Torosian’s KG Graduation

Friday June 13, 2008 wrapped up the academic year for the Armenian Evangelical Torosian Kindergarten classes.
It was God’s grace that guided us and led us through out this year which was full of insecurities and uncertainties until we reached the appointed date for the end-of-year graduation ceremony.
17 students graduated from KGII in an enchanting performance which included 3 different dances from every KG class, choreographed by their teachers, songs in different languages, Armenian, Arabic and English, with the accompaniment of the Piano, Mrs. Negdar Palazian and an interesting play presented by a dialogue and directed by Mr. Robert Arakelian.
The graduates expressed their wishes of what to become when they grow up in a DVD recording.
The commencement ended by principal, Mrs Seta Karageozian’s encouraging word and Rev. Hovhanness Sevadjian’s blessing player.
We thank our Lord for His endless love and care and ask Him for His presence in the coming years and in many more to come Torosian commencements.

Torosian


Emails and Messages

Shahe Demirjian (Lebanon, Marash Church): "Thanks for sending me these news guys, keep on this work and God bless you."

Krikor DerGarabedian (USA, originally from Ashrafieh Church): "thank you for sending the updates of your website."

Andreas A. Rudolph (USA): Sireli engerner, from 1980 to 1982 I was 'Anjarzi', being originally from Germany. Now I am serving as Gen. Secr. World's Christian Endeavor Union, living in the US (New Jersey). Thank you Raffi for your e-mail and thank you for this forum. I long to come to Lebanon and Syria and visit the tschanitz there, but I am short of time. Also I would like to see what is left from Christian Endeavor in Egypt (maybe also Iraq). Does anybody of you have any connections with CE over there or does know about them? I am presently trying to get into contact with them. Any help is welcome. Badvelli Ekmekjian, please give my regards to Badvelli Serop Megerditchian. Shnorhagallutiun!! shad gesirem kesi pollorovin!

Hovig Trtrian (USA?): parev tsez shad oraxem vor meshd lav namagner gi xrgek enze hachoxotyon gi maxtem tseze yev parevners anmen meg chanitzagane yev lav orer poloret.

Hrayr Jebejian (Cyprus): Thanks for keeping us posted with all the recent news. Keep up the good job.

Salpie Dermenjian (Lebanon): God bless you I love your newsletter/blog.

Boghos Malian (Lebanon): congratulations... I congratulate our school and their lovely students for being the 3rd in the levam's mini football tournament (the small category) and I congratulate their coach Mr. Mike Hagopian. I hope this success will continue and you'll come in first during the coming years...

Our Partners in Ministry

Haigazian University
Haigazian University is a liberal arts institution of higher learning which operates on the United States model of higher education using English as the language of instruction. Its purpose is to provide quality education in a Christian environment where academic freedom and the search and dissemination of truth are predominant. It seeks to empower students both for leadership positions and as professionals to serve in the Armenian and non-Armenian Lebanese communities as well as in the Middle East.


P. & E. Torosian School
Torosian is a neighborhood school. Most of the students live a walking distance from school. The school implements the Lebanese Government Curriculum in Kindergarten, Elementary and Intermediate levels. The school's mission is to educate the Armenian new generation with Christian, Armenian, sound and decent education. Mrs. Seta Karageozian is the principal of the school.


Armenian Evangelical Trad School
The school was built specifically for disadvantaged children – the generation of the Armenian refugees who, because of their desperate situation, were left without education. The school, today, shares its building with the social center, which is available for the children after school hours, where they can study & receive help. The social center also reaches the children & the adolescents through spiritual & social activities. The present social worker is Mrs. Rita Lao Manjelikian. The present principal of the school is Mrs. Vera Svajian.


Armenian Evangelical Christian Endeavor Union
The Armenian Evangelical Christian Endeavor Union of Syria and Lebanon (Armenian: Լիբանանի և Սուրիոյ Հայ Աւետարանական Եկեղեցիներու Քրիստոնէական Ջանից Միութիւն) is the youth organization that is affiliated with the World Christian Endeavor Union and the Christian Endeavor International. The Armenian Evangelical CE Union mostly coordinates with the youth ministries of local churches and at the same time it runs two summer camp sites (Monte Verdi-Lebanon and Kessab-Syria) where various groups (Children, Teenage, Youth and Young couples) organize their summer camps and conferences.


Armenian Evangelical Trad Social Center
The center tries to reach to the needs of the Armenian community, bringing to it hope and improving their living conditions. It provides shelter, food, and medicine for the people. Under the wing of the center also operates its DVBS school, its youth group affiliated with CE Union, and it's kids group.




Howard Karageuzian Foundation
The Howard Karageuzian (HK) Commamorative Corporation was founded in New York in 1921 by Mr. and Mrs. Mihran and Zabel Karageuzians in memory of their son Howard who died of malaria while only 14.





Ջանասէր
Chanaser, the bimonthly magazine, is published by the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East.

Owner: Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East
Publisher: U.A.E.C.N.E. Publications Committee



Bible Bookshop
The Christian store for gifts, Bibles, and Christian books. Whoever likes to gift a nice present can find suitable gifts for suitable prices with quality products. The store is located next to the Armenian Brotherhood Church, in Armenia Street.




Soulahian Super Store
The store where you will find your needs met; whether you need kitchen equipments, or gifts that you need to buy, or toys, ornaments for your salon, or electrical equipments... The store is located near Shamlian Tatigian High School, in Bourj Hammoud, Sin el Fil Roadway.




Peter's Brass
Established in 1951 as a family business: Peter's Brass is one of the major firms in the awards, gifts and sign industry in Lebanon today.
Character and expression is the result of much given attention to the fine artistic and technical details.
Combined with modern technology and traditional hand finish, they cast the events of today into living history.


Learn Matrix and Montage your Videos
MATRIX has become an indispensable software that any jewel designer today is using to design much more accurately and satisfy their clients.

Moreover, they can also take care of the video-recording needs for your events and montaging the recordings for you.

Seven habits of highly ineffective churches

1. Elevate mediocrity to a spiritual discipline. Figure out where average falls and aim below there. Doing things with excellence, joy and flair may make someone uncomfortable. God doesn't really expect much anyhow.

2. Take no risks. A successful practice of risk avoidance is often best achieved by sending any and all new ideas to a minimum of four boards or committees who understand it's their role to say no to any new ideas. This process may need to be reinforced by remarks noting how a particular idea might make the church liable, cost money or ruffle feathers.

3. Practice the following evangelism strategy: "If they want us, they know where to find us." Assume that everyone does know where you are and what you are. It also can be helpful if your building looks like a medieval fortress. If you don't have that going for you, encourage ushers and greeters to look like palace guards as they perform their role.

4. Blame early and often. Maintaining dysfunction in a congregation is made easier if scapegoats are regularly identified. In some congregations, ministers make wonderful scapegoats. You may also blame "newcomers," or "people who don't understand how we do things in this church." If all else fails, blame the conference, the denomination or Satan.

5. Always be prepared to make an account of the excuses that are within you. Have an all-purpose excuse such as, "I've just been so busy" (elaborate at great length just how busy you are, implying that no one else is busy). Occasionally try out a creative new excuse, such as, "Our dog ate the printer-ink cartridge and required an emergency appendectomy. He is now very busy, too."

6. Make it clear to all that the job of the pastor(s) and staff is to keep everyone, meaning church members, happy. Think of your church as the "Love Boat" and the pastor as the cruise director and activity planner. The job of clergy and staff members is to keep everyone on board happy. If someone is unhappy, it's a sure sign your pastor is not doing the job.

7. Spend as little money as possible. Even though you may enjoy spending money on personal things like a car or a cruise, you can demonstrate your commitment to modesty and simple lifestyle at church. The very best programs cost nothing. And why would your church building need renovation? If it was good enough for your grandparents, it'll be good enough for your grandchildren.

By ANTHONY B. ROBINSON

Armenian Evangelical Torosian School's Choir Performs

51 Torossian students glowed on the stage of Hovhannes Boghossian in a Jolly spring choir, conducted my Mrs. Nectar Palazian, on Friday the 30th of May 2008. Jolly and joyful best describe the choir mood and the songs. The piano accompaniment was done by Miss Maria Palazian and the dialogue was directed by Mr. Robert Arakelian. The theme of the choir was spring and the springtime birds, butterflies and the bees. Accordingly the songs were chosen and chanted. Also there was an Arabic Medley and Armenian traditional classic songs. The audience was enchanted with this delightful choir, and we thank our Lord for his watch over us through all this time so we could work on and present this piece of art.

Torosian

Individualism

I can't really grasp the power and effect of individualism on the American community in general and the Christian community in specific. Here in the Middle East, Lebanon, being part of the community plays a great role in people's lives and even more in the lives of ethnic minorities.

If you see a stranded motorist on the freeway, total strangers would come along and help out without even being asked. Now, that's truly a great blessing to still have here. Americans think the East and Middle Easterners are "friendly-freaks" that they open up their houses to strangers and have dinner with them without social barriers.

However, people in the east want to be more like the west since they think their individual identities are being assimilated, while westerners think the east is blessed to be living in a community as theirs.

During the 2006 July War, two Christians visited bombed villages in the South to support them materially. They came to one house which was hit badly by Israeli bombs and asked the dwellers - who had refused to leave their home - how they could lend a helping hand. The man's reply was this: "I just want you two to come inside and drink coffee with me."

They headed to the village to be a blessing to others. Instead they left the village being blessed themselves.

Manochil