Haigazian University President Visits Sister Institutions in Armenia

As part of his efforts in engaging effectively with sister institutions, Haigazian University President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian paid a three-day-visit to Yerevan, Armenia, on September 3-5, 2008.

During this short sojourn, Haidostian met with the President of the Evangelical Theological Academy of Armenia, Dr. John Khanjian, as well as the Representative of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) in Armenia, Rev. Rene Leonian, and its Operations Manager and Deputy Representative, Harout Nercesian.

Haidostian visited the American University of Armenia, a sister institution to Haigazian University, and conducted cordial meetings with its provost, Dr. Lucig Danielian and senior staff.

Haidostian met with the Vice President of the Lincy Foundation, Mr. Harout Sassounian, as well as the Ambassador of Armenia to Egypt, Mr. Roupen Karapetian, both visiting Armenia at the time, and had the unique opportunity to meet with the President of the Diaspora Committee, Mrs. Hranoush Hagopian, and delivered a lecture on ''''Diaspora Dynamics'''' to the staff of the newly formed Ministry of the Diaspora, which will be launched in October 2008.

Upon his return and before the academic year starts, Haidostian considered those refreshing visits in Armenia as positive and beneficial to both Haigazian University and its subsequent sister institutions, hoping for a fruitful start-of-the-year.

Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director

(L to R): Rev. Rene Leonian, Rev. Paul Haidostian, Rev. John Khanjian
(L to R): Rev. Rene Leonian, Rev. Paul Haidostian, Rev. John Khanjian


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INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

A while ago I started getting links to a Youtube page in which an articulate young filmmaker, Jeremy Gilley, speaks about the International Day of Peace. Google him and you will discover he started thinking about this a decade ago in 1998, when he wanted to make a film about peace;

“The millennium was coming, this big moment that everyone was talking about, so I wanted to record something about the world and why we're not living peacefully. I was thinking about whether the United Nations could really unite the world and the more I thought about it, the more I realised that there was no international day of peace.”

“My goal became to make a film that would try and establish the first ever day of peace on this planet with a fixed calendar date, voted by every head of state in the world.”
He succeeded. In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a new resolution 55/282 declaring 21st September of each year as the International Day of Peace.
The resolution: "Declares that the International Day of Peace shall henceforth be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day.”

So what happens on peace day? Whatever you want. It is not just symbolic, as Gilley says, it is a day to make a commitment. A day to spend with your family, to have a picnic, to organise an immunisation, to say sorry. It is a day to talk about peace with your neighbours, to spread the word.
And so I have a simple request for the approaching day. This September 21st we should visit our enemies, take them by the hand and say, “I don’t care.”
“I don’t care that you are Turkish, Armenian, Greek, Cypriot, Muslim, Jewish, Maronite, Protestant, Catholic, Druze, Shiaa, Kurd. I don’t care what you are because you are the neighbour that fed our cat while we were away and lent my son your bicycle and taught him tennis and I don’t want to be your enemy because I actually like you.”
If you look at the human aspect of it, Turks, Armenians and Greeks have lived together for centuries without a problem. Look for the Armenian quarter and it is always slap-bang next to the Turks. We may be scared to admit it, but we get on with each other. We wear the same clothes, shop in the same stores and eat the same food. So why are we enemies? Because our governments tell us we are. One day something happens, the next we are at war and then we become addicted to enmity. We are fed it at school, through religious intolerance, through racial stereotyping, through politics.
How many Turks in the Ottoman Empire do you think were horrified by what happened to their neighbours between 1895 and 1922? How many abhorred watching their friends stripped of their belongings and marched off into the desert to die? And how many do you think are confused today by acts of violence against writers and thinkers who speak out against what happened years ago?
How many kids went back to school after the 1974 invasion in Cyprus to find that their favourite teacher was gone? That their classmates had disappeared? That, not only were their homes and favourite beaches inaccessible, but they could no longer pick up a phone and call their neighbour at the end of the street because of an arbitrary border?
And how do we ever expect to get answers to these questions if we don’t greet our enemies as friends and ask them?

If we want to move from a culture of war to a culture of peace we must unite. We cannot wait for governments to make a difference- they’re too busy creating more borders, clamping down on free speech and perpetuating enmity. It is down to us- you and me- to take our neighbours by the hand and say,
“I don’t care. I don’t care who you are or whatever happened to us in the past, right here, right now, you are my friend.”

Let us celebrate Peace.

With thanks,
Victoria Avakian Harwood formerly of Nicosia now in Los Angeles.

source: Gibrahayer

In growing numbers, churches pray for peace on 21 September

Nearly 140 congregations and Christian groups in the United States are organizing public prayer events on the International Day of Prayer for Peace, on 21 September. Another grouping of churches from different countries around the world has committed to observe the day with a 24-hour prayer chain.

These are but two examples of the growing popularity of the International Day of Prayer for Peace, which is observed on 21 September. Since its launch by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2004, the day is an opportunity for churches worldwide to pray and act together to nurture lasting peace in the hearts of people, their families, communities and societies.

This year, the campaign for the day of prayer carried out by On Earth Peace, a US-based agency rooted in the Church of the Brethren, has mobilized nearly 140 congregations to hold public prayer events. Congregations are encouraged to bring together groups of people in their community to focus on the ways in which violence is affecting them.

"Our hope is that participating congregations intentionally build new or deeper ecumenical and interfaith relationships at the local level, so they are in a strengthened position for addressing violence in their communities on a more ongoing basis," says Matt Guynn, the group's Peace Witness coordinator.

Also on 21 September, nine countries from the Pacific, Europe and North America regions will be linked in a 24-hour prayer chain. Prayer events will be hosted by churches in American Samoa, Canada, Fiji, Indonesia, New Zealand, Norway, Samoa, Tuvalu and the United States.

Rev. Gilbert Levonian's and Rev. Raffi Messerlian's message to the Chanitzagans

Rev. Gilbert Levonian's message to the chanitzagans, after his safe arrival in Marseille...
Bonsoir chers amis en Christ,

I come back now to Marseille and at home. But my spirit and my prayers are always with you. I praise the Lord for this all week that I spend with you in Kessab and in Beyrout. It was for me an unique experience to enjoy you. God begins in each of your lifes a very deep spiritual work. Be faithful and integre in your walk in your daily life in the steps of Jesus.

One in prayer, one in the Lord.

Vive l'amitié entre le Liban et la France!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badveli Gilbert

Rev. Raffi Messerlian's message to the chanitzagans, after his safe arrival in Anjar...
Dear Chanitzaganner

Greetings from Ainjar. I just want to tell you that I really had a wonderful time in Kesaab knowing you all, and so happy that almost all of you took decisions.
It was very exciting to see you and worship together on Monday. We have to build on this in the future. The Kortzatir will take this into consideration and plan follow up plans and activities. I think that now that we have the emails, we should try to share things together in terms of joys or difficulties that we may face. I was reall impressed with the testimony of Tina on Monday. If you have any difficulty and need any kind of help we are here, and also the leaders are here and you can contact.
Finally, our integrity also means for us a daily reading of God's word. Don't forget this. I would encourage you to have your menig bah daily.
Have a nice day.

Badveli Raffi

Hamahavak for all the Chanitz groups, with Rev. Gilbert Levonian

Dear Chanitzaganner ...

We will have a Hamahavak on Monday Sept 15, 2008 in Emmanuel Church, Amanos at 8:00 PM.

The speaker is Rev. Gilbert Levonian (Leonian). The subject is about integrity.

Everyone is invited to this hamahavak, every chanitzagan who could/couldn't participate in the annual Chanitz Hamakoumar.

Come with your questions, come with your friends and get to meet friends from the different groups and renew your faith, your passion, your enthusiasm with God.

May God use this meeting to revive our Chanitz youth groups and to fill the youth with fire, for His glory!

Turkey Beats Armenia 2-0


At Yerevan's Hrazdan Stadium, Turkey beat Armenia 2-0 in the World Cup qualifier match.

The Turkish President Abdullah Gul accepted his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian's invitation and arrived in Armenia, becoming the first Turkish president to visit Armenia.

Church Banquet - July 08


Rev. Hovannes Svajian appreciating Mr. Asbed Kendirjian's years of work and service.


The pastor also appreciates all those who served and volunteered.




Left pic: Raffi presenting the Sunday school (Giragnoria), junior youth group (badaniatz) and youth group (Chanitz) and their activities in a slide show.
Right pic: Manoug, running the event


During the Armenian songs session...












Alin and Ara playing a drama.


Baron Anto and Baron Panos with their anecdotes and jokes.


Right pic: Maral presenting an Armenian and spiritual piece.






Right pic: Mr. Varouj Mazmanian, while visiting Lebanon.


























The khenamagals preparing the delicious khorovadz.