Mission Awareness Tour to Armenia By Gloria Messerlian

Our trip to Armenia with the AMAA was truly a learning experience. We not only saw Armenia with all its beautiful churches, ancient pagan temple, rolling green hills and mountains, and Mt. Ararat, but we saw the AMAA truly in action.

We were fifteen people in all from various parts of the United States and Canada. Our first Sunday started with a worship service at the Armenian Evangelical Church of Yerevan. The church presently meets in a rented facility with a capacity of approximately two hundred fifty to three hundred seats. The day was extremely hot, over 100 degrees, and all the seats were taken - with children and adults of all ages in attendance. Knowing that these people had been suppressed under the Soviet state for so many years, and now to hear the familiar hymns joyfully sung by the choir and congregation, brought tears to the eyes of many in our group. After the service we were treated to a special concert comprised of many of the children from the area. It was a great experience.

During the week we visited AMAA headquarters in Yerevan, Here we saw a new addition, which housed medical, dental, psychiatric, and administrative offices as well as a pharmacy and a warehouse for supplies, such as powder milk for the children and other necessary items. We were impressed by the fact that medical and dental care as well as dispensable medications is all given at no charge to the patient, with doctors and dentists volunteering their time.

During the week we visited AMAA headquarters in Yerevan, Here we saw a new addition, which housed medical, dental, psychiatric, and administrative offices as well as a pharmacy and a warehouse for supplies, such as powder milk for the children and other necessary items. We were impressed by the fact that medical and dental care as well as dispensable medications is all given at no charge to the patient, with doctors and dentists volunteering their time.

Many of us who sponsor children from the Yerevan area were able to meet with the children and their families at AMAA headquarters. It was a happy time for all of us. There was some difficulty with the language, but with the help of the interpreters, we managed to communicate. Although we understand Armenian, they do speak with a different dialect than we do. These people are very grateful for the help they are able to receive through the AMAA Sponsorship program as well as the many other services AMAA provides.

Another impressive visit was to the AMAA camp in‹Aghveran. The ride there was quite bumpy. At times, we were able to travel at only 5 to 10 miles an hour. We arrived in time to see the children gathered together in the auditorium for their morning worship and song time. They sang with such enthusiasm; there must have been close to two hundred children from various parts of Armenia. A few of the children and teachers put on a skit to show "pride"as their lesson and followed through with that theme in their classes for that day. AMAA takes about five thousand children during the summer at their three-week-long camps, as well as many others at Vacation Bible School at the various local churches and neighborhoods throughout Armenia. They learn Bible lessons on salvation and are encouraged to continue on when they return home. The children are chosen from an area around the local churches, although they do not presently attend church, so when they return home from camp, they will continue their Christian education.

Our next stop was the Avedisian School. This school is about two years old and located in a very indigent section of the city. They not only provide for their education, but also provide three meals a day for the children as well as "nap time" for the little ones. Presently, there are three classes ages three, four, and five, with the hope that each year a new class is added until High School. They are taught English, French and Russian in addition to their native Armenian. This is the first Armenian Evangelical School in Armenia.

On another day, we visited the Armenian Evangelical Theological Seminary, which is sponsored by the AMAA. This is a beautiful new building three stories high. It was originally built as a home; however, the man who built it had financial difficulties and was never able to move in. Consequently, AMAA was able to purchase the building for a reasonable price. It is hard to believe that such a home would be perfect for a seminary, but it is. The rooms are spacious with high ceilings and there is much land around it for further development. Presently there are twenty-two students attending and being prepared to reach many people with the gospel message. This year will be the first graduating class.

Rev. Movses B. Janbazian "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:21).

With deep sorrow for our loss, but joy for Heaven's gain, we report the passing of Rev. Movses B. Janbazian, Executive Director of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), on September 25, 2000. He was 55 years old.

Rev. Janbazian lived the life of a Christian soldier, serving the Lord and the less fortunate among us with great vigor, humility and unselfish devotion. He was a leader, respected not only in Armenian Evangelical circles, but also throughout the Armenian nation, in the homeland and diaspora. He was also a devoted husband, proud father and faithful friend who was loved and cherished by many.

Movses Boghos Janbazian was born and raised in Anjar, Lebanon. In 1968, he received a B.A. degree from Haigazian University, and in 1971, a Master of Christian Education degree from Near East School of Theology, both in Beirut.

In the early 1970s, Rev. Janbazian served the Armenian Evangelical churches of Lebanon in a variety of capacities, as a pastor, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, and founding director of an Armenian Evangelical social service center. He then relocated to South America, where, through the 1970s, he conducted an active ministry as pastor of Armenian Evangelical churches in Brazil and Uruguay.

In 1980, Rev. Janbazian was called to service by the AMAA, which was founded in 1918 as the missionary agency of the Armenian Evangelical churches, and is currently engaged in educational, humanitarian and mission ministries in 23 countries around the world. After seven years of dedicated work as the AMAA's first Field Director, Rev. Janbazian was appointed in 1987 as Executive Director, responsible for the oversight and guidance of the life and work of the AMAA.

Rev. Janbazian served as president and secretary of the Armenian Evangelical World Council. He was also a member of the Boards of numerous organizations, including the Yerevan-based "Hayastan" All Armenia Fund, the World Ministries of the United Church of Christ, the Stephen Philibosian Foundation, Near East School of Theology, Haigazian University, and the AEUNA. His outstanding contribution to worldwide mission and service ministries was recognized by Haigazian University with an Honorary Doctorate in 1998.

Rev. Janbazian is survived by his wife, the former Louisa Youmoushakian of Beirut, his son, Vahak Boghos, his daughter, Ani Agnes, his mother, a brother and four sisters.

On October 15, during the Sunday morning worship service at 11:00 a.m. the Armenian Euphrates Evangelical Church will hold a memorial service to mourn the passing and celebrate the life of Rev. Dr. Movses B. Janbazian.