Armenians Awaken to their Missions Calling
as a Light to the Nations

AIMS News: Posted 8/1/2006

Twelve years ago, "Halil" fought in the Armenian army to secure the region of Karabakh, a disputed territory causing years of friction between Armenia and Azerbaijan, two surviving republics of the former Soviet Union. After a temporary Armenian victory, Halil left Karabakh, never intending to return.

Halil began ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the country. But several years ago, God led him to return to Karabakh, where he planted several churches. He envisioned sending missionaries within to neighboring regions such as Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan, but he had no way to train them.

In April 2006, Halil joined forty other Armenian pastors and region ministers for an AIMS Harvest Connection seminar in Karabakh. He not only learned how to guide his churches into ministry with unreached people groups, but he also connected with a new missionary training school where he could send prospective missionaries for ten weeks of cross-cultural training.

"The Harvest Connection seminar strengthened his church's commitment and gave him new strategies about to carry out his vision," said "Philip," AIMS Team Strategy Coordinator who taught the seminar in Karabakh.

After AIMS led the first Equipping for the Harvest conference in 2004, members of the Armenian Renewal Movement have requested similar training for churches in regions around the country. In April AIMS sent teams to teach the seminar in three key regions: Karabakh, Yerevan (the capitol city of Armenia), and Vandazor. During the conference, the teams introduced Light for the Nations, an established missions training program in Ukraine, to begin the first ever Charismatic/Pentecostal missionary training school in Armenia this summer. As a result, 25 prospective missionaries signed up for the ten-week program, including seven missionaries from Halilís new churches in Karabakh.

The goal: mobilize Christians in Armenia to make their country a missions-sending nation.

A Beacon of Light in a Dark Region

Surrounded by Muslim nations, Armenia is known for its strong Christian heritage. However, although Christian tradition is steeped deep into Armenian culture, only 8% of the total population is considered evangelical (1).

"Currently, there are no Armenian missionaries," said Philip. "Denominations are sending missionaries to Armenia, but they are building churches in the country. They are not sending missionaries from Armenia to other countries."

Two generations ago, Armenian Christians survived an attempted genocide led by Turkey and other Kurdish nations. Since, the country has been "at war" with nations surrounding their borders over territorial disputes. Many Armenians have been bitter toward their neighbors. However, since AIMS training initiatives began in 2004, attitudes in Armenia are changing.

Waking Up to God's Calling

After the collapse of Communism, CBN launched a massive evangelism campaign in Russia and other former Soviet Union countries. The organization partnered with AIMS to provide several follow-up discipleship trainings for the hundreds of thousands whom had given their lives to Jesus Christ. AIMS began to train national pastors to handle the discipleship effort and sent "Hannah," an associate, to Ukraine lead the very first pastorsí training school for the former Soviet Union countries. One of her first students was "Pastor Deron" who later formed the Armenian Renewal Movement out of a small Pentecostal movement within the country.

"Even then, God was speaking to me about being a missions church," Pastor Deron told Philip. "We've been saying that God is going to use Armenia to touch the nations, and now, we are finally going to do it."

One of the few trained pastors in Armenia, Pastor Deron contacted Hannah, who had recently established a partnership with Light for the Nations in Ukraine, to begin a similar missionary training school in Armenia.

Hannah joined AIMS during the latest ministry trip and reunited with her former student. "The Armenian people are beginning to awaken to their responsibility to reach their neighbors, but there are major emotional barriers to cross. They are now asking the Lord to give them love in their hearts for those that Armenians in general hate so that they can take the Gospel to them with open hearts."

Although Armenia is not an epicenter focus of AIMS, we are working with Light for the Nations who will handle future training opportunities within the country. Please continue to pray for this effort.

(1) Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk, Operation World: When We Pray, God Works, 21st Century Edition (Waynesboro, GA: Paternoster USA) 2001, p.80.

Learn more about the Harvest Connection Seminar >

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