AMAA
The Early Years in Armenia AMAA and AEWC delegation meet with His Holiness Vazken I, in Etchmiadzin, April 1989. L to R: Rev. Karl Avakian, Robert Hekemian, Rev. Daniel Sahagian, Catholicos Vazken I and Rev. Dr. Movses B. Janbazian.
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By Rev. René Léonian, Ph.D.*
he Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) has played and continues to play an important role in Armenia since the 1988 devastating earthquake in the Homeland. I first met Rev. Dr. Movses Janbazian in May 1988, during the Annual Synod of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches of France in Valence. Our paths never departed until his death on September 25, 2000. He was, along with others, an instrument of God which guided me in a pastoral and missionary ministry in Europe, Armenia and in the countries of the former USSR. As Executive Director of the AMAA, Rev. Janbazian saw the vision of the Armenian Evangelical Churches globally. He was the providential man to orchestrate humanitarian and spiritual relief in Armenia, especially after the earthquake of December 7, 1988. His work remained unfinished. But God is faithful as others took over his unfinished work. The personality of Rev. Janbazian has influenced many people and its impact has spilled far beyond the Armenian Evangelical Churches. Thus, as soon as the earthquake took place in Armenia, Rev. Janbazian and I were in constant telephone contact to analyze the situation and decide on the actions to
be taken. Three weeks after the earthquake, my wife Sylvie and I went to Armenia for 15 days to accompany a cargo plane departing from Paris. As soon as we arrived in Yerevan, we participated in the distribution of humanitarian aid in the northern areas of Armenia which were affected by this deadly disaster. Prior to our departure for Armenia, Rev. Janbazian asked me to make a detailed report of our mission in Armenia ̶ including the general situation, the needs as well as my various meetings with members of the government, His Holiness Vasken I, Catholicos of All Armenians, officials of Armenian Evangelical churches, intellectuals, the affected population and others. As soon as I returned to Paris, I sent my report to Rev. Janbazian. It was the first field report that AMAA released to all its members and supporters. In April 1989, a delegation from AMAA and the Armenian Evangelical World Council (AEWC) including Revs. Karl Avakian, Movses Janbazian, Daniel Sahagian and Mr. Robert Hekemian visited Armenia. In May 1989, the Association "Hope for Armenia" (Espoir pour l’Arménie) was created by the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches of France. I had the privilege of being its first President until 1993.
A collaboration was quickly established between the AMAA and "Hope for Armenia." Both groups had the same vision ̶ to help our people in Armenia materially, psychologically and spiritually. Since 1989, we have pooled all our financial and human resources to be as effective as possible to relieve Armenia and its population from this terrible distress. Of course, AMAA’s financial resources were greater. But the proximity of France to reach Armenia allowed a great mobilization of the members of "Hope for Armenia." Our two associations were complementing to meet the urgent needs of the disaster areas. For years, the AMAA and "Hope for Armenia" have welcomed volunteers to Armenia from North America, France, the Middle East, Europe, South America and Australia. We must pay tribute to the members of the AMAA Board, to all its presidents, Executive Directors, staff members, as well as to its volunteers in the US and elsewhere. From the day after the earthquake followed by the official establishment of AMAA in Armenia in 1991 and for many years, the programs implemented by AMAA in Armenia and Artsakh helped alleviate the misery of children and their AMAA NEWS, July-Aug-Sept 2021 | 7
