ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH -NOR MARASH DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL - 2011

Isn’t it wonderful to remember that we can always trust God? Financial needs, volunteer teachers, organization of trips… were full of concern. But trusting in the Lord made us enjoy and have a wonderful summer school full of God’s protection and blessings.

D.V.B.School took place in Nor Marash Church from 4 July – 5 August, 2011 from Monday to Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
12 volunteer teachers served God, by working in D.V.B.S. Most of them enjoyed their first experience, always having in mind ‘The Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21)’, that God has trusted His work to us. So, we have to serve Him with all our hearts; doing our best.
We had 78 children whose ages varied between three and thirteen years old.

The five-week program was the following (except for the trip-days):
1. Physical Exercises
2. Worship (prayers, spiritual songs, Psalm 8, Bible stories)
3. Class Division for Bible Lessons & Crafts (according to age)
4. Recess (individual/group games & snacks)
5. Activity Time (hand-crafts, watching videos, & swimming-pool [with barbeque]).
6. Club Division (dance, sports & crafts)

Usually, the majority of the children were from non-Evangelical schools/ families. We are glad for this, because the D.V.B.S. aim was to offer them the chance to hear about Jesus, closer to their hearts.

During worship we emphasized the importance of prayer. We taught them that they should pray every day for themselves and for others. And it was lovely to see children who never prayed and who started trying to talk to Lord Jesus by praying few words.

Our goal was to lead the children to learn to be OBEDIENT, starting from their homes, to their parents and then being Obedient to God, by reading and keeping God’s word in their heart.
They studied 10 Bible lessons through the exciting Bible stories. All heroes were taken of Being obedient or disobedience.
The kids enjoyed the lessons because each had exciting workbooks for activities, which all were taken home at the end of DVBS.

The trip days were one of the most awaited days. Thank God, we were able to have a trip once a week. We went 2 times to “KCHAG”, the Christian Endeavour Resort Campus, where we worshiped God and had indoor and outdoor activities with lunch. Then we went to the “Luna Park”, ‘Splash Land” swimming pool, and “Jungle Land” playground. And also children were enjoying having swimming pools and BBQ lunch in our campus.
We had Birthday Party with “Parev Pokrigner” group. Their characters created great interest and happy atmosphere. They played drama having a moral lesson “ Being obedient” and played games with children. Children were served with juice, cakes, and popcorn. At the end of the party the children were distributed gifts (T-shirts, shorts and pants) donated from World Vision. Children were very happy with that.
The last day we had our wonderful farewell party, parents were invited to hear a lecture about ‘how to teach and behave with our children to make them learn obedience’ then children performed all the songs, verses, psalms, prayers, and the dance that they have learned through 5 weeks. At the end each child received his work in a decorated file, and CD of all their pictures as a memory.

We’ve never let any child deprived of DVBS’s joy, as a result of his financial situation.

We are thankful to all whose financial support was an encouragement for all of us. The World Vision, the Youth Endeavor (Korzatir) , and to our Church board.

We are so grateful to God for the year’s blessings of harmony, success, and safety. We thank God for all the volunteer supporters in different essential and unique ways. And to all our teachers:
Virjinia, Dzovig, Sonig, Mary, Narin, Anahid, Joseph, Apel, Araz, Hasmig and Patil,

Teaching children is hard work. It’s exhausting but most of all it is FUN, FUN, FUN! The most important job we’ve done. May God bless each child, the teachers who taught God’s wonderful Word to His precious children, those who prayed for us, and those who helped us financially and morally.

Truly,

Anita Jamgotchian-Andonian

World Vision





Happy Birthday






Splashland






Super Students




At Kchag






















Rev. Hrayr Cholakian Preaching in the Mrouj Church

On Sunday, September 25 - the last worship service, for the summer of year 2011, was held in Mrouj Church. Rev. Hrayr Cholakian, pastor of the First Armenian Evangelical Church, gave the sermon. Mr. Samuel Svajian, a member of Elders' Committee of the Emmanuel Church, led the worship. After the service, the church had fellowship and reception.





Republic of Armenia- Diaspora Cooperation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Conference

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Armenia and the 55th anniversary of Haigaizan University, in cooperation with the Republic of Armenia Ministry of Diaspora, Haigazian University and Yerevan State University, the “Armenia-Diaspora Cooperation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” conference took place at Haigaizan University in Beirut from September 5 to September 7, 2011. The official opening of the conference took place on Monday, September 5, 2011. The speakers at the official opening session were the Ambassador of the Armenian Republic in Lebanon, HE Mr. Ashod Kocharian, the President of Haigazian University, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, the President of the Yerevan State University, Rector Prof. Aram Simonian and the Minister of Diaspora, Dr. Hranoush Hagopian.


Among the capacity audience present were Rev. and Mrs. Mgrditch Karagoezian, Archbishops Kegham Khacherian and Vartan Ashkarian, Minister General Panos Manjian, Minister and Mrs. Vrej Sabounjian, MP and Mrs. Serj Toursakissian, MP Jean Oghassapian, MP Hagop Pakradouni, MP Shant Chinchinian, MP Sebouh Kalpakian, and numerous political, academic and community leaders and guests.

During the first session, Tuesday, September 6, 2011 (moderator Dr. Arda Ekmekji) Minister Hranoush Hagopian spoke on the governmental policies regarding the promotion of Armenia-Diaspora cooperation. Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian discussed the educational aspect of Armenia-Diaspora cooperation and Rector Prof. Simonian discussed the Armenological aspect of this cooperation.

During the next session (moderator Armen Urneshlian) Dr. Razmig Panossian elaborated on the theoretical aspects, concerns and proposals regarding the Armenia-Diaspora cooperation, whereas Dr. Edward Melkonian spoke about the political aspects of the first twenty years of Armenia-Diaspora relations.

During the third session (moderator Baruyr Aghbashian) Dr. Prof. Yuri Avedissian discussed the role of the educational institutions in the Armenian Republic related to the Armenian Diaspora and stressed that the current cooperation could and should be furthered. The second speaker, Dr. Serj Srabionyan, gave a brief picture of the Lebanese Armenian literature.



On Wednesday, September 7, 2011, during the fourth session, (moderator Dr. Zaven Messerlian) Dr. Mher Hovanissian highlighted the current challenges of the websites dedicated to Armenian Studies within the context of Armenia-Diaspora cooperation. Next, Mr. Shahan Kandaharian spoke on the difficulties Lebanese Armenian media faced regarding the Armenia-Diaspora cooperation. During the second session of the day (moderator Dr. Anshalouys Topalian) Ishkhan Chiftchian presented the differences between the Armenia and Diaspora identities and the means and modes to reach a common ground. Dr. Antranik Dakessian concluded with a discussion regarding the integration of Armenians from Armenia into the Lebanese Armenian community.

Discussions and debates followed each of the sessions. It was recommended that further investigation and discussions are needed to clarify existing diversities in defining and stating certain relevant concepts and the ways in addressing them; such as the concept of fatherland, identity and integration. Eventually it was suggested that such conferences are the adequate venue to discuss and debate about such topics and after extensive presentations and discussions to reach conclusions, which take into consideration diverse peculiarities of the Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora.



The participants of the conference drew the following resolution: “We, the participants of the conference assure that the Yerevan State University and the Haigazian University have an exceptional role to play in the Armenia-Diapsora educational and pedagogical cooperation field, especially in the preparation of Armenian leaders and professionals, with the support of the Diaspora Ministry of Armenia.

“It is hoped that the issues that were discussed in the conference are taken into consideration in the future plans of the Yerevan State University Diaspora Research Center and the Armenian Diaspora Research Center of Haigazian University” the resolution concluded.

AMAA Summer Internship Program 2011

Armenia, Internship, Summer, Faith, Mission trip, Kids, VBS, New group. These were the words that were going through my mind before Vahe Jebejian and I flew from Beirut to Armenia on July 15. This summer I had the opportunity of participating in the Internship program that the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) had organized. It was a 3 week program which included two weeks of service in Armenia and another additional and optional week in Lebanon. A group of young adults traveled from different parts of the USA and Canada and thus we were a complete group of 21 people in Armenia. The Internship was led by our enthusiastic Rev. Nishan Bakalian as well as Pastor Shant Barsoumian and Anahid Dolabjian.The main purpose of this trip was to serve and to grow spiritually. We had daily devotionals, verse memorizing times, sightseeing, in addition to getting acquainted with the ministries of the AMAA there through visitations and seminars. After spending a couple of days in Yerevan, we were divided into two groups and each went to a different village/town: Pert and Armavir. Our main focus during that first week was to lead and help with the Vacation Bible Schools. It was a very good experience to play, entertain and learn with the village kids. These kids were different than the children I usually see in Lebanon, they had very simple lives, they enjoyed running in the streets and playing in the gardens, and most of them had only a few pair of clothes but that did not seem to bother them. They were full of energy and enthusiasm, and they had loving hearts. Seeing their smiles every morning and hearing them call “Garin Kooyr” used to brighten my days and make me thank God for putting children in our lives. We enjoyed singing with them, preparing sketches, teaching them new songs, helping them during the arts and crafts hours and supporting the local leaders in every possible way. It was surprising to see how well prepared and organized the local leaders were. Although they did not have lots of equipments but they had the talent of creating many things from the simple supplies they had. When we first met the VBS leaders we did not know who they were, but because we were all there for the same purpose and because we all had God’s love in our hearts, we felt like a big family and were able to transfer that love to the children. On one of the walls where we did the VBS we drew a graffiti saying “God is Love” and “Աստուած Սէր է” which will be a nice reminder of our visit and service in Pert. We also visited many village families and elderly people. At first, it was not easy to see them in the poor circumstances that they were living in, but seeing them smile and seeing the happiness inside them filled us with hope. Experiencing this helped us learn to be thankful for the small gifts we have in life because we realized how God had immensely blessed us, our families and our lives. Being able to live this experience in Armenia and serving there was a different feeling. Our motherland was the best place to make a difference and to feel God’s love and power through the work we were doing there.


After a challenging week in Pert, and the other group in Armavir, the whole group reunited and was back in Yerevan. We had the opportunity of joining and participating in one of the teen camps at the AMAA’s Shoghig camp site in Hankavan. It was wonderful to see the large number of teenagers who were there to learn and to have a better relationship with God. After spending two whole weeks in Armenia, it was time to say the sad goodbye to part of our group and to our dear Hayrenik. Eight interns and Badveli continued to Lebanon for the 3rd week of the Internship which included 3 days of VBS at the Trad Social Center in Beirut, visiting needy families, touring, and having a bible study with the Emmanuel church’s Chanitz.


It was remarkable to see how God planned the trip and gave each and every one of us the opportunity to do something special for Him. This unforgettable experience was a true blessing in which I learned many things, made new friends, and most importantly strengthened my faith and trust in the Lord!


Blessed be His name!

Garin Haidostian





Worship at Pert VBS


Arts and Crafts


At Khor Virab with Ararad behind us


Our Graffitti


Handing out the presents we had brought for the children


Me with a group of VBS kids


The Pert group


Visiting the elderly


The Pert VBS group


Seminars


VBS at the Trad Social Center in Beirut


The group


The Lebanon group in Anjar


Bible Study at the Emmanuel Chanitz