First ever Children’s Ministry Training Conference in the Gulf

UAE November 2007: 240 participants from 4 different Arab Gulf States came together for the first ever children’s ministry training conference in the Arabian Peninsula. In October the Bible Society in the Gulf facilitated the first Beyond Words 2007 conference organized by the Grain of Wheat Foundation from Lebanon. The highly innovative training conference was held over three days in October at the Dubai Evangelical Church Centre in Jebel Ali Dubai, UAE.


The Sunday School teachers, children’s ministry workers and catechists who attended were from several mainline traditions such as the Catholic, Episcopalian, Marthoma, Orthodox, Evangelical, Baptist and Pentecostal churches. Workshops in 9 different skills and theatricals were conducted and the conference delegates received training in story-telling, drama, clowning, puppetry, ventriloquism, tricks and illusion, children’s worship, technology and keep fit.





Each of these different areas presented the delegates with unique, fun and interesting techniques to deliver the Gospel message and Biblical values to children.
Shahab said, “My attitude to teaching the Bible to children will never be the same, my classes will never be the same.” Maria from one of the local churches said: “This conference has inspired our creativity and rekindled our commitment to children’s ministry.” Elizabeth said: “Now I have learned three new forms through which I can open up God’s Word to children. Using fun techniques such as these will remove the boring element from my classes.” John said, “I didn’t realize that leading children’s worship is a lot more demanding than adult worship. This workshop also helped me see the importance of conveying correctly, basic theological concepts based on an accurate interpretation of God’s Word.” Besides training exposure conference participants could also appreciate the diversity and unity in the church. Eustachia said “thanks to the Bible Society, I was able to meet people from different church backgrounds. People I wouldn’t have normally met.” For many of the delegates attending it was their first time visit to the Jebel Ali Bible Centre also located in DECC. Hala, Annie and Shibu said “We are amazed at the variety of Children’s Bibles and materials available here in the UAE”. Cyril, Raji, Anthony and many others asked, “When is the Bible Society organizing another conference like this? We want all our friends to attend and not miss a special opportunity like this one.”

* We received this news from Hrayr Jebejian, General Secretary- The Bible Society in the Gulf.

Orbituary of Rev. Samuel Aghapegian‏

Dear brothers and sisters,

It is with deep sorrow we inform you of the passing away of the Rev. Samuel Aghapegian.

Rev. Aghapegian was born in Aligoudarz, Iran in 1947 into the family of Samson and Herignaz Aghapegians. He grew up in the Armenian Evangelical Church in Tehran. He married to Arpineh Mahshigian. He studied in NEST and graduated in Bachelors in Theology in 1984. They served the church together from July 1984 to 1989 in Ekizolukh and Keorkune Armenian Evangelical Churches. Rev. Samuel Aghapegian was ordained to pastorate in August of 1987.
He left the churches because of health problems and came to Beirut in 1990-1991 to serve with his wife in the Centers for Armenian Handicapped in Lebanon taking care of the elderly and leading the Evangelical worship services of both, Centers for the Armenian Handicapped and the Armenian Sanatorium of Azounieh in Lebanon. Rev. Aghapegian was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday Nov 14th ,2007 because of a heavy cerebral stroke.

He passed away very early morning of Thursday Nov 15th 2007.

Rev. Aghapegian is survived by his wife Arpineh Mahshigian Aghapegian, his mother Herignaz
his sisters Anna of USA & Ardzemnig of Tehran and his brother in the USA.

The funeral service will take place on Thursday Nov 22, 2007 at 1:00pm in the Armenian Evangelical Church of Nor Marash of Bourj Hammoud.

The family and the UAECNE will receive condolences on Thursday and Friday of Nov 22 and 23, 2007 from 4 - 7 pm in the Christian Endeavour hall of the Armenian Evangelical Church of Nor Marash-Bourj Hammoud.

How did my picture go public?

1- What will you do when someone posts your picture on a pornographic website?
2- What will you do when someone posts an old picture on Facebook, a picture that you don't want the whole world to see?

Recently, I saw #2 on Facebook. Someone had posted a picture that was taken during a party, a year ago. The other person, who is in the picture, saw the image and immediately requested to take it off.

The questions: Who has the right to post a picture in which you are also involved? Do you want everyone to know about your personal activities? What will happen if the other person ignores your request? Do you have the right to protect yourself?

Still these issues are not taken seriously. However, these issues will be much more discussed about in the coming months. I am sure.

Another less serious one, that took place again on Facebook, was when an old group picture was posted and every individual in the picture was tagged. One person requested the picture to be removed, because he/she did not like the picture or did not want everyone to see his/her old picture.

A rather serious, what is called cyberbullying, happened with a decent person, whose profile was cropped and attached to a nude body, and this person's real phone number was posted.

These are not generic cases and they are not the majority.

However, it doesn't end here... Here's another article that I read in Aztag newspaper in Armenian, publised on Nov. 5:
ԲԱՄԲԱՍԱ՞ՆՔ, ԹԷ ԲԱՆՆ ԱՍԱՆԿ
...Վերջին քանի մը տարիներուն մոտան բջիջայինով դպրոց գալն է։ Մասնաւորաբար բարձրագոյն կարգերու աշակերտներ իրենց հետ դասարան կը տանին բջիջային գործիքը՝ առանց ենթարկուելու տնօրէնութեան արգելքին։ Վերջին նորոյթն ալ գերարդիական բջիջայիններն են, որոնք տեղւոյն վրայ կը նկարեն դասարանին շարժումները, ուսուցիչին ելումուտքը, տգեղ վիճակներ ցուցադրելով։
Այս պարագաներու մէջ ո՞ւր են ընտանիքները, երբ ճշմարտութիւնը եւ դաստիարակութեան սկզբունքները կը յայտարարեն. «Առաջին դպրոցը տունն է, առաջին ուսուցիչը՝ ծնողքը»...
It is also not a coincidence to read a similar article about one of the schools in USA:
Cellphones in Classrooms Land Teachers on Online Video Sites
Education Week News - Bethesda,MD,USA
Paul Martin, a teacher at the private AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School in Canoga Park, Calif., said a student once taped him with a cellphone while he was ...
There are at least two views, regarding the issues mentioned above. The first one, is more permissive, saying that these issues will not be serious concerns in the coming years, because everyone will be uploading pictures and videos of their activities. Hence, no one will feel threatened or even interested, because of the vast amount of videos found online. While, the second view asks for more rules and regulations, so that everyone would benefit from the internet, instead of feeling that their privacy is being invaded.

What can be done, then? Should we get rid of this whole new technology, called the internet? This would be the simplest and easiest, yet deficient procedure.
I propose that what can at least be done and should be done is educating the youth and the young adults about their proper internet use, and teaching them how to behave online in the proper manner.

Raffi

Your turn. Have you thought about these issues? Have you had similar incidents?

What is my role in church?

By Jon Khoshafian

Issue #8: December 2005, CAMP AREV NEWSLETTER, USA

God has given everyone talents and gifts that we need to use to minister to others. For some the gift or talent is public speaking. For others, it is music. Everyone has a talent…everyone. God did not create boring, untalented people. God has a plan for you. In Romans 12, Paul talks about a body. He begins to explain that a body has many members and different parts of the body have different functions.We are the different parts of the body and the different functions are our talents. Paul also wants to do away with any type of superiority when it comes to talents. He says, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought” (Romans 12: 3). Don’t feel intimidated that your talent might not be as up front and popular as others’. Paul says that all functions of the body are important. So the question is: Are you using your talent for God’s kingdom? There are brothers and sisters around you using their talents to encourage, comfort, and teach you about the character of God; but are you doing the same? Or are you simply wasting the talent God has given you by either not using it to edify the church or by not using it at all? I recommend a book called, Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper. The book talks about living a mediocre, inactive Christian life, which seems to be a waste of God’s gift to you. Ask yourself, “What is my talent? What am I good at? Sports? Music? Acting?” Only you and those close to you know your talents. After you have assessed what your talents are, you must understand what Paul says in the beginning of Romans 12:1 : “…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” Ask the leader at your church how you can use your talent in a church ministry, or how you can start your own ministry. Don’t think that if you’re young you can’t do great things for God.
Because at the end of your life you don’t want to look back and say, “I wasted it.”

Chanasser (Ջանասէր) October 2007 Issue

Բովանդակութիւն՝
  • Դպրոցը՝ Մանկավարժական Հիմնարկ... Երուանդ Հ. Քասունի
  • Բարեկարգութեան Հիմնական Ուսուցումները... ًՎեր. Եսայի Սարմազեան
  • Տոքթ. Մկրտիչ Սմբատ Գաբրիէլեան (1856-1919)/Մտաւորական Ժառանգը... Երուանդ Հ. Քասունի
  • «Հայրս Հայ էր»... Վեր. Յովհաննէս Սարմազեան
  • Ընտանիքին Գործակցութիւնը Դպրոցին Հետ... Յովհաննէս Թ. Հինդլեան
  • Հայ Դպրոցին Մաշտոցեան Առաքելութիւնը... Երուանդ Հ. Քասունի
  • «Սիփան»ը Վաթսուն Երեք Տարեկան... Արամ Տէմիրճեան
  • Համագործակցութիւնը Հաճելի Է... Լարիսա Արամեան
  • Քեսապի Դպրոցը (1949-1951)... Վեր. Եսայի Սարմազեան
  • Կենսագրութիւն Կամ Օրական Գրութիւն... Հայկ Ստեփան Խ. Իւթիւճեան
  • Վերջին Լուրեր Ատանայէն... Թարգ.՝ Եւնիկէ Եագուպեան
  • Երեխաներին Հայկական Դպրոց Տանելու Համար Հայ Ընտանիքներում Քարոզչութիւն Է Պէտք... Աղաւնի Յարութիւնեան
  • Ծննդեան 90-Ամեակ- Ժագ Ս. Յակոբեան... Ե.Հ.Ք.
  • Նամակ Ժագ. Ս. Յակոբեանին... Արամ Ա.
  • Ժագ Յակոբեան... Տոքթ. Ռոբովթ Չորպաճեան
  • Վնասին Շահը - Հաշուեկշիռ/Աշխարհաշարժիչը... Ժ.Յ.
  • Յիսուսի Թուաբանութիւնը... Ժագ Յակոբեան
  • «Արաբ Մատենագիրներ Թ-Ժ Դարեր», Ներածութիւնը եւ Բնագրերից Թարգմանութիւնները Արամ Տէր-Ղեւոնդեանի... Ե.Հ.Ք.
  • Հայ Աւետարանական Կեանք
  • Մահագրութիւն՝ Յովհաննէս Եագուպեան (1914-2007)... Միքայէլ Եուսուֆեան
  • Լուրեր Հայաշխարհէն
Սեփականատէր՝ Մերձաւոր Արեւելքի Հայ Աւետ. Եկեղեցիներու Միութիւն
Հրատարակիչ՝ Մ.Ա.Հ.Ա.Ե. Միութեան Հրատարակչական Մարմին
Owner: Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East
Publisher: U.A.E.C.N.E. Publications Committee

The Armenian Evangelical Church of Cyprus, Interview with Luther & Ruth Nassanian

Interview with Mr. Luther Nassanian about the Armenian Evangelical Church of Cyprus.

  • Can you give our readers a brief history about the Armenian Evangelical Church and community in Cyprus?
The first Arm. Evangelical Church started in Nicosia in 1946. Until then the Armenian believers were worshiping the Lord along with others in the Presbyterian church. But for some reasons they wanted to have their own place so they started to gather by themselves, first in the premises of the American academy, and later they built their own Church building. Rev Aghbabaian, Mr.Kassouni and Rev. Dermugurditchian were some, who led and preached and took care of this new Church. Later in the fifty's, they also started to gather in Larnaca too. Rev Sagherian, Mr. Mihran Jismedjian, Mr. Levon Yergatian, and Mr. Aram Sarkissian were some who led the flock and nurtured them. After the Turkish invasion, as many left the island, the Church building was also in the occupied area, so the rest of the Armenian believers joined other Churches. In 2002, with the encouragement of Mrs. Nvart kassouni and Lydia Gulesserian, we restarted to gather as Armenian evangelicals [inviting all the Armenians] to gather in the Larnaca Evangelical Greek Church, once every month.
Since 2005, after Hrayr Jebedjian moved to Cyprus, Nicosia, we started having these monthly gatherings in the Nicosia Evangelical Church.
We try to reach the whole community, so the meetings are announced from the Armenian radio hour, and also in the Gibrahayer [Armenian magazine].
We have had quite a good number of people from the different backgrounds come and hear God's Word and the message of Salvation through Jesus Christ.
  • Are there any Armenian Evangelical Churches on the Greek side? If no, where do you meet?
We do not have an Armenian Evangelical Church building, but the Greek Evangelicals gladly let us use their premises both in Nicosia and Laranca.
  • What are the issues that the Armenian community in general and the Armenian Evangelical community in particular face in Cyprus?
The Armenian community here is self sufficient and complacent. Most of them are financially in a good position. We pray that God will work in their hearts and create the hunger for Himself. Please pray that, they will respond to the call when we invite them, and after they come, to respond to the call of Jesus. Those who have come always appreciate the ministry. The Armenian Evangelicals: Most of them are members of other [English speaking, or Greek] churches. So, some find it hard to commit themselves to this new Armenian church gatherings. A special prayer request: Soon, in October, we will have pastor Krikor Aghabaloghlu visit us and preach in all three cities [we will use the Anglican Church premises in Limassol]. We are inviting all Armenians to come and hear God's Word through his servant. Note: Rev. Krikor AghabalOghlu arrived in Cyprus, preached and met the Armenian community, in October.
  • Are there any Armenian (Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical) churches on the Turkish side? If yes, what is their condition?
There is one Arm. Orthodox and one Arm. Evangelical Church on the Northern [Turkish] side of Cyprus. They both are in a poor condition. We also have the Magara Vank, which is destroyed [almost completely]. There is no Armenian catholic church on the island.
  • What would you like to say to the Armenian youth in Lebanon?
As for the youth in Lebanon, we do pray for you, as we know you are living in difficult circumstances. God give you peace in your heart, and use the opportunities to reach out to people who still are living without the Hope you have in Christ. You have great potentials and opportunities, use it to the utmost to spread the Kingdom of God. Keep the unity in Spirit amongst yourself, and love one another, so that people around you will know that your are the disciples of Jesus.

In His love,
Luther and Ruth Nassanian

* The pictures of the Armenia Evangelical Church in North Cyprus are provided by Hrayr Jebejian. You can see that the church building is being used for sewing purposes.

AMAA has put on new clothes :)

AMAA (Armenian Missionary Association of America) website has taken off its old clothes and has put on the new one. The new seems more lively and neat, with more pictures. Congrats!

By the way, the 2nd picture, at the bottom of the first image, is the picture of Armenian Evangelical Secondary School of Marash (Shamlian Tatigian).

New website
Old website
AMAA Website: http://www.amaa.org/

Rev. Dr. Kenneth Bailey in Lebanon, lecturing in NEST

On Nov. 12 and 13, Dr. Kenneth Bailey lectured in NEST (Near East School of Theology). The hall was almost full. The youth and pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church were also present and listened to the Bible Scriptures explained in the Middle Eastern point of view.

For more information about Dr. Bailey, you can click here.





KHOROVADSI YEREGO ...


The Chanits Varchoutoun is organizing a KHOROVADSI YEREGO ... on FRIDAY 16th of November, at 9:00 PM (after the football game) in the church courtyard ...
Come and ENJOY ...

Sipan, the Shamlian-Tatigian dance group cheered the crowd

On Nov. 10, 2007, the Emmanuel Chanitz members attended the Hovannes Boghosian Theater House, where Sipan, the Armenian Evangelical Shamlian-Tatigian Secondary High School's dance group filled the crowd with joy and enthusiasm, for more than one and half hours. They danced different folk dances and showed a joyous attitude through their performance. Moreover, even though they are not professionals, they danced very well.



On Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzLUGbBhYk0