The Hidden Merits of Community Service

With today’s hectic living and loads of entertainment hubs, it is becoming difficult to provide a fraction of our time for the betterment of our local community.

I’ve been hearing this point of view from many leaders and colleagues for over a decade now, which has prompted me to ask myself the following questions: Why do I need to volunteer for a community project? What could possibly be the merits of such services in my life?
During the two days of July 2008, I had the opportunity to work with fellow chanitzagans in building a room located to the left of the perimeter of Kchag church. The idea was to replace the rain-soaked pepsi canteen with a small room to be the new cafeteria.

This was truly an incredible experience for all, since most of us have never built a room before from the ground up. Forming the first team, Ara Torkomian and I got to rub off the church gate with avazatookht to be painted later on. The next team, headed by Asbed Kendirjian and Vahe Aynilian got to break and dig the ground to prepare the base of the room. The third team – Koko Aynilian, Shant Aynilian and Jay Sagherian – got to prepare the beton by mixing grey powder and soil with water to get those walls built during late afternoon.

The following week, with the walls, windows and door in place, it was time to paint each other… I mean to paint the interior of the room to give it an elegant look. And to accomplish this phase, Hovig Assilian and Lisa (visiting from the States) joined the team to have it finished in no time!

Now that we were done with the interior embellishment of the room, the last phase of the project was to get electricity inside. Who else was the man for the job than Sam Kelougian? He designed and implemented the whole electrical circuits of the room while we helped and watched with amazement as he finally got light in the new-born room at exactly 6 P.M.

Being part of the corporate world, I neither had much knowledge about the construction world nor had any idea of the astonishing world of electricity. Within those few days, I learnt a lot of new and marvelous stuff that would definitely be useful in my life.

I greatly enjoyed working together with fellow chanitzagans and veterans of the church, where hands, minds and hearts came together to make a positive impact in this world. All in all, we had such an exciting, exhausting and fun time together those few days.

I consider this small room as our new baby because we built that room with our bare hands and it means much to me as to the rest of the team to see this room be used for a good cause.

Believe me! Next time you get a chance to be part of a community service, grab on to it and be part of an inspiring and soul-enriching journey ever!

ManoChil

Anjar Badaniatz Giving Emmanuel Badaniatz a Visit

On Saturday, 15 November, the Badaniatz (junior high) group of Armenian Evangelical Church of Anjar gave the Badaniatz of Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church a visit.

The junior youth got to know each other, after which Raffi led the worship time. The junior youth then had social time together, with most of the guys playing soccer with Mike and Jano, while the girls and the rest played indoor games with Jimmy. At the end of the session, Manoug, Hagop and Maria served the youth with cakes and drinks, after which, the Anjar team thanked Emmanuel Badaniatz leaders for their hospitality and continued their tour in Beirut.


(Right image): Raffi leading the worship session


During worship


Socializing and games


(Right image): Hagop and Manoug
(Left image): Pastor Elias Jabbour, the leader of Anjar Badaniatz group


During the football friendly match


(Right image): Jimmy explaining the game called "I have never..."

Special Christmas Gift!

"Are you planning to buy children's stories as Christmas Gifts for children? Look no more. . .!"
We found the book for you; it is an ebook! Your child can read the story on his/her computer, on Power Point with sound effects and few animations! If interested call 03-052337 (Ms. Maggie)

This offer is only available in Lebanon. The CDs are available in Armenian, Arabic and English languages.

Mentoring, an interview with Mr. John Sagherian

  • What is mentoring?
  • What kind of a relationship is there between a mentor and a mentee?
  • What if the characters do not go along with each other?
  • What was Jesus Christ's model of a good mentor?
  • Where is our youth within our community?
  • How far are our elders and leaders from the concept of mentoring?

You will listen to the answers to these question that I raised with Mr. John Sagherian, the leader of YFC (Youth for Christ) in Lebanon. The interview is in Armenian.

CHANAGHPOUYR Team

CONDOLENCES

DEAR KARJIAN FAMILY,

MRS. REBECCA KARJIAN, POLIN, NAYIRI, SEVAN, REV. BALABANIAN, DATEV.

OUR CONDOLENCES FOR THE PASSING OF REV HOVH. KARJIAN, GODS GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.

LOVE
MANUEL ASDGHIG MANOUKIAN
SYDNEY AUSTRALIA
_______________________________________________

ՑԱՒԱԿՑԱԳԻՐ

Սիրելի՛ տիկին Ռեբեկա Գարճեան
Օրդ. Փոլին Գարճեան
Վեր. Նայիրի Գարճեան
Վեր. եւ տիկին Ներսէս եւ Սեւան Պալապանեան
Տիար Պարթեւ Գարճեան
Բարեկամներ եւ գործակիցներ,

Ցաւով իմացանք վախճանումը մեր սիրելի վեր. Յովհաննէս Գարճեանին։ Եթէ նկարագրենք վերապատուելիին կեանքը, պէտք է ըսենք՝ «Կեանք մը համակ նուիրումի»։ Եւ նուիրումը վեր. Գարճեանի համար Քրիստոս եւ Անոր եկեղեցին էր, հայ ժողովուրդը, Հայ աւետարանական եկեղեցին եւ մարդկութիւնը ամբողջ։

Ան նուիրումով ծառայեց Քրիստոսի եւ հայ ժողովուրդին՝ Մերձաւոր Արեւելքի հայ աւետարանական եկեղեցիներու միութեան դաշտին մէջ՝ վերցնելով շատ մը պատասխանատու պաշտօններ։ Այս իմաստով, վեր. Գարճեանի հետ բաւական երկար եղաւ իմ գործակցութիւնս։ Այս երկար ճամբուն մէջ, վերապատուելին առաջնորդեց, ղեկավարեց, յորդորեց եւ քաջալերեց։ Եղաւ հովիւ, առաջնորդ, բայց անպայմանօրէն նաեւ հայր եւ բարեկամ։ Վեր. Գարճեանի հետ մեր «երկար ճամբան» կերտած է յարգանքը, բարեկամութիւնը եւ հաղորդակցութիւնը։ Իր նուիրագործուած կեանքը եղաւ մէկ խօսուն օրինակ՝ մեր հոգիներուն մէջ դրոշմելով սէրը Քրիստոսի, Անոր խօսքին եւ Հայ աւետարանական եկեղեցւոյ նկատմամբ։

Կը բաժնենք ձեր բոլորին ցաւը։ Եւ եթէ տխուր ենք այսօր՝ վեր. Գարճեանի վախճանումին առիթով, բայց նաեւ փառք կու տանք Աստուծոյ անոր կեանքին համար։ Կեանք մը, որ անդադար տրոփեց Քրիստոսի եւ հայ ժողովուրդի ծառայութեան սիրով՝ եւ այդ ծառայութեան գործընթացին մէջ ոչ մէկ ջանք չխնայեց։ Վեր. Գարճեանի կեանքի պատգամը՝ նուիրագործուած կեանք Քրիստոսի, եկեղեցիին եւ հայ ժողովուրդին ծառայութեան համար։

Անձնապէս, նաեւ Արտային, Վահէին եւ Ալիքին, ու Կիպրոսի Հայ աւետարանական եկեղեցիին անունով ընդունեցէք մեր ցաւակցութիւնները։ Կը հայցենք Սուրբ Հոգիին մխիթարութիւնը ձեր բոլորին համար։

Աղօթքով եւ յարգանքով,

ՀՐԱՅՐ ՃԵՊԵՃԵԱՆ
ՀԱՅ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆԱԿԱՆ ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ, ԿԻՊՐՈՍ

Reverend Haroutioun Selimian elected president of the Armenian Evangelical World Council

Reverend Haroutioun Selimian, who has been president of the Armenian Evangelical Community in Syria since 2004 is the first Syrian Armenian to receive this position, that he will hold until 2010.

The elections were held at the headquarters of the Armenian Missionary Association of America in New Jersey, USA, in October 2008, in the presence of the five Unions of Armenian evangelical churches, (Near East, France, Armenia Euro-Asia, North America).

On 24 November 2008 Aleppo's Al-Jamahir daily's reporter Bianka Madia had an interview with Reverend Haroutioun Selimian. Below are parts of the interview translated by Nanor Mikayelian.

What new responsibilities lie ahead of you after this new position as president of the Armenian Evangelical World Council (AEWC)?
The main responsibility is to coordinate among the five Armenian Evangelical church unions in the world. The Council holds a meeting once a year in USA and has ecclesial, ecumenical and cultural activities and cooperates with charitable organizations worldwide.

Are these cultural activities merely related to theology and philosophy or they are cultural in a wider sense?
The Council is interested in any issue related to educating and civilizing the individual so that he would be an efficient member of his society.

What about the Christian - Muslim dialogue?
I think there has always been an inter-faith dialogue between Christians and Muslims in the region, and we have always co-existed in harmony, something that surprises all visitors to Syria, which must serve as an example of tolerance and for all the world.

What was the first feeling or thought that occurred to you the minute you were appointed president?
Well, it was definitely the feeling of enormous responsibility. I look at it as a position through which I can serve others, rather than a position of privilege. May God bless this duty and vocation and give me the wisdom and sagacity to serve every church and every single member around me.

Brief biography of Reverend Haroutioun Selimian:
Born in 1963 Aleppo, Syria
First degree in Theology and Psychology, Lebanon (1988)
Masters degree in Divinity from Chicago (1992)
Certificate in Ecumenical Leadership, the Ecumenical Institute, Switzerland (2000)
Masters degree in Theology - Lebanon / McCormick Theological Seminary, USA (2001)

In addition to his post as president of the Armenian Evangelical community in Syria, he has also been the pastor of Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church in Aleppo since 1992.



Group photo from the election day:

Front row left to right: Rev. Joseph Matossian, Rev. Avedis Boynerian, Rev. Haroutioun Selimian, Rev. Dr. Vahan H.Tootikian, Mr.Andrew Torigian, Rev. Megerdich Karagoezian, Mrs. Joyce Philibosian-Stein.

Back row left to right: Rev. Dikran Youmoushakian, Rev. Rene Leonian, Rev. Gilbert Leonian, Dr. Steve Aharonian, Rev. Joel Mikaelian, Rev. Hagop Choukhajian.

Source: http://www.azad-hye.net/