AROUND THE GLOBE - Evangelical Church of Armenia in Stepanavan

EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF ARMENIA

STEPANAVAN

“․․․ Considering that God inspired us to build this House of Prayer for His glory and for the preaching of the Gospel, let us separate it with prayer, sanctify it, and dedicate it only to our Lord Jesus Christ, our Comforter and Teacher for the glory of the Holy Spirit."

With these words, on July 18, 1999, AMAA Executive Director Rev. Dr. Movses Janbazian announced the opening of the newly constructed building of the Evangelical Church of Armenia in Stepanavan.

According to testimony from individuals and historical sources, the presence of Evangelicals in the Stepanavan region was much earlier than this event, dating back to the years 1910-1920. During the years of Stalin’s persecution from 1930 onward, when religious institutions were banned, Evangelicals were forced to go underground and conduct Bible studies and worship services in secret. It was during those years that the Evangelicals and Baptists of Stepanavan united and formed house communities, gathering in the home of one of the believers. "Our house was one of the first unregistered Evangelical Baptist churches in Stepanavan," said Aghavni Kirakosyan’s granddaughter Tzoliné Mikaelyan, who is an employee at the Central office of the Evangelical Church of Armenia in Yerevan. "My maternal grandmother, who had been a member of the Evangelical Baptist Church since 1927, transformed her living room into a church hall where worship services were held every Sunday. The preachers mainly came from Yerevan or Gyumri. My grandmother and her fellow believers have been called pharmacions for years, considering evangelicalism a heresy, but that didn’t stop individuals who understood the truth of the Gospel was to live and spread that truth faithfully." Rev. Hrant Badalyan, Pastor of the

In October 1944, the Evangelical Church of Armenia in Soviet Union allowed the Stepanavan. activities of the Evangelicals and the Baptists in only one Union. The two were united in what became known as the Evangelical Christian and Baptist Community or Church. Only 44 years later, in 1991, after the proclamation of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, when religious freedom of conscience was declared in the country, the Evangelical Church of Armenia experienced a profound revival, returning from prayer homes to the Church structure.

The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) contributed a great deal to the awakening of the Evangelical Church of Armenia in Stepanavan. The AMAA, in addition to its charitable programs, made great contributions to training church leaders, organizing Christian education programs and activating community life. In 1992, the AMAA established an office in Stepanavan, which temporarily became the church building for former members and new believers of the Armenian Evangelical Baptist Churches, and a Sunday school for children, adolescents and youth was formed. In the same year, large-scale evangelism began through yard camps․ Hundreds of children, teenagers and young people participated for the first time in a children’s yard camp in Stepanavan, organized jointly by the AMAA and the French organization "Hope for Armenia."

The first Evangelical Church of Armenia building in the Homeland was built in Stepanavan in 1998. The new church building created possibilities for Sunday worship services and Christian Education programs to become more widespread. "There were so many children that we did the children’s programs in three shifts on Sundays ̶ at 10:00 am, 12:00 noon and 4:00 pm. The number of teenagers reached 80 and there were more than 60 young people," says Arminé Arevjanyan, former head of the Christian Education Department of the Evangelical Church of Armenia in Stepanavan, who served for many years.

The scope of the Stepanavan Church programs also included the nearby villages. "In addition to the services of our Church in Stepanavan, we visited 13 villages," says Arminé and Tsoliné Mikayelyan, who served the Stepanavan Church for many years. They remember: "Programs were mainly for children and adolescents, but often there were so many parents accompanying them, that certain Bible studies were conducted for them as well. In some villages, services were also provided for groups of adults."

Since its revival in Stepanavan, four pastors have served the Church - Ara Ochinyan (1993-2006), Khachatur Khachatryan (December 2007-2020), Gevorg Gasparyan (December –April 2020) and Hrant Badalyan (April 30, 2021 to present). They have done their best to keep the Gospel transmission chain intact. Trying not to lose its initial enthusiasm over time, the Church continues its mission and has raised a generation of pastors and faithful servants, who continue to serve God through the Evangelical Church of Armenia in different parts of the Homeland.

Speaking about the current services of the Church, Rev. Badalyan says: "Church services are held throughout the week ̶ Sunday School, adolescent and youth groups, Women’s and Men’s Bible studies, weekly prayer meetings, preparatory classes and Sunday Worship services. There are almost 50 children in the Church. The number of teenagers is about 15-20 and the number of youths is 10. There are 10-12 students in the preparatory classes. Our vision and goal for the Church is to spread the Word of God, be salt and light in the region, be a good witness, and stay steadfast in our mission, so that when people see us, they will know that this is the House of God. Here, in our Heavenly Father’s house, His children will rise, and new servants will come out. We thank God, we pray for this Church, and of course we act and plan under His guidance to achieve our goals."

The words spoken by Rev. Dr. Movses Janbazian at the dedication of the Evangelical Church of Armenia in Stepanavan, emphasizing the purpose of the funding of the Church, is still practically manifested in all Church services, remembering to preach the Word and bring glory to God. q (Translated from Eastern Armenian by Louisa Janbazian)

Evangelical Church of Armenia in Stepanavan.

Easter Presentation at Stepanavan Church.