Emmanuel Church Youth and Children Participate in the Translation of the Movie "Mary Magdalene" into Western Armenian

Armig Kazezian supervising the translation process and helping the American team

Raffi Chilingirian, voice over for the Jesus character

Lots of hours spent on refining the proper spelling, pronunciation and quality of v



Mano, Mike, Garo, Ara, Raffi, some of the youth that took part in this project

The team that watched the movie from A to Z and proposed corrections and changes


Youth Summer Camp in KCHAG - Lebanon (August 30 – September 2, 2012)

Summer camps are considered the highlight of our youth ministry.

Pastor Datev Basmajian, the youth worker of the Armenian Evangelical Churches CE Union, was the leader of the youth camp. The speaker was Rev. Raffi Misirlian, the pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Ainjar, talked around the theme “Come and See”. It was based on different events taken from the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ on this earth, and how he invited his disciples to come and see his lifestyle, miracles, authority, cross, and resurrection, and Jesus’s invitation for commitment and ministry.

The first session was about the “Call to a Relationship”, John 1:35-39, Jesus invites the disciples to come and see his household, not only that, but also invites them to stay with him, know more about Jesus and his life/ministry.

The second session was about the “Call to Have Faith”, in Luke 8:40-56, Jesus proclaims that her faith has healed the woman who was subject to bleeding for twelve years. And the second part of the story continues by Jesus asking Jairus to have faith that his daughter will live.

The third session was about the “Call to the Cross”, in John 17:1-19, Jesus prays for himself and his disciples. He prays and asks for glory for himself, which is the cross in this case. And later on he prays and asks that may God keeps his own (disciples) in this world, and protects them from the evil.

And the fourth session was called “Call to Ministry”, in John 21:1-19, where Jesus appears to his disciples and has the last breakfast with them, and after that he calls Peter to continue his ministry after him.

It was challenging for the youth (43 young people) to come to Christ, to witness his authority and ministry, to recognize the importance and heaviness of the cross, and to commit to outreach and ministry.

The leaders were 5, Mrs. Yester Kilaghabian, Mrs. Kayane Misirlian, Pastor Sebouh Terzian, Pastor Hrayr Cholakian, and Mr. Jiro Ghazarian. They have committed their time, effort, service, focus, and availability to make this camp an event that would glorify our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our daily schedule was full. The youth woke up refreshed in KCHAG, had a good breakfast, quiet time with God, worship, session, break into study groups, coffee break, debate, lunch, leaders meeting, rest, outdoor activities and games, shower time, dinner, evening activities and games, sing song, and ended our day with prayer time.

The commitment night was the highlight of our camp; the youth re-committed their lives to God, and took serious steps towards the calls made during the camp through the sessions, and study groups. Also, they had to turn away from sins, and as a symbolic act they wrote it on a piece of paper and throw it in the consuming fire.

I thank the leaders, the speaker, the AMAA, local supporters, KCHAG staff, and last but not least God, that made this camp possible. I believe that from the first moment of our planning meeting until now, we were blessed by his presence, guidance, grace, and power.

For His Glory, Amen.
















































Junior Youth Summer Camp in Ainjar - Lebanon (August 13-19, 2012)

Junior Youth ministry is a dynamic part of the mission of the Armenian Evangelical Churches and Schools in Lebanon. Summer camps are considered the climax of our ministry.

The speaker was Mrs. Seta Kejelian (NEST graduate, BA in Christian Education), talked around the theme of this year “Fears”. Some of the sessions were about “Phobias”, “Fear vs. Anxiety”, “Internal and External Reasons for Fears”, “Parents Fear towards Their Teenage Children”, “Fear in Relationships”, and finally, the real meaning of “Fear of God”. It was challenging for the campers (92 teenagers) to be aware of the fears, anxieties and phobias around them, the importance of dealing with such pressures, understand them, and to favor in growing in God, after understanding the real meaning of the fear of God.

Our daily schedule was full. The campers woke up, had breakfast, quiet time with God, worship, , break into study groups, session, snack break, workshops (NEWS, Video-Clip, Drama, Dessert, Art, and Dance), lunch, leaders meeting, , outdoor activities and games, shower time, dinner, evening activities and games, sing song, and ended our day with prayer time.

The commitment night was the highlight of the camp. Many campers devoted their lives to Christ for the first time, and others had the chance to renew their vows in Christ Jesus our Savior.

On Sunday, we participated in Sunday morning worship at Armenian Evangelical Ainjar Church, our campers sang two new songs they learnt at camp, and two of the youth gave their testimonies of how God worked in their lives, and how they have committed their lives to Christ.

Pastor Datev Basmajian, the youth worker of the Armenian Evangelical Churches CE Union, was the leader of the junior youth camp. The counselors were, Mrs. Talin Meserlian, Miss Shushan Artinian, Miss Nanor Kelenjian, Miss Arine Baghdoyan, Mr. Shahan Kilaghabian, Mr. Shant Aynilian, Mr. Hagop Akbasharian, and Mr. Jiro Ghazarian. We also had 3 helpers this year, Miss. Gacia Danaoghlian, Mr. Njteh Mekhsian, and Mr. Hagop Kerkezian. They have committed their time, effort, service, focus, and availability to make this camp an event that would glorify our Lord Jesus Christ.

Currently we are planning a one-day-retreat in KCHAG, as follow up. We will be inviting the campers and have a one day event at KCHAG, follow up on them, inquire about the decisions made back in summer camp, and encourage them to be different among their peers.

I thank the leaders, the speaker, the AMAA, local supporters, Ainjar boarding school staff, and last but not least God, that made this camp happen. I believe that from the first of our planning meeting until now, we were blessed by his presence, guidance, grace, and power.

For His Glory, Amen.









































Why do we keep on doubting?


“But Jesus replied, ‘Why are you so afraid? You surely don’t have much faith.’” Matthew 8:26

 Doubt is a feeling which comes into the life of the follower of Christ quite often in his/her life. It can even overwhelm that person, make him turn to the other side of Truth, and make him turn away from his Savior. I have seen many of my Christian friends who have left their faith and turned to atheism because of this very fact, doubt.

 Doubt is the most normal, human feeling. If you don’t doubt, it means that you’re blindly following a book called the Bible. Indeed, Christianity is based on blind faith, but that doesn’t mean that we should be robots and just believe without even understanding. God gave us a brain which has immense capacity. We must use it for critical thinking. If you don’t doubt, how will you make progress in your walk with Jesus? If you don’t doubt, many people will come to you with arguments which prove your faith wrong. You’ll just say, ‘I know Christ’s message is the true one.’ But after a while, trust me, you’ll have enough of believing when everything tells you not to.

 Let me tell you something interesting, that you might know. If I tell you that there was a God-man back in ancient Egyptian mythology named Horus worshipped since 2200 BC, that was conceived by a virgin, had twelve disciples, his birth was announced by angels, three solar deities were guided to his birthplace by a star. This God-man raised from the dead someone called Lazarus. He was baptized at the age of 30. He walked on water, cast out demons and much more. For your sake, I’ll stop now. This story was in circulation much before Jesus came on Earth. Well, I don’t know about you, but Jesus’ story suddenly seems to me less original, just copied from somewhere else. There are plenty of stories like this out there. So if we don’t keep our path straight, think for ourselves, we would just fall in the depths of doubt and at last turn from the only thing that gives us reason to live, Christ’s death on the cross.

 As the philosophers of the Enlightenment era said, we must always re-question our faith in order that we might advance in our Faith and walk with Christ. George Herbert, a Welsh priest has said, “He that knows nothing doubts nothing”. Jesus knows that we will doubt. He even says it so many times in the Bible. Tor instance in Luke 24:38 we read, “Why are you so frightened? Why do you doubt?” It’s one of our many flaws as human beings. We can’t completely trust in a God who we have never seen.

 However, Christ explicitly says that doubt is not healthy. Doesn’t He know that we are human and that the very act of believing is already hard enough for us?

 He even points out the difficult aspect of faith in Matthew 21:21,”If you have faith and don’t doubt, I promise that you can…tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will.” Of course, no one is going to make mountains fall into the sea, but Jesus says it in a hyperbolic way to insist on how hard it is for us to have faith as big as even a mustard seed.

 Let’s go back now to our original verse. It’s taken from the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. So more than five thousand people were sitting on the grass, and Jesus asks his disciples in Matthew 14:16, “They don’t have to leave. Why don’t you give them something to eat?” At that moment, I’m sure

 everyone thought that Jesus had gone mad, how can we feed all these people, he can’t be serious? They even rebuke Jesus in Mark 6:37, “don’t you know that it would take almost a year’s wages to buy all of these people something to eat?” Of course, Jesus knew that, but he still insisted that they bring what they had.

 Once again, Jesus wanted to test their faith, and once again, the disciples fell short of God’s amazing presence.

 Indeed, in the Great Commission, Jesus commands us to go to all nations and spread His Word. Do we sometimes fall short of God’s glory, thinking that what He asks us to do is too much for us, mere human beings? God doesn’t expect much of us, only “five loaves of bread, and two fish” he asked from his disciples, which was nothing to feed five thousand people. He only asks from us what we can give to him. He wants us to humble ourselves so He can use our weakness, only if we let him and let go of our pride. As the Lord says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My power is strongest when you are weak”. Are we ready to leave this doubt far away and submit ourselves to Him with true obedience so that the Potter can mold us in whatever shape He wants to, in whatever work that He has in store for us?

 Give God a chance to show you His Glory. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you every day so that He can help you overcome Doubt.

 I believe that we will never be able to put Doubt aside, we are human. Furthermore, the more we put our trust in God, the more we will feel blessed in His presence, and do not forget, with only twelve disciples Jesus changed the world, imagine what He can accomplish through you.

 Vahé Jebejian

Mark Brunet came to Armenia with charitable purposes driving a bicycle


YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS: Mark Brunet is the name of the person, who came to Armenia with charitable purposes driving a bicycle from his motherland, passing territory of 6000 kilometers. Mark launched his biking tour on July 21 from his native town Valence.

The trip passed through more than ten countries: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and Georgia. From the very beginning of the trip Brunet traveled alone, without anybody’s assistance. He slept in a tent or in the houses of random people that he met on his way. On September 26 Brunet reached Ijevan, which is the sister town of Valence.

According to Armenpress, as was reported by Mark Brunet at the press conference on October 1, Armenia was a very valuable fact for him, but he hardly remembered when he had read or heard about Armenia for the first time.

“I did not even think about such reception and enthusiasm expressed by the Armenian people. There was already the idea of the preliminary motivation and interest and that was enough”, - said Mark Brunet.

Mark Brunet has a recording studio in France and he is an amateur sportsman as well. He initiated this trip not only as a sports fan. His objective is humanitarian. During his trip he collected means for the organizations “Hope for Armenia” of France and “Armenian Missionary Association of America”, which have worked together in Armenia for more than 20 years. The collected means will be allocated for the restoration of the heating system of “Arevik” kindergarten.

“What I have done is not a deed. I just turned the pedals of my bike. The real deed was made by the people, who provided those money. In total about USD 10,000 was collected”, - said Brunet. He did not forget to mention as well, that he was astonished by the nature and sightseeings of Armenia.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to the Republic of Armenia Henri Reynaud named the act of Mark Brunet a real deed and considered the implemented mission to be a connecting cycle between Valence and Yerevan. Mark Brunet will definitely return to Armenia with the purpose of new discoveries.

Source: http://armenpress.am

An Interview with Haig Kherlopian (USA), on his initiative to raise funds for Syria

While we are seeing the destruction of Syria and the killing of innocent civilians, Christians in general and the Armenians in specific have quickly joined hands in sending food and help to the Syrian people. While collective efforts are much needed, individuals have also taken initiative in helping relieve some of the challenges facing the Syria people. Haig Kherlopian, the pastoral intern in Armenian Martyrs’ Congregational Church in Havertown, Pennsylvania, USA, has partnered with AMAA to raise funds for Syria, by running the marathon. In order to understand the reasons and to get to know Haig further, we conducted with him this interesting interview.

(Interview by Raffi)

Raffi - Who came up with the initiative to fund raise for Syria through the marathon run? 
Haig - I was looking at different charities that were sponsoring the Philadelphia Marathon, but none of the organizations spoke to me either because I was not passionate about them or they were organization that funded research that had too much overhead costs. So I contacted the Armenian Missionary Association and talked to them about running for one of their missions’ projects. Syria relief was the one that made the most sense. My father is originally from Homs, Syria. It seemed like the right thing to do.

Raffi - Who was supportive to you?
Haig - My church community was the biggest support group. I am a pastoral intern at the Armenian Martyrs’ Congregational Church in Havertown, Pennsylvania. They supported me with their encouragement and prayers for my health. They gave financially to the cause and continue to pray for the region. My friends also helped out a lot. Many non-Armenian friends gave contributions. The great thing about this fundraiser was that it was a lot of smaller contributions with different types of people supporting the event.

Raffi - Did you find people appreciative or negative? What was your reaction to both?
Haig  - For the most part people were appreciative. People like donating to causes that have an immediate impact. When I was telling them that it would help bring food and water to people in need, they were glad that their giving would be put to use on something that was tangible.  The reality is many Americans are ignorant on the details of what is happening in the Middle East. With the presidential election, Hurricane Sandy, and the Petraeus affair taking up the news headlines in recent months, it was good to remind people of what is still happening in Syria.
Raffi - How did you prepare for this run?
Haig - While I was studying in Seminary, I did two half marathons. They were necessary steps to take before running the full marathon. On my day off, which is Mondays, I would do a long run at a nearby state park. I listened to audio books and/or Christian progressive rock music during my long runs because I can get bored easily. Whenever I had time in my schedule during the week, I would go on shorter runs, which was usually after work.

Raffi - What kind of difficulties did you face before and during the run?
Haig - People talk about hitting a wall when running a marathon. I hit the wall close to Mile 24. My legs cramped up when I stopped for the last water station. I ran a really slow couple of miles at the end and it hurt my finish time. It was also difficult to ignore all the people running pass me. I did my best not to run their race, but stay true to my pace.

Raffi - How did you feel after finishing?
Haig - My goal was to just finish, so I felt good that I was able to scratch the Marathon off my To Do List.  Whatever energy I had after the race was used to focus on Youth Group in the evening. My thoughts and feelings were on 1st Corinthians which is what we are studying for Youth Group. 1st Corinthians 9:24-27 was on my mind towards the last five miles of the race, it motivated me to finish.

Raffi - What will happen with the raised funds?
Haig - The funds will be given to Armenians in Syria through the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA). They will provide provisions and help keep Armenian schools operational. Donations went straight to the AMAA.

Haigazian University Founders’ Day Celebration


Haigazian University celebrated its Founders’ Day on Monday, October 15, 2012, in the presence of Board members, faculty, staff and students.

 The processional march kicked off the annual event, which pays tribute to the unaiversity’s founders. Following the Lebanese national anthem, a prayer of invocation was offered by thenew campus minister, Rev. Bruce Schoup.

 Dr. ArdaEkmekji, the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Haigazian,prepared a special presentation about the historical HU Rocket Society, famous for being the first to launch a rocket in the Middle East during the 1960s, the age of space exploration. The audience was then shown the movie trailer for “The Lebanese Rocket Society”, a documentary film by Joanna Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige that was featured at this year’sToronto International Film Festival.

 After a short musical interlude, in which Arno Babajanian’s “Elegie” was beautifully performed by current Haigazian student ShogherGerboyan,Haigazian University President Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian delivered a speech for this commemorative celebration, placing particular significance on the university athletics department.

 In his address, Haidostian acknowledged all the various sports teams of the university, praising them for their effort and dedication. Additionally he stressed on the importance of the university’s collaboration through a memorandum of understanding with the Beirut Marathon Association, an internationally recognized non-profit and non-governmental organization that aims to promote unity and wellness in Lebanon now and for generations to come.

 Mrs. May El Khalil, the president of the Beirut Marathon Association, was the keynote speaker of the event. After presenting a brief overview of the organization’s history and development over the years, Khalil concentrated on the main traits that make any organization a success, such as vision, perseverance and belief, all of which are vital to the sport of marathon running.

 Furthermore Khalil discussed the memorandums of understanding with the universities and how this relates to the importance of youth participation in national events. As she spoke, Khalil also revealed inspirational photos from the Beirut Marathon over the years in a powerpoint presentation.

 Afterwards, President Haidostian presented El Khalil with a plaque of appreciation and congratulations in celebration of Beirut Marathon’s 10th Anniversary.

 At the conclusion of the ceremony everyone rose to sing the university’s Alma Mater, which was followed by the recessional.