cultural initiatives, discipleship relationships, and community engagement—the impact of this investment multiplies quickly. What I learn will influence leadership development, evangelistic approaches, organisational sustainability, and partnership building. This investment, therefore, has exponential potential: it strengthens not only me as a leader but also our team, our collaborators, and the many people we serve each week. Supporting my training means strengthening a growing ministry that is already actively reaching the community and is positioned to expand its impact even further.
