A Sword

«For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow and discerning the thoughts and intentions
of the heart » Hebrews 4:12 

Paul, more than once, refers to the Word of God as a sword. In Ephesians 6:17 we read, «and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God». Jesus said in Matthew 10:34, «Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword». A sword is generally something you would not use in your everyday life. A sword is a violent tool, once used in wars and conflicts. The ideas that come to mind when thinking about a sword are death, attack, violence, power. Do we treat God’s Word as a sword in our daily lives? 

 Paul didn’t use this word randomly. A sword separates a being into two and an object into two parts. The Word of God is a sword that cuts through us and reveals our true nature. Because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to the Word of God, they were confronted with their nudity and shame. The Word of God is so powerful that the amazing universe was created through it.
Millions of galaxies, stars, moons, planets, and gigantic black holes were created by the Word of God. People have found courage to resist torture through the Word of God. Christians through years have suffered persecution, fed to lions, and beheaded but the Word of God still keeps on changing hearts. The Lord said in Isaiah 55:11, «so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it». God doesn’t need mortals like us to spread His Word, but He trusts and loves us so much that he has given us the privilege to be His hands and feet. How are we dealing then with His Word? Are we giving it the worth it deserves? Are we using the Word of God as a sword or as a pillow? 

Often, people tell me that as Christians it is hard to debate and that non-Christians have better arguments than we have. It is hard, but a sword always wins the battle. If the Word of God is like a sword, then we should trust it to cut through. We should study it so deeply. The Word of
God should be so rooted in us that it doesn’t simply become a sword, but mine and your personal sword. People don’t like to be told what is wrong in their lives, and that is exactly what the Word of God does, it cuts through and shows what is really inside. The Word of God cuts through our daily masks and challenges us to become our greater self in Him. God’s Word is a sword, a very sharp one, but it doesn’t stop there, it is a light as well that if we let it shine it will change our and people’s lives forever; if only we believe and trust in it.

Vahé Jebejian

My Personal Experience in AMAA Internship 2015


8 July 2015 was the marvellous day when 20 interns from all around the world (USA, Canada, Greece, Syria and Australia) gathered in Armenia, under the leadership of Rev. Vatche Ekmekjian, to participate in the Summer Internship Program that was organized by AMAA (Armenian Missionary Association Of America). Though we didn’t know it at the time, the following weeks would shape our hearts and lives permanently and help fix our sights on furthering God’s kingdom wherever we went.

The theme was “God’s Work in Our Hearts”. Every morning, we started our day with worship and devotion, both of which were very inspirational to me. We ended each worship session with prayer, praying that He would be with us throughout this mission to show us His creation and work around us and in our hearts. For certain designated days, we met with local pastors who graciously opened up their churches to us, even if they were as small as one room. Another day, we fellowshipped and worshipped with youth who shared the hard facts with us about the difficulties of living in Armenia and the emotional, spiritual, and economical challenges the youth there face. On the same day, we also met the Armenia Representative of the AMAA, Harout Nercessian, who detailed to us AMAA’s mission in Armenia and all the projects they currently fund or operate.

We were invited to visit several of AMAA’s many mission centers and witness how the AMAA was contributing to uplifting and building up the lives of many impoverished Armenian children. Among the sites we visited were the newly-built Avedissian School, Shogh daycare center and Camp Sheen Shoghig in Hankavan.

I know for a fact that our group was most moved and affected by our time spent up at camp in Hankavan. During our three days there, we participated in a wealth of different activities; from sitting in on the children’s morning devotionals to teaching them new worship songs to playing a game of soccer with them on the field. None of us will forget how heartbroken we were when, as we were driving away from camp in our bus, we saw all the children and leaders sorrowfully waving goodbye to us from the soccer field. We truly felt that God was there and that He revealed himself to us through the adoring eyes, the loving hands, and the tender hearts of the children there.

Not ones to be kept down after such an emotional experience, we joyfully continued our journey around Armenia. We visited several Armenian Evangelical churches all around Armenia, from Armavir in the south to Vanadzor in the north. We were royally treated to the traditional Armenian hospitality and kindness by the respective congregations, often being offered delicious five-course meals and refreshments. For those who didn’t speak Armenian coming into the trip, they certainly learned a new word after all that food: gshdatsah (I am full).

Also, we got the unique opportunity to meet with some very needy families and share the love of God with them. We raised over $400 total out of our own funds to donate to families in Dilijan, Shiragamut, and the suburbs of Yerevan. Seeing how little those families had, yet how happy and upbeat they were, we realized how much we take for granted. The visits really lifted our spirits and made us appreciate all that we have.

We attended two Sunday services; one at the Evangelical Church of Armenia, pastored by our local “guide” and dear friend Badveli Hovig Hovsepian, as well as the Harav Aremtyan Taghamas church, where we got the chance to praise the Lord with the congregation. The worship was beautiful both times and both services were punctuated by moving testimonies from Anna Shanazari and Eliz Hovsepian from Burbank, CA, and Nayiri Papazian from Montréal, QC, Canada. Badveli Vatche Ekmejian, our leader, also delivered two powerful sermons during that time.

The most amazing part for me was at the end of each night where we did something we liked to call “Share The Day.” We would gather around and each would share his/her experiences, insights and emotions about that particular day and give thanks to the Lord  for the wonderful time we had.

This was my third visit to Armenia, but this extraordinary trip was by far the best time I’ve ever spent there. 

I thank God for the wonderful experience that I had throughout this internship and for the brothers and sisters in Christ that I gained with whom I made unforgettable memories.

George Megerditchian

Gandalf the Gray: Protecting the Fellowship

Galdalf battling with the Balrog

Today, I was finally able to finish the trilogy, while reading small parts of it every day on my way to work. I had seen the movies in the theaters, but I had always wanted to read the book by J.R.R. Tolkien. 
I knew that Tolkien was a friend of C.S. Lewis, but what was interesting to find out was the fact that Tolkien was the reason C.S. Lewis came to accept Christ in his life. Awesome!

 My favorite character in the trilogy of the Lord of the Rings is none other than Gandalf. What grabs my attention is his traits in his character. He knew that he was sent to Middle-Earth to help the earthlings in their mission. This old wizard knew how to read the social and political situations, had a keen insight, was focused on his mission, and he infused his team with confidence and trust.

The epitome of his character shows during the fellowship's escape from Moria, the underground city. While escaping, the Balrog suddenly appears and threatens their progress. Instead of running, Gandalf turns around and faces the giant dark shadow single-handedly, protecting his team from the evil creature. Gandalf battles alone with the Balrog and in the combat the Balrog manages to grab Gandalf's leg with its whip while falling, dragging Gandalf down into the endless pit.

In the history of the Armenian nation we encounter our own Gandalfs, who lead the Armenian nation during times of crisis. We read about Hayr Ghevont Yeretz, who plays an important role during the battle of Avarayr.
We also read about the Rev. Dikran Antreasian of the Armenian Evangelical Church, who in 1915 having witnessed what had befallen the Armenians of Zeytoun, encourages his fellow Armenians of Musa Dagh to flee to the mountains and are later miraculously saved through the intervention of the French battleship.

These courageous men of faith stood up to the challenges and helped their fellow brothers and sisters during troubling times. We are also called to help each other out as brothers and sisters of faith, "carrying one another's burdens, and in this way fulfilling the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2. 

 Raffi Chilingirian

Follow Me

“Jesus left that place, and as he walked along, he saw a tax collector, named Matthew, sitting in his office. He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Matthew got up and followed him.” Matthew 9:9

I challenge you today, as you walk in the street, stop and tell people, “Follow me”. Chances are that not many will obey you and follow you.

How come then the 12 disciples were so blinded as to follow Jesus?

After all they didn’t know Him. They didn’t know that He was the Messiah. He was just a random man, walking along the way. I guess when Jesus spoke these two words, “Follow me”, there was something divine in the way He said these words. After all, they are two simple words that we use in everyday life. For instance, “Hey man, come, follow me, let’s grab a bite”.

It is the same voice that commanded Lazarus out of the tomb, “Lazarus, come out!” John 11:43; the same voice that healed people, “‘Be clean!’ At once, the man was healed of his disease,” Matthew 8:3; and the same voice that calmed the raging storm, “Then he got up and ordered the winds and the waves to stop, and there was a great calm” Matthew 8:26.

It was something that grabbed Matthew’s attention. He even left his job as a tax collector and came after Jesus. The same happened with Simon and his brother Andrew. Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people,” Matthew 4:19. The Bible says that both brothers immediately stopped what they were doing and followed Him. How much authority did Jesus have? People left their families, jobs and possessions to join Christ in His mission.

In order to follow Christ, we must leave everything behind. We must Love Christ more than anything in the world. The Bible says, “Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well.” Luke 14:26. Jesus is very clear about this, mostly in Matthew 8:21-22, “Another man, who was a disciple, said, ‘Sir, first let me go back and bury my father.’ ‘Follow me,’ Jesus answered, ‘and let the dead bury their own dead.’” Thus, saying, yes, earthly things matter, but not now, not at the moment, when there is work to be done, there are lives to be saved.

For instance, recall the story of the rich young man Nicodemus. He had obeyed all the commandments and knew the Scriptures very well, but when Jesus challenged him in Luke 18:22, “’There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.’ But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich.” Following Jesus needs all our commitment and devotion.

Finally, in order to preach and to teach, we must know Him so we can present Him to others. We must not only be actors of the Truth but lovers of the Truth.

Vahé Jebejian

ԻՆՉՈ՞Ւ ՄԱՍՈՆ (ԱԶԱՏ ՈՐՄՆԱԴԻՐ) ՉԵՄ ԸԼԼԱՐ

It is not a secret anymore that freemasons have expanded their target areas, infiltrating into the social, educational, cultural, political and even religious institutions, convincing the leaders and today the youth to adhere to their brotherhood and fraternity under the guise of advancement of humanity.
Rev. Hovanness Svajian's research rings an alarm bell to all the Christian men and women, specifically the Armenian Evangelical Church and its youth to be aware of the snares of freemasonry and the like secret fraternities.

Note: Rev. Megerdich Karagoezian, the president of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, has also reminded the communicant members about their oath to the church, and not having another oath in other organizations, institutions, parties or fraternities.

Our faith, trust and commitment is to Christ, the one and only head of the Church.

General Administrator,
Raffi

Click on the image to read the research/article.


ՎԵՐ. ՅՈՎՀԱՆՆԷՍ ՍՎԱՃԵԱՆ

Muslim - Christian Dialogue is the only way towards peaceful Co-existence

There is no doubt that to get access to people's convictions is not easy, but as it’s imperative to bring about change and development and improvement it is essential and important to get into people’s beliefs and convictions. Because the difficulty of change lies in accepting the implications of this change and its requirements, the conviction plays a very important role for the success of the process of change. You must have the conviction in order to accept change and become an active participant and a contributor to this major development of change.

And when the issue at hand becomes subject to extensive dialogue it suddenly includes all segments of society, and when this happens the importance of the change becomes the driving force and you need the conviction and belief in it to promote it and make it viable for our whole society and that means all strata of society. This will force dialogue, and the ultimate goal is not total agreement on everything but at least partial agreement on the importance and the overall idea and the necessity of change which will keep the dialogue and the move towards change alive.

On Friday, 12th of October 2012, Rev. Haroutune Selimian, President of the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria, warmly welcomed the Islam Religious Leaders, at his office.

During the meeting they discussed the political reforms taking place in Syria. They especially focused on the current developments, dangers, troubles and problems facing Syria these days. Syria has in the course of the past year-and-a-half become the scene of killings and violence executed by the opposition parties thus turning Syria into a land that lacks peace after years of being a great symbol of peace and security.

Rev. Selimian said. “In these abnormal, sad and inhumane circumstances that face Syria, the Armenian community, which was and still is an integral part of the Syrian people, has endured and still bear all the difficulties and troubles testing all citizens without exception. Our community with its institutions, organizations and its church have for years worked on the development of Syria and the progress of its people. Until today this Armenian Community takes a neutral stand in regards to the situation, led by the basic principle of its people that we want to be a productive and positive segment of the Syrian society.”

At the end of the meeting, the Islam Religious Leaders thanked for the opportunity of sharing thoughts with the Armenian President of the Evangelical Community and said. “Muslim -Christian dialogue is the only way towards peaceful co-existence.”


The Look of Jesus


Peter answered, ‘Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!’ At once, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned around and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered that the Lord had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me.’ Peter went out and wept bitterly. Luke 22:60-62

 At the Lord’s last supper, Peter boldly affirms that he is ready to go to prison and even die with Christ. However, Jesus answers him, “The rooster will not crow tonight until you have said three times that you do not know me,” Luke 22:34. At that moment Peter’s faith is so strong that he speaks loudly and confidently and affirms that he would never let the Lord down.

 He would do anything not to separate himself from Jesus, after all these disciples have given their lives for this mission and knowing that Jesus was going to leave them must have caused great fear among them, the fear of loneliness and misdirection. What would they do later on? People used to respect them because of Jesus.  He was the one after all who did all the great things. That’s why Jesus says to Peter, “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers,” Luke 22:34. Jesus knew exactly what each disciple was thinking and mostly fearing.

 Indeed, most of us are sometimes too hasty to affirm things, mostly when it comes to clearly proclaiming Christ’s authority over us. Unless we are wary and always praying, we may be drawn in the course of the day into those sins which we were in the morning most resolved against. We can understand Peter. I’m sure most of us have been in the same situation. He went into the courtyard where Jesus was taken, where everyone was waiting for Christ to be condemned to death.  It was nowhere a follower of Christ should have been at that time. Everyone despised the Lord and awaited eagerly for His execution. And here comes someone pointing at Peter and saying with so much assurance, “There isn’t any doubt that this man was with Jesus, because he also is a Galilean!” Luke 22:59. What do you expect Peter to say exactly at this point? “Yes, I know Him, I am His follower”, and afterwards be mocked and beaten up? Here, we can only imagine how Peter must have been scared, and he answers the way all of us in that situation would have said, I guess, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” Luke 22:60. And the rooster crows. What a tragic moment this must have been, for he immediately remembers what the Lord had said during supper, just a few hours ago.

 This scene is just about to get worse.  “The Lord turned around and looked straight at Peter,” Luke 22:61. He had betrayed the Lord, and just at that moment, Jesus appeared and for a brief moment looked at Peter, straight in the eyes. I’m sure for Peter that lasted for more than just a simple moment.  He then remembered what Jesus had told him over dinner, “Before the rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me”. That look isn’t just a simple one, it said so much, it meant so much.  Let’s go deeper into it.

 First, the Lord turned to Him as if to say, “Peter, do you not recognize me?” Indeed, at so many points in our lives we come not to know Christ.  This could be for many reasons.  We are ashamed to pass for a weak person in front of people, may they be our friends or others. However, Jesus did not forget you or me while on the cross, did He? It could have been much easier to say, “Well, I don’t want to die for humanity.  It was after all their fault.  They should not have separated from God.” And he could have easily escaped death by calling His angels to help him. Let us not forget what Christ said, “Whoever rejects me publicly, the Son of Man will also reject him before the angels of God,” Luke 12:9.

 Second, we can just imagine the pain on Jesus’ face when we sin. Each time we deny him, Jesus gives us that look.

 Third, it was as if to say to Peter, “Peter, you were the first to proclaim me as the Messiah.  How dare you turn against me this quickly?” It’s the same with us.  We are so quick to proclaim Christ and to confess Christ as our Savior, Teacher, Healer in our churches, but in reality how fast are we to confess it in front of others, in times of distress, fear and danger? How fast are we exactly to proclaim His greatness in a non-believing, hostile environment? Unfortunately, we are sometimes too slow and quite often, unable.

 Fourth, we can picture that it could as well be a compassionate look, reminding Peter that he had prayed for him, that his faith will not fail. He tells him to be strong, and that he still has a mission to accomplish: he will be the foundation on which Christ will build His church. As if he was telling Peter, “How will you stand up and be a Man of Christ if I do not help you?” Indeed, it reminds us of the time when the disciples asked Jesus, “Who, then, can be saved?” Matthew 19:25, losing hope that this may be impossible. And Jesus confirms their feeling that they could not reach that point, saying, “This is impossible for man, but for God everything is possible,” Matthew 19:27. Our Journey of Faith can only be accomplished with Christ’s divine intervention.

 Fifth, it’s a look that challenges us to go and think for ourselves, to question ourselves day and night. That’s what we should do to keep our path straight before us; otherwise, we will lose our way so easily in today’s world.

 Sixth, and most important of all, the look signified the conveying of grace to Peter’s heart, to enable him to repent.  The Grace of God works in and by the Word of God.  It gives a happy turn to the heart and soul of Man, telling us that with what He has done for us we can and should repent and turn to Him.

 Yes, Christ stared at the high priests when they confronted Him, and you could say, “Then, why didn’t the men in authority turn to Christ when he stared at them?” The difference is that Jesus stared at the chief priests with a mere look, but it was with divine grace that He looked into Peter’s eyes and that helped Peter to repent; otherwise, probably Peter would have ended exactly like Judas.

 Jesus calls us today to repent.  He stares at us, not like any other person would look at us, but he stares with divine grace, telling us, “I have done what you couldn’t have done on your own.  You are because I AM.”

Vahé Jébéjian