Journeying with our Chanitz Blog

We’re back! We’re back with more maturity, experience, and perseverance. We’re a year older now, which means we’ve written more, we’ve learned more, we’ve read more, we’ve erred more and we’ve achieved more.

This year was filled with joy and sorrow, with achievements and mishaps. Some disregarded us, many cherished us. I remember the lady from abroad, who was so encouraging, so kind, and she was so happy of our endeavors. I remember the emails that we received, emails supporting us to keep the blog alive, lively and young. Many were flabbergasted at the quality of the posts, articles, language used and interviews conducted. Then again, we also faced the storm, and we stood strong and steadfast, passing over obstacles and clearing misunderstandings and issues that needed to be clarified.

We stood and we stay the voice of the young men and women here in Lebanon, in the Middle East. We live our faith, we share our lives, we have our own opinion, and our own dynamic style. We shall debate controversial issues, expressing different point of views, keeping true to our principle of respect.
In our journey, we made friendships from all over the world, from Armenia, Iraq, Syria, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, France, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Cyprus, Egypt, Canada and USA.

We thank each and every one of our sponsors and donors from across the oceans and from within our region, from far beyond and from near and close. It is because of our dear sponsors and donors that we were able to conduct our interviews. It is because of them that we were able to buy a very good digital audio recorder, and it served us best.

We are thankful to God for sending us people who knew our need and we are very grateful for them.

Our sponsors for 2009 were: Haigazian University, Armenian Evangelical P. & E. Torosian School, Armenian Evangelical Christian Endeavor Union, Howard Karageuzian Foundation, Bible Bookshop, Soulahian Super Store, Peter's Brass, Kardashian Printing Services, High Bar.

We also received a donation, wrapped with a prayer and a blessing, from Canada.

Please pray for us to be able to keep this service up for our local community and for our international community.

In case you are interested about the past posts and articles:

Editor in Chief,
Raffi Chilingirian

Daily Vacation Bible School of the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church

The DVBS of the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church took place from 6 to 31 July, for 4 weeks (5 days a week).

The school usually started at 9am and ended at 1pm. Kids from the ages 4 to 12 participated from the neighborhood and they enjoyed the worship sessions, visitations, games, sing-songs, story telling, arts and crafts. Moreover, each week they had special events, where they went to Kchag, had a guest from USA (Robman) and from the Ourakh Daretartz group, visited La Giraffe and the newly-built playground of Bourj-Hammoud.

We are grateful to God for blessing us with volunteers who worked and served as one team under the leadership of Ms. Nara Kouzikian.




The leaders from left to right: Hagop Akbasharian, Nazani Svajian, Areni Svajian, Hera Kouzikian, Armig Kazezian, Hrag Avedanian, Nara Kouzikian, Sevag Svajian, Dzovag Demirjian, Taline Missirlian.
















































AMAA Buys Property For Armenian Evangelical Church in Brussels


Left to Right: Rev. Sarkis Pachaian of the Armenian Evangelical Church of Brussels, Rev. Joel Mikaelian, President of the Armenian Evangelical Union of France, Fred Simonian, AMAA Board Member, Andy Torigian, Executive Director of the AMAA, next to the newly purchased property and building on their left.

BRUSSELS–The Armenian Missionary Association of America has purchased an old chapel in the Belgian capital and will embark on a local and international campaign to raise funds for its renovation and refitting.

The building, located on Rue Du Heysel, 20, in Brussels, was purchased in June after AMAA Executive Director Andy Torigian traveled to Brussels to finalize the sale in June.

But the property needs renovation and rooms for a planned Sunday school and youth group. The remodeling will a cost over 250,000 Euros. Donations to support the ministry in Belgium will be channeled through the AMAA and those who are interested in becoming a patron of the new church can contact the AMAA office at 201-265-2607.

The purchase comes nearly two decades after the AMAA established the Armenian Evangelical Fellowship of Brussels in 1989 to meet the spiritual needs of the local Armenians as well as immigrants from Turkey.

The fellowship was later organized as a church with the support of the AMAA and was placed under the care of the Armenian Evangelical Union of France. Sarkis Pachaian, a young Armenian from Turkey, was identified as a potential leader. He was encouraged to attend a Seminary in order to take charge of the pastoral leadership of the congregation. He graduated in 1991.

The Armenian Evangelical Church of Brussels was officially founded on May 28, 1991, and was sponsored by the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) and the Armenian Evangelical Union of France. The church did not own a sanctuary. Worship services were held first in homes and later in rented church buildings.

As of 1990, Armenians from Armenia immigrated to Belgium, opening new doors for ministry. A fellowship for Armenian-speaking immigrants was established. Soon the ministry in Belgium spread to seven areas including Brussels, Liege, Antwerp, Mechelen, Hasselt and also in neighboring countries with large Armenian-immigrant communities. The church strives to spread the good news of the Gospel to Armenians who are in need of the Word of God.

In April of 2001, Rev. Sarkis Pachaian was ordained and now is the minister of the Armenian Evangelical Church of Brussels. He has capable assistants and lay leaders who help in the ministry of Belgium. With the expansion of the work in Belgium and areas in Holland and Germany, it became necessary to have a permanent facility in Brussels. For the last two years, both the church and AMAA strived to find an adequate property.

Source: Asbarez.com

Family Retreat of the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church

For two days, from Firday, 24 July to Saturday, 25 July, in Ayn Kassis, in Dhour Shweir, and for the fist time in the life of the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church, the body, the family came together and had a retreat to get closer to each other, to have deeper fellowship and relationship, to strengthen our faith and be rejuvenated.

The theme of the retreat was "He/she loves, I love, We love", and the speaker was Mrs. Maral Deyirmenjian.

There was excitement on the faces of the people, it was best shown on the faces of the youngsters. Ms. Armig Kazezian led the opening worship, after which, the pastor, Rev. Hovanness Svajian shared his message, about God being our source of motivation and reason. Then, it was time for activities and social time. Mr. Hagop Gojigian and Ms. Narine Kouzikian led the games. It was a nice time, specially the time when each group had to come up with an Armenian song that starts with a specific Armenian letter.

On Saturday, the church started its day with quiet time, and after breakfast, Ms. Rita Lao Manjelikian led worship time, after which, Mrs. Maral Deyirmenjian presented her subject about the self esteem of the person. She told us that the consequences of negative self esteem are: feeling alone, sad, anxious, failure in life and work, not being able to share thoughts, comparing with others, not accepting criticism. She also presented the reasons: lack of love from friends and family, always being criticized, emotional crisis. The solutions that she presented: admitting the problems, looking for help, deafening the internal negative voice, congratulating success, concentrating on the strong abilities, looking at God and allowing His positive feedback.
Afterward, the church divided into 4 groups and discussed the subject further. The leaders of the 4 groups were: Mrs. Araxi Mazmanian, Mrs. Vera Svajian, Mr. Manoug Ibitian, Mr. Zareh Manjelikian.

During the next session, and after lunch, Mrs. Maral raised a question, "So, is it difficult to love?" It becomes difficult to love beacause of: selfishness, pride, lack of humility, not allowing others to do wrong, not forgiving the sins, not having "chemistry" with others. She stressed on the importance of love, and how it has a healing abilities in relationships. Ms. Ani Baboghlanian led the closing worship and shared about love and how a church can be loving, following the Bible's guidelines.

The organizing committee were: Mrs. Ani Chalekian, Ms. Shaké Geocherian, Ms. Ani Baboghlanian, Mr. Manoug Ibitian, Mr. Samuel Svajian, and Rev. Hovanness Svajian.

41 members participated with 13 kids and children.


Right: Hopping into the bus and getting ready for fresh air, wonderful time together and fellowship
Left: already excitement is visible


Ms. Armig Kazezian, while leading the worship session


Right: Mrs. Rita Lao-Mangelikian leading the 2nd worship session.
Left: Ms. Ani Baboghlanian our strict and punctual and sweet-hearted leader


Left: Mrs. Vera Svajian, our acrobat yeretz gin
Right: During the game of passing the ball to your neightbor








Left: Rev. Hovanness Svajian
Right: Mrs. Maral Deyirmenjian




Left: Coffee break!
Right: the kids had their own fun time


Left: Mr. Garbis and Maral Deyirmenjian fellowshiping
Right: Rev. Hovanness Svajian thanking Mrs. Maral with a gift


Left: Mrs. Ani Chalekian
Right: Ms. Shake Geocherian


Left: Mr. Levon Bedigian
Right: Mr. Garo Avessian, with his son Vartan


Left: Mrs. Vera Svajian leading the 1st group
Right: Mr. Manoug Ibitian leading the 2nd group


Left: Mr. Zareh Manjelikian leading the 3rd group
Right: Mrs. Araxi Mazmanian leading the 4th group

Khatcherians, Mouradian, Sulahians Visit Their Church, the Emmanuel Church


Mrs. Sona Khatcherian (wearing a red flower) from Canada gave her church a visit, after several years.


The Mouradians (in the middle), from California, USA, gave their church a visit for the first time after their immigration to the US.
The Sulahians (on the right), also gave their church a visit.


Lorry with her father Raffi Mouradian