Mr. Hagop Akbasharian Preaching in the Mrouj Church

On Sunday, July 24 - the third worship service, for the summer of year 2011, was held in Mrouj Church. Mr. Hagop Akbasharian, studying theology at NEST, gave the sermon. Ms. Ani Baboghlanian, a member of Elders' Committee of the Emmanuel Church, led the worship. After the service, the church had fellowship and reception.



The Summer Camps are HERE!

SUMMER CAMPS ARE HERE!!!!!!
  • Kids' Camp, 8-15 August in Anjar, Lebanon (Speaker: Ms. L. Hekimian, Leader: Mr. H. Akbasharian, Topic: Yes, No, Wait) Price: 75$
  • Junior Youth Camp, 15-21 August in Anjar, Lebanon (Speaker: Badveli H. Cholakian, Topic: The Right Click) Price: 75$
  • Youth Camp, 25-28 August in Kchag, Lebanon (Speaker: Rev. Dr. P. Haidostian, Topic: Signs) Price 60$
  • Ladies' Camp, 29 Aug till 1 Sept in Reyfoun, Lebanon (Speaker: Ms. V. Balekjian) Price: 115,000LBP
KEEP THESE DATES AND PRAY FOR THE CAMPS TO BE A BLESSING FOR EVERYONE

Kchag Café Is Back!

KCHAG CAFE is BACK!

The Armenian Evangelical Summer Camp Center - Քրիստոնէական Ջանից Ամառնային Կեդրոն - will hold its Sunday Nights, starting at 5:00pm.
Everyone is Welcome to enjoy the cooler weather, and have fellowship and enjoy the food with all of us together.

The new team that will prepare the food is Mr. and Mrs. Raffi and Anita Andonian.


Invite your friends and bring them with you!

An Interview with Mrs. Yester Kilaghbian, on the Young Men and Women of Today

Many of the youth today have a wide range of options to select from, a chance or a challenge that their preceding generation didn't have. They face enormous challenges in their lives and they have to make the right decision at every opportunity or obstacle that they encounter. In order to receive further light about the youth today, we contacted Mrs. Yester Kilaghbian, the yeretsgin of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Anshrafieh, to share with us from her several years of experience with the youth.

(Interview by Raffi)

Raffi - What is the need of the young men and women?
Yester - Love is the basic need for every person and especially for young men and women. It is important for them to feel that they are loved by parents, extended family, teachers, leaders and friends. They need to be loved as they are and that love will help them become better. So, they need to be understood and appreciated.

Raffi - How different are youth today, compared to 10 years ago?
Yester - Well, there are many common things between youth today compared to ten years ago. They fear the uncertainty of the future, are afraid of commitment, feel that the older generation does not understand them, want independence and look for change. Few of the differences that I have seen is that 10 years ago, university students did not need to work along with their studies but nowadays they study and they work in order to pay the tuitions. This is one of the reasons that they are absent from church and youth activities. Today’s youth are indifferent to many issues like spiritual and social. Ten years ago they didn’t have this much access to technology and whenever they are not careful, they are misusing technology meanwhile they can benefit from it.

Raffi - What is the biggest challenge and trouble that youth face today?
Yester - There are many challenges that youth face today.

  1. Spiritual: when spiritual values are diminishing and becoming less important.
  2. Financial: the increasing expenses and the importance of comparing oneself with others which results in dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
  3. Moral: The moral standards are changing and moral beliefs are presented as old fashioned.
  4. Social: Many people believe that honesty is diminishing and everyone is worried about himself/herself and does not care for the other. People help in order to benefit or else they will not stretch their helping hands.
  5. Losing hope: Many young people have drug and drinking addictions when they think that these are the only ways to handle their problems.
Raffi - How can today’s youth overcome these troubles?
Yester -
  • By being a fish and not a log. The fish has the ability to swim against the current whereas the log can not choose its direction and is led by the current.
  • By being followers of Christ and being obedient to Him and putting all their trust and worries in God’s Hands.
  • By being leaders and not following of moral values and setting good standards and becoming good examples to others.
  • By having faith and hope that tomorrow is full of options and living today while waiting for a better tomorrow.

Raffi - How can the youth have effective involvement within the church life?
Yester - “Once a chanitsagan…always a chanitsagan…”. I believe in this motto and I live accordingly since I was 18 years old. This may mean that I will remain part of the church as far as I believe that I am a member of the youth group.

Youth can have effective involvement in the church life first of all by being there, being present in church and that should be wholeheartedly and especially physically.

As the Apostle Paul has advised Timothy, youth should be examples of faith and by proving their spiritual and mental maturity, they will be given leadership roles within the church. They will be misunderstood, judged, criticized by the older generation but also they have the chance to be loved, advised and trusted. The only thing they need is patience.

165th Anniversary of the Founding of the Armenian Evangelical Church

On Sunday, 3 July, 2011, in the Armenian Evangelical First Church, the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, celebrated with a worship service, the 165th Anniversary of the forming of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Istanbul in 1846.

The guests were Archbishop Kegham Khatcherian, representing the Armenian Apostolic Church and Vartan Ashkarian representing the Armenian Catholic Church. Present were also the Bourj Hammoud mayor, Mr. Antranig Messerlian, the Armenian Embassy representative, and the Armenian political parties as well as various social organizations.

The following pastors led the service: Rev. Paul Haidostian, Rev. Hovhannes Sevajian, Rev. Soghomon Kilaghbian, Rev. Raffi Messerlian, Rev. Hrayr Cholakian and Rev. Vicken Cholakian. The Armenian Evangelical Armiss choir, led by maestro Garo Avessian, also sang two hymns.

The President of the UAECNE, Rev. Mgrdich Karagoezian gave the sermon. “An alert mind, a kind heart, a devoted spirit, those were the qualities of our ancestors who led us with their vision”, said Rev. Karagoezian.

“Our culture and heritage might show our origins. However, that would not be enough to save us” he also added.

After the service, an exhibition was held at Haigazian University, featuring Armenian Evangelical publications, photographs, and communion and baptism vessels and church utensils.

Rev. Paul Haidostian, president of Haigazian University, gave a brief introduction of the exhibited objects, stating that some of them were used by the pastors. Moreover, he mentioned that some of the photographs were gathered from the collection of Rev. Manasseh Shnorhokian.











Photos (first four), courtersy of Mr. Krikor Aynilian

Mrs. Vera Svajian Preaching in the Mrouj Church

On Sunday, July 17 - the second worship service, for the summer of year 2011, was held in Mrouj Church. Mrs. Vera Svajian, the yeretsgin of the Armenian Evangelical Church gave the sermon, as well as played the piano. Mr. Sam Svajian, a member of Elders' Committee of the Emmanuel Church, led the worship. After the service, the church had fellowship and reception.





















To Measure or Not to Measure?

This is an age old debate for the ministry world. Just so you know, I believe we can and must measure everything and that everything can be measured in the ministry world in fact it is our stewardship duty to do so.

For generations we have done ministry measurement by looking at attendance, buildings and cash. Did we have the biggest crowd this year or last? Do we have the latest technology, most comfortable room for our kids etc...? Do we have the most beautiful facilities compared to other churches around, a missions program that spent more this year than last, and have we grown our staff numbers? Take a look at your church calendar. Is it packed? Have you considered your ministry a success because you have developed activities for every age group, need or possible interest? Just how are you really measuring your ministry?

From what I see as I travel, I think success is often defined by busyness. But is that what God has called us to do? No, and it is an easy answer. Well if it's not all these things then what should you measure to determine if God is honored and pleased with the outcome of your efforts? Should we measure holiness? Yes, holiness is measured by what it takes to discourage you, see it can be measured.

Let me ask you, why does your ministry exist? The answer is easily found, you exists to make disciples. Not evangelism? No, to create more funds for missions? No, bigger staff? No, your ministry exists to make people better disciples, to have them lean into their heavenly father, further this month than last.
What we must measure is how many of "our people" are becoming totally devoted followers of Christ. It can be measured by how many are involved in ministry this year over next, how many people are doing the "work of the ministry".

Granted, making disciples is hard work, and it may be even harder to measure them. It is tempting to measure the easy stuff and just assume that the easy stuff is the indicator of our spiritual impact. I fear we have been measuring the wrong way and the wrong things for years. If we would measure the right things in the right way I believe w would have a greater impact in our communities and around the world.

Tom Atema