To Armenia With Love

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Days 1 - 6 - Bringing you up-to-date

Late on Wednesday, August 29 (mid-morning in Armenia), Pastor Joseph and Jessie connected with Ann-Margret on Skype. They looked happy and well-rested and are enjoying their stay at a small hotel (10 rooms) where they are the only guests at the moment. The weather has been beautiful and warm, 38-40 Celsius, thankfully there is air-conditioning.

Here is an update on what has been happening since they arrived in Armenia:

Day 1 - Saturday, August 25

In a previous post we posted pictures and a few words about the baptismal service but were missing the details of the day. The plan had been for 25 new believers to be baptised on Saturday. On the day of the baptism there were many obstacles that prevented about half the group to not be baptised.

As always in Armenia there is the issue of transportation, this time it prevented a few from making it to the baptismal service. Several others decided not be baptised due to the influence and pressure from others discouraging them from doing so.

On the day of the baptism as they were preparing for the service, a man walking by, stopped and questioned the group as to what was going on. When it was explained to him, he began to curse and say there was only one true church - it turns out he is the local priest.

Even with all the obstacles no one was able to stop the baptismal service from taking place. There is much need for prayer for Armenia and the believers, in the name of Christianity many are being persecuted.

Day 2 – Sunday, August 26

Pastor Joseph spoke at the Armenian Brotherhood Church of Yerevan (ABC), if you would like to listen to his sermon (in Armenian) click here.

After the church service, Pastor Joseph and Jessie had a very lovely lunch with old family friends, from Montreal who are also visiting Armenia, and the Pastor of ABC and his family. Knowing all them it must have been a time of laughter and great conversation.

Days 3 - 5

Pastor Joseph and Jessie have had the opportunity to spent time visiting with family, friends and new believers. We will hear more about these visits when they return and we will fill you in as well.

One of those visits was with a woman named Emma, a television reporter who was given a copy of God’s Workshop in Armenian a few months ago. When she started reading the book she contacted Pastor Joseph and started corresponding by email with him. She was interested and excited to meet face-to-face with Pastor Joseph while he was in Armenia. They met and Pastor Joseph and Jessie were able to share with her about the Lord. She was very encouraged by the visit.

Emma & Pastor Joseph

Day 6 – Thursday, August 30

Pastor Joseph and Artur Mantashyan, the man who was instrumental in the translation of God's Workshop into Armenian, went to the bookstore of the largest charismatic church
where they will be selling the Pastor Joseph’s book, in Eastern Armenian.

Pastor Joseph & Artur Mantashyan at the bookstore that will
be selling God's Workshop in Armenian

Pastor Joseph then went to the Campus Crusade headquarters and met the International
Director from France (Hovhannes) who is an Iranian Armenian and was good friends with Joseph Hovsepian's father Rev. Haik Hovsepian (read more about Rev. Haik Hovsepian here).

Pastor Joseph & Hovhannes

Other news and updates:

The receptionist (Hripsime) at the hotel that Pastor Joseph and Jessie are staying in is a born-again believer. She and the rest of the hotel staff have all received copies of the tract What Are You Searching for? This young woman told Pastor Joseph that she had sensed he was a Christian because of three things: He said "God bless you" to her, he wore a cross lapel pin and she had heard him and Jessie praying together.

To see the rest of the trip itinerary please click here.

We appreciate your continued prayers and support for this amazing work God is doing in Armenia. God bless you!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Day 2 - Sunday, August 26

Pastor Joseph Hovsepian preaching at the Armenian Evangelical Church of Yerevan in Armenian.

Monday, August 27, 2012

New pictures of the Spitak Baptismal Service

2012 Mission Trip to Armenia, a set on Flickr.

As new pictures are sent to me I will post them on Facebook and on this blog.

Check in frequently to not miss any of the pictures and updates.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Day 1 - Baptismal Service

On Saturday, August 25th a baptismal service was held in Spitak. There were 12 new believers that were baptised. Due to complications, a long story which we will tell in the future, the rest were not baptised.

Here are a few pictures from the day.

Jessie, Pastor Joseph, Sister Sveta & Sister Nellie

Brother Araik & Pastor Joseph with one of the baptismal candidates

Brother Araik & Pastor Joseph

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Trip Delay

I want to thank everyone who is praying for Pastor Joseph and Jessie. There has been a small delay in their travel itinerary.

When we got to the airport tonight we found out that the flight they were supposed to be on would only be arriving at 11 p.m. EST and that their flight was cancelled due to 'safety' reasons. What that actually means is the airline (Air France) does not want to pay a fine for flying out after 12 a.m. For those who do not know, many airports that are within city limits fine airlines heavily for flying in or out after a certain time, in Montreal it's 12 a.m.

Air France rescheduled the flight for tomorrow (Thursday, August 23) at 4:45 p.m. Montreal to Paris and from Paris they were going to be transferring to MOSCOW and then... well you get the picture and that wasn't going to happen.

After a 30 minute conversation with customer service (a very sweet and understanding woman) in Atlanta, Pastor Joseph was able to reschedule their flight for tomorrow at 11 p.m. - 24 hours later from their original departure day and time. This way they will arrive in Yerevan on Friday. A day later but they will be there.

Your continued prayers are much appreciated and felt at this time. Please pray for safe travels and physical strength for my parents.

-Ruth

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

2012 Trip

Pastor Joseph and Jessie are heading to Armenia (from August 22 to September 11) for the third missions trip there in four years. Last year, Pastor Joseph went with Ruth and you can see photos from that trip by clicking visiting the Pictures 2011 page.

Pastor Joseph will speak at a different location on each of the three Sundays they are in Armenia and will also have a baptismal service for over 25 believers.

Follow the "To Armenia with Love" blog detailed updates in the coming days and weeks.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

New Missions Trip

As most of you know, Pastor Joseph Hovsepian will be going to Armenia for his third missions trip (this time with his wife Jessie), from August 22 to September 11. Since last year's visit to Yerevan and surrounding villages, there has been a lot of outreach activity in Armenia, much of which we have tried to regularly report to you through the Temple News, our website, Facebook, etc.

Distribution of the Eastern Armenian translations of our tract, What Are You Searching for?, and Pastor Hovsepian's book, God's Workshop, is still going strong. Of course, this material is costly to print so your gifts are always greatly appreciated. If this is a ministry you feel passionate about, you can make a difference with your special donations.

Another way you can help, if giving money is difficult, is to donate items that would be useful to struggling families in Armenia. The Hovsepian family will be shipping a container of godds in a few months and are collecting kitchen items, school supplies and clothing.

Besides what is already on our church website, updates on the Armenian missions trip and other projects Pastor Hovsepian is working on will soon be available at this new website: www.josephhovsepianministries.com

Friday, May 4, 2012

Mission Update: Armenia

I send greetings to our brothers and sisters—our dear friends—in Armenia. It took a visit to that country and seven months for the book God’s Workshop to be re-born in Eastern Armenian. On April 22, the new translation of the book, Asdzo Arestanotse, was presented to about 170 leaders and others at a special dedication service at the Armenian Brotherhood Church of Yerevan.

Five thousand copies were dedicated to God and to His service. I had the privilege of sending a short video message that was presented to those who attended the celebration. The following is the English translation of my message to them:

My dearly beloved brothers and sisters, “we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints.” (Col. 1:3-4)

When, for the first time, my wife and I came to Armenia, we didn’t for one moment imagine that God had His own plans for us. You, dear brothers and sisters, indicated your desire to have my book, God’s Workshop, translated into Eastern Armenian because you wanted to use it as a tool to reach many, to help them in their spiritual journeys. I felt that it was God’s voice speaking to me through you.

And here we are now. Today, 5,000 books are ready to be used for the glory of God. I express my heartfelt appreciation to all those who helped make this happen. May God bless you richly.

Dear members of the family of God, my wish is that this book may help you in your spiritual growth. Also, by giving this book to others, you will help them find Jesus and His salvation, and in that way you would have obeyed our Lord Jesus who said, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Dear brethren, your monetary gifts will be used only in Armenia, for the spreading of His Word and for His glory. And, with your help, many will find Jesus, the spring of Living Water.

May God bless you all and may His peace fill your hearts.

Since the celebration, I have received many calls and e-mails expressing joy about the printing of the books, and all the comments have been very positive and encouraging.

Pastor Joseph Hovsepian

To view a video of the celebration event, combined with photos and the message from Pastor Joseph, please visit http://vimeo.com/40821759.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Update on 'God's Workshop'

Although there are nearly 9,000 km between Montreal and Armenia, we have been working closely with out brothers and sisters there to support the outreach and evangelism work being done in Yerevan, Spitak and other surrounding villages.
Recently, 100,000 copies of the Eastern Armenian version of "What Are You Searching For?" were printed and are quickly being distributed.

As well, the Armenian translation of Pastor Joseph's book, "God's Workshop", is in the process of being printed and, within the next couple of weeks, free distribution of the 5,000 copies will begin. If you would like to support this outreach through sponsorship, please speak to Pastor Joseph.