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AMAA Contributes To Earthquake Relief Efforts In India
And El Salvador
The Armenian Missionary Association
of America (AMAA) donated an initial sum of $10,000
to help the victims of the disastrous earthquakes that
struck India and El Salvador in Central America recently.
Rescue
Teams in India counted for 20,000 deaths, which were
confirmed nationwide. Thousands more were left homeless.
The
earthquake that hit India on Friday, January 26, 2001,
measured at 7.9 on the Richter scale by the U.S. Geological
Survey, and is expected to cost the country billions
of dollars in reconstruction costs. According to reliable
sources, the earthquake in India is a major earthquake
comparable to the 1988 earthquake in Armenia and the
1999 earthquake in Turkey. Officials in Anjar, a town
to the south east of India, have estimated more than
5,000 people killed only in Anjar and its surroundings,
including about 350 children who were trapped in a small
alley during their parade to celebrate Republic Day.
The earthquake in El Salvador (January 13, 2001) comparatively
was of a lesser magnitude, 7.6 on the scale, yet the
devastation it caused was massive. More than 700 people
were killed, about 3000 were injured and 38,000 homes
were partially or totally destroyed. Ironically, a town
called Armenia, 24 miles west of the capital, San Salvador,
was heavily damaged.
The AMAA and the Armenian Evangelical Churches worldwide
share the grief of those who are affected by these earthquakes.
The AMAA has requested that Armenian Evangelical churches
remember the victims of these catastrophes through prayers
and special relief offerings. The offering will be added
to AMAAšs initial aid and will be channeled through
the Wider Church Ministries of United Church of Christ,
a longtime international colleague agency of the AMAA.
The AMAA appeals to Armenian communities all over the
world and to its members and friends to respond promptly
and generously to the needs of the suffering people
in India and El Salvador.
Armenians have experienced man-made and natural catastrophes,
they understand the plight of suffering people, and
they had and they do reach out to help the helpless
and destitute.
Those who wish to help may send their tax-deductible
donations to the AMAA at 31 West Century Road, Paramus,
New Jersey 07652, earmarked "India/El Salvador Earthquake
Relief".
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The
Work of the Evangelical Community in Armenia
Evangelical Church of Armenia
Evangelical Church
of Armenia has 50 churches and fellowships in different cities
and villages of Armenia and Karabagh. The Church aims at preaching
the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of Armenia and
strengthen the spiritual life of believers. Until recently,
Rev. Rene Leonian was the only ordained pastor in the Church,
helped by several Assistant Pastors. On November 26, 2000
two assistant pastors, Hamlet Kyureghyan and Guevork Guevorkian,
both from Yerevan, were ordained as pastors. The existence
of large Armenian Diaspora in Russia and Georgia challenged
the Evangelical Church of Armenia to start missionary activities
among the Armenians there. Currently, it has missionary churches
in Tbilisi, Akhalkalak (Georgia), Moscow and Sochi (Russia).
Christian Education
AMAA's Christian Education
(CE) program aims at helping children and youth to be established
and grow in their Christian faith; develop their God-given
talents to become good Christians, and good citizens, bringing
glory to God, honor to their country and joy to their parents.
AMAA-Armenia CE programs reach out to over 5,000 children
at over 60 locations in Armenia and Karabagh. Over 250 volunteers
serve in these ministries teaching the Bible, leading arts
and sports groups, conducting children choirs and theater
groups, providing foreign language instructions and helping
children in their homework.
During December and January, over 25,000 children and parents
participated in the 67 AMAA-Armenia organized Christmas programs
of drama, music and Santa Clause visits that were held in
forty-one locations. The Christmas programs delighted their
audience, and conveyed the Christmas message of God's love
and care using creative artistic tools.
Fourteen-thousand children received Christmas presents of
stationary, and candy. They also received AMAA-Armenia prepared
Christmas booklets of the Christmas story, puzzles, coloring
pictures and stimulating questions about the Christmas message
and their commitment to Jesus.
These programs were prepared and staged by AMAA CE staff and
volunteers. They were presented by children and youth participating
in AMAA Christian Education ministries. These programs often
attain the quality of professional productions. In many towns,
the AMAA program is the highlight of the local Christmas activities.
All these bring glory to God and promote Christianity in the
minds of people in a country that used to ridicule faith in
God.
AMAA CE programs are carried out in cooperation with the Evangelical
Church of Armenia and are coordinated by Mr. Harout Nercessian,
AMAA Armenia Deputy Representative and assisted by Ms. Tamar
Vasoyan.
Relief Projects
AMAA, in cooperation with
Hope for Armenia of France (and S.E.L.) and Dorcas Aid International
of Holland, sponsors 2,200 children in Armenia and Karabagh.
These children receive food, clothing, medical/dental services
(where available), Christian literature and visits from AMAA
staff and volunteers. Many of these children participate in
AMAA Christian Education programs and activities. We will
provide additional information on this program in future newsletters.
Evangelical Theological Seminary of Armenia
Evangelical Theological Seminary
of Armenia is the only evangelical school in Armenia where
ministers: men and women, from Armenia and Georgia receive
their theological education. Started in 1997 by the Union
of Evangelical Churches of Armenia, the Seminary has held
its first Commencement on November 29, 2000 with fifteen graduates
receiving their Bachelor of Theology degrees. Currently, 45
students continue the education in two different programs
specializing in Christian Education (CE) and Theology. In
June 2001 twenty students enrolled in CE program will graduate
from the Seminary. This year two more classes of approximately
15 students each will be admitted to begin classes in September
2001. The Faculty is composed of local and visiting professors
from the US, France, Canada, Switzerland, Lebanon and Holland.
These days, Dr. & Mrs. Dan and Nancy Jessen from the US are
teaching two courses to the Christian Education class.
Education
AMAA established the first
Evangelical School in Armenia in May 1999. One hundred children
are currently enrolled in the Khoren & Shoushanig Avedisian
Primary School, which currently has four Kintergarten classes
of twenty five children each. God willing, the Grade one class
begins in September 2001.
The school is located in the South-West District of Yerevan
(also known as Bangladesh) a densely populated poor neighborhood.
The children receive charge-free quality education, care and
nutrition.
Cultural
With the objective of encouraging
young musicians, in August 1996, AMAA Armenia created the
musical ensemble, called "The Young Virtuosos". The highly
talented six children that comprise the group are aged 9 to
14 year old. To date, the Young Virtuosos have given very
successful concerts in France, England, Syria, Lebanon, Canada
and the USA.
The Young Virtuosos delight their audiences with their beautiful
music, reminding them of Armenia's rich cultural heritage.
Prayer Requests
We solicit your prayers for the following:
- The leadership of the Evangelical
Church of Armenia. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and give them
wisdom in their ministries. Ask God to help them focus on
the essentials as they budget their time.
- The spiritual growth and maturity of the Seminary Students.
These men and women will lead our churches, and CE ministries.
The maturity of their spiritual lives and character is critical
for the effectiveness of our churches.
- Improvement of Armenia's economy, so that people may have
jobs to work and support their families. The pain of the people
due to poverty is very deep.
-
The children and youth of Armenia. Many have no motivation
to study, as they have no hope of finding jobs. Ask God to
touch their hearts so that they can find Jesus and hope in
him.
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| Worship
updated
February 1, 2001 |
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Armenian
Evangelical Church Delegation Visit President Robert Kocharian
On January 18, 2001 a delegation of Armenian Evangelical Churches
in Armenia paid a visit to the President of the Republic of
Armenia, Robert Kocharian.
The
delegation was headed by, Rev. Dr. Rene Leonian, Representative
of the Armenian Evangelical World Council in Armenia and the
Armenian Missionary Association of America in Armenia. Other
members of the delegation were: Rev. Yuri Avanesyan, President
of the Union of Evangelical Churches in Armenia; Rev. Roupen
Pahlevanian, Vice-President of the Union of Evangelical Churches
in Armenia; Rev. Hamlet Kyureghyan, Pastor, Evangelical Church
of Armenia in Yerevan; Rev. Guevork Guevorkian, Academic Dean,
Evangelical Theological Seminary of Armenia and Mr. Harout Nercessian,
Deputy Representative of Armenian Missionary Association of
America in Armenia.
The
purpose of the visit was to convey to the President the best
prayerful Christmas and New Year wishes of the Armenian Evangelical
Churches and members in Armenia and worldwide; the Armenian
Missionary Association of America and Hope For Armenia of France.
The visit lasted for 50 minutes, during which, honest discussions
took place about socio-economic and religious issues. In addition,
the role and contribution of the Armenian Evangelical Community
in Armenia in these areas was discussed. Rev. Rene Leonian updated
the president on the various relief, development educational
and ecclesiastic projects and activities carried out by the
AMAA and the Armenian Evangelical churches in Armenia and the
Republic of Nakorno Karabagh. He mentioned that the Armenian
Evangelical Church today has more than 50 Evangelical churches
and fellowships in Armenia. Its activities include nationalistic
and Christian education, relief, cultural, educational and development
projects. The church has its educational institution as well
as a Theological Seminary where church workers receive training.
The church pays special attention to the needy. She sponsors
over 2200 children and has charge-free medical and dental clinics
in Armenia and Karabagh. She assists orphanages, old-age homes
kindergartens and schools. Through the All-Armenian Fund, it
builds and renovates schools in the earthquake zone. The Evangelical
Church also carries out development projects in the earthquake
zone in order to create jobs for the local people. Over 9,500
children participate in Summer Camps organized by the Evangelical
churches. This year, over 25,000 children participated in Christmas
programs organized by the Church in Armenia and Karabagh. All
these are carried out in cooperation with local authorities
and the support of the Armenian Missionary Association of America.
Rev. Rene Leonian also mentioned that the Armenia Evangelical
Church closely cooperates with the Mother Church (Armenian Apostolic
Church) and the Armenian Catholic Church in the context of the
World Council of Churches Armenia Round Table, United Bible
Society of Armenia, and the Jinishian Memorial Fund, carrying
out Christian education, relief and development projects.
The President expressed his appreciation for the role and contribution
of Armenian Evangelicals in Armenia and encouraged them to carry
on their mission. He stressed the need for cooperation among
the three historical churches in Armenia in general and specifically
on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of Armenian Christianity.
All the members of the delegation expressed their prayerful
wishes to the president and complemented Rev. Leonian's information
on the contribution of Armenian Evangelicals in the life of
the people of Armenia.
The president highly valued the Evangelical's Christian Education
activities with the younger generation of Armenians, stressing
the need to strengthen their spirituality and morality. In addition,
the president stressed the need to strengthen self-confidence
and self-reliance among the people of Armenia and asked the
Evangelical community to work towards this objective. The delegation
assured the President of its cooperation in the strengthening
of the Independent Armenian State.
This was the first meeting of the President with the leadership
of the Armenian Evangelical Community in Armenia in the new
millennium. The President agreed to make these New Year visits
to the Presidency a tradition.
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An Open Letter of Invitation to Armenian Women
Dear
Armenian Evangelical Sisters in Christ,
As Armenians throughout the world embark on the 1700th anniversary
of our Christian faith as a nation, and as we celebrate the
100th anniversary of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North
America in 2001, we are reminded of our history comprised of
challenges to our faith and our survival as a people.
We
are also reminded of the role prayer has had in our lives as
Armenians for thousands of years. We often characterize our
Armenian grandmothers as "praying" women. One of those prayerful
Armenian women comes to mind, Mrs. Aznive Apkarian, a woman
of great faith who devoted her life to prayer - for her family,
for our churches and for others.
For many of us, Aznive is known as the founder of the World
Day of Prayer observances by Armenian women. Many years ago,
Aznive learned of a worldwide movement of women who joined together
annually to observe what is known as the World Day of Prayer.
This annual observance began in the United States in 1927 by
Church Women United. Recognizing the importance of prayer and
the impact unity in prayer has on mankind, Aznive initiated
the World Day of Prayer observance in our Armenian community
in Aleppo, Syria. She joined together the local Armenian churches
for an ecumenical worship service on the World Day of Prayer,
the first Friday in March each year. In 1969, Aznive began the
tradition in Los Angeles, gathering hundreds of Armenian women
together for the observance. When Aznive could no longer chair
the event due to failing health, the torch was passed on, and
the tradition carries on today in Los Angeles, San Francisco
and Paramus; and plans are being implemented to celebrate the
event in Fresno and Detroit as well.
The World Day of Prayer is a movement initiated and carried
out by women in more than 1 70 countries and regions. It is
a day in which women join to affirm their faith in Jesus Christ
and share their hopes and needs. The World Day of Prayer encourages
women to become aware of the world around them, to be enriched
by faith experiences of other women, to take up the burdens
of others and pray for them and to become aware of their own
talents and use them in service of society. The World Day of
Prayer 2001 faIls on March 2; and women throughout the world
will once again join hearts in prayer.
On behalf of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America,
I invite your church to be instrumental in beginning the observance
of the World Day of Prayer for Armenian Women in your community.
If you are interested in initiating an ecumenical worship/prayer
service, you may contact Church Women United directly for a
planning packet may contact me for assistance. Our joint effort
will unite us closer in fellowship as Armenian women and will
connect us with the larger body of Christian women throughout
the world. Our solidarity as Christian women in prayer will
bring strength and fortitude in an effort to make a positive
difference in the world.
God bless you as you go forth in celebration of the World Day
of Prayer and the 1700th anniversary of Armeniašs acceptance
of Christianity as a State religion in 301 C.E. Please inform
me of your plans, or feel free to contact me if I may be of
assistance. I look forward to our spirits joining together in
harmony and prayer on March 2, 2001.
Prayerfully,
Roseann Emerzian Saliba, L.M.F.T.
Advisor, Armenian Evangelical Womenšs Fellowship-West Coast
Former Chair of World Day of Prayer for Armenian Women, Los
Angeles P.O. Box 28493, Fresno, CA 93729
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