Update from Arayik & Nelli

This excerpt is taken from the December 2011 Temple News.

Yerevan, ARMENIA

[Early November] I wish we could communicate daily. There are so many things I would like to share with you about the work here.



Pastor Joseph & Arayik



Many new believers in Spitak and Stepanavan have been pleading and even insisting to be baptized, asking me why they were not baptized before; they were actually hurt. I told them they will be baptized next year. And now there are some young people who came from Russia and they want to be baptized. Those who were baptized [in September] have been sharing with others and telling them about their experiences and how God is blessing them, so now many others want to make that commitment and be baptized. Well, we will see what is the will of our Lord.

I made many copies of the DVD of the baptismal service (when you were here) and I am giving them to the people. The response has been so great.

I want to give you a very special thank you from me and from all the believers here for your guidance and the baptismal service while you were here; they all are shaken by that event. All those whom you met here in Armenia send you their greetings. Those whom you visited send you their greetings.

Brother Joseph, the 50,000 tracts have been distributed already to churches and individuals. All the brethren are very happy to distribute them. They love them. I believe we must print more, that is, if you are willing.

Snow has already come here and it is very difficult in the winter to go to Spitak and other villages without snow tires. I was in Spitak the other day and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to return home. But with God’s help we safely arrived home the next day. I have a request, Brother Joseph. Can anyone help us purchase snow tires? Without them I am afraid I won’t be able to go to Spitak and Stepanavan.

May God’s peace and blessings be on you all. Please give my greetings to the brethren in your church. We are always praying for you.

[Late November] First and foremost, I thank those who sent money to help us purchase snow tires. May the Lord bless them.

I went to Stepanavan and Spitak November 8 to 10. We had worshipful fellowship at both places. Those who were baptized recently and those who had been baptized earlier participated in a communion service.

In Spitak, I visited a family that was baptized this year in Jrashen village. While visiting this family, their uncle, named Hrach, 50 years old, was visiting them. When he heard that we were believers, he started talking against all believers. While he was talking, I was praying silently for him.

For the next forty minutes I talked to him about the deliverance of our Saviour Jesus Christ. He said, “I want to be a believer like you.” After ten minutes, with tears running down his cheeks, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour and he said, “Peace came over me.” I gave him the Bible and he promised that he will read the Word and will change his way of life. Please pray for this young believer. Thank you.

Beloved, all our believers send their greetings. May God richly bless you. We miss you and are always praying for you.

Arayik and Nelli S.

Spreading God's Word in Armenia

Khor Virap Monastery

Recently, we reported about increasing restrictions on evangelizing and witnessing in Armenia. Despite opposition, believers there are eager and courageous in sharing their faith.

What's exciting for us at Temple Baptist Church is the opportunity to be part of the spreading of the gospel in Armenia. Thanks to the support, generosity and prayers of our members and friends, we have been able to help some of the believers, churches and workers there. But there is much more to be done!

Video of our trip to Armenia

A video of our trip to Armenia is available for you to view and share with others.

http://vimeo.com/32803032.

Mission to Armenia

By Pastor Joseph Hovsepian

In 2008, after my wife and I went to Armenia, I had no thoughts of returning three years later. I also did not think that God could and would use me in any meaningful way in Armenia; or at least I didn’t think I was qualified enough. I used excuses similar to the ones Moses used: I am not young anymore, I don’t speak Eastern Armenian well, I am the pastor of an English-speaking congregation, I… I… I… etc. But God had other plans for me and for my daughter Ruth.

When I visited Armenia in 2008, I wanted to go to villages and towns and meet the forgotten and needy people, and I did. I developed a relationship with many of the people I met through Arayik Sardaryan, a missionary who continued visiting and meeting with these people regularly, helping them grow spiritually and keeping us informed here at Temple Baptist Church, now supporting him regularly so he could continue his mission work among them.

God's Workshop

The devotional book God's Workshop was written by Pastor Joseph in 2001. The book is a result of his daily radio program Good News on WCHP 760 AM.

For Pastor Joseph the pulpit is not the only tool in God's Workshop. This devotional book brings together years of insight gained and shared from Pastor Joseph's full-time business, his church work and radio ministry.

While in Armenia it was suggested that the book be translated into Eastern Armenian. The wheels started to turn and inquiries were made about translators and printers. This is a book that can be used as a witnessing tool and for pastors to study.

New Beginnings

Good News Ministries has translated and printed "What Are You Searching For?" into eleven languages and will continue to do so as the requests come in for other languages. As of today we have the following translations available:

• Arabic
• Armenian (Eastern)
• Armenian (Western)
• Chinese
• French
• Greek
• Korean
• Portuguese
• Spanish
• Tagalog
• Urdu

Happy Thanksgiving

What are you most thankful for?

The people of Armenia are thankful for things we take for granted.

Do you know what they are thankful for?

Motor Still Running

It's been a week since we got back home to Montreal and I am still having trouble slowing things down in my mind. It doesn't help that there is a full docket of work to be done but even at night images and thoughts are whirling around in my head.

People I met and who left a lasting impression. New friends and family that I miss even though our time together was so short. Sights and smells that are as fresh as the day I experienced them.

Day 10 & 11 - Last Day & Farewells

With the dawning of our last day in Armenia I had mixed emotions. I had missed my children and wanted to get back to them but the people of Armenia had captured my heart and I knew that a piece of it would remain behind with them.

Sunday morning was almost like every other Sunday for us. We prepared for church and walked over to the church just as we do in Montreal. Somethings just don't change with the Hovsepians.

Day 10 - Christian Leadership College (CLC)

Two brothers in Christ rejoicing over the gift of Bibles to the church. The Bibles were a donation from Pastor Joseph. We need to count our blessings and appreciate the accessibility of buying Bibles. Is yours collecting dust somewhere? Or do you use it as a paper weight?

Bibles are expensive for the average Armenian to buy. Even the church has a shortage and did not have any to give away to new believers.