Category: 2011

Update from Arayik & Nelli

December 29, 2011

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

December 23, 2011
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!

As you know, about 60,000 tracts have been printed and distributed and we are now nearing the completion of having Pastor Joseph Hovsepian’s book, God’s Workshop, translated into Eastern Armenian. Once that is done, 5,000 copies will be printed and given out freely in Armenia, Iran and other surrounding countries with Armenian communities.

It will cost about $12,000 to produce these books (including translation, editing, design, printing, etc.) but the books will not be sold because most of the people who will receive a copy cannot afford to buy literature and we want the books to reach as many people as possible, without placeing a potential limitation in their way.

If you would like to help with this expense, you can make a special donation and designate it as “Armenia: Books”. To all those who sponsor this project, Project Joseph would like to offer a copy of the DVD about the mission trip to Armenia.

reported by Ann-Margret Hovsepian

Mission to Armenia

November 1, 2011

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.
Three years, many prayers, and many phone calls and e-mails later, I felt God’s call to return to Armenia for another visit, but I still hesitated until I got a phone call from Arayik asking me to go back. He said that at least 24 people wanted to be baptized, some in Spitak, others in Stepanavan and Yerevan.
He also told me there were new cell groups being started and the outreach was extending outside Armenia. So I decided to return with my elder daughter Ruth so she could help me and also see the mission we have been supporting.
On September 13, we left Montreal and arrived in Yerevan almost a day later. The next morning we started visiting some of the people that I had visited in 2008, as well as some relatives. While visiting some poor and sick people, Ruth said: “Dad, Ann-Margret [her sister] should have been here with you. She is the writer; she could have written a book about the people here.”
But God had sent the two of us there and we had a mission. Our mission was to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to as many as we could and also to encourage and help the leaders who have so much work to do but so few to help them.
Before I left Montreal some people gave generous donations to help the poor and needy, as well as the missionary and the church we support there. All the expenses for the mission trip, the help given, and the Bibles that were purchased (about 300) were paid by private funds and gifts; these expenses did not tap into the church’s Missions budget, which supports three overseas missions: Bangladesh, Philippines and Armenia.
On Saturday, September 17, we left our hotel early in the morning for the baptismal service in Spitak. It was planned for 1 p.m. but when we arrived there it was already 2 p.m. While we tried to find the river and a suitable spot to have the baptismal service, Arayik went to Stepanavan to bring others. He had to travel through rocky roads for over two hours. In the meantime, 24 of us were crammed like sardines in a small van made for 8 to 13 people. I believe the many prayers for us were answered!
Finally, at 5 p.m. the service started with a short message. The water, flowing down from the mountains, was very cold and there was a strong and muddy current, but God was in control and Arayik and I were able to baptize 24 people. Afterward, there was another message, we had communion, and we gave a New Testament and a small golden cross pin to each person who was baptized. There were suppose to be 30 people baptized but one was giving birth that day and the others could not be brought because of lack of transportation from their villages. 
We ended the special day with supper — a fire was lit to barbecue the chicken legs I had purchased in Yerevan — and fellowship. By the time we had supper and travelled another three or four hours back to the hotel, it was almost 2:30 am. I had to speak at a Baptist church that same morning but I could not fall asleep. A few hours later we were ready for church.

After my message at the Baptist church I gave an invitation and a few women came forward to accept Jesus as their Lord. There were many wonderful miracles we witnessed that would take a great number of pages to share with you; but I will share a few.
My parents had prayed for years for their relatives who had immigrated to Armenia in the 1940s. They had shared the gospel with them but had not seen any obvious results. Their prayers were answered about 70 years later when Ruth and I and Arayik visited one of the families and shared the good news of Jesus Christ with them.
The parents, their son and one of their daughters, Shushan, (the other wasn’t present) prayed and surrendered their lives to God and made Jesus Christ their Lord. (See page 3 for Shushan’s letter.) The other daughter who hadn’t been there came forward at the church service the following Sunday when I gave an altar call after my message. There were other cousins who indicated to me that day that they also had committed their lives to Christ.
I had the privilege to give a lecture at the CLC (Christian Leadership College) to about 50 leaders and pastors. The title of my message was “The Cost of Serving Christ.”
I was asked if it was possible to have our tract, What Are You Searching For?, in Eastern Armenian reprinted in Armenia with some small changes. I immediately went with Arayik to a printing house, had the changes made, had 50,000 printed within a few days. We may need to print more soon.
I was told that they would like to have my book, God’s Workshop, translated and printed in Eastern Armenian. I agreed and, with the help of some Campus Crusade workers and Pastor Hovhannes Halladjian, the Pastor of the Armenian Brotherhood Church of Yerevan, the book is almost ready to be printed and will be available for distribution free of charge (with donations toward the cost being welcomed).
More than 300 Bibles were purchased, distributed or given to our missionary and to ABCY for distribution.
Because of the difficult economic   conditions in Armenia, the Bibles and the book God’s Workshop are being given free. But the costs are high. If you would like to help us by buying one or many books for the people in Armenia, please let us know how many you would like to purchase or pay for. In Canada, the book sold for $16.95. The cost in Armenia is about $5.00. For more information, please speak or write to us.
Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org!

God’s Workshop

October 24, 2011
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.

At the home of a Christian brother Pastor Joseph met a member of the local Campus Crusade for Christ International staff, Artur Mantashian. Pastor Joseph gave a copy of the book to Artur and the conversation turned to the translation and printing of God’s Workshop. Artur suggested that CCCI translators work on the book and for CCCI to then print the book.
This is how God works. Things are always better in God’s time.

As I write this the translators have made huge progress and it is so exciting to see this project take off so quickly.

If you are interested in making a contribution to the cost of translation, printing and distribution of this book you can do so through Donations Canada.

The cost of translating and printing one book is about $5.00 CDN.

Donate Now Through CanadaHelps.org! 

New Beginnings

October 12, 2011
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:
We are grateful to our long standing partner Evangelical Tract Distributors who print and distribute “What Are You Searching For?” worldwide. The tracts are free they only ask for donations but the cost of shipping is expensive due to the weight of the tracts.

Before heading to Armenia, dad sent a shipment of tracts and we packed a few hundred into our suitcases to take with us. When we arrived we were told that the shipment of tracts they had received were gone, handed out to the many hungry souls.

The decision was made that a local printer would be used to print Eastern Armenian tracts to eliminate the cost of shipping and instead use that money to print more tracts. Dad and Araik met with a local a printer and spent several hours proof reading and going over the samples that were produced. The print house was very  accomodating and very easy to work with. God was in this plan.

The first printing is done and the tracts are in the hands of the local missionaries and pastors. Praise God!

Please pray for these amazing projects in Armenia. They are hungry to learn. They are searching for the truth.

If you are interested in helping financialy in Armenia or any other mission that we support please contact us at Good News Ministries.

Happy Thanksgiving

October 7, 2011
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?
BIBLES.
There were so many instances when we witnessed the awesome reactions of people receiving a Bible. When was the last time someone in North America jumped for joy and rejoiced loudly for the gift of a Bible?

Makes you stop and think doesn’t it?

Araik rejoiced for 150 Bibles he received. He now will be able to
give Bibles to those he speaks to in his mission work.
Each of the 24 who were baptised received a Bible.

They opened them as though they were treasure chests and
held on to them reverently.



A Bible is an expensive item for the average Armenian.



They are captivated by the Word of God. Hungering to hear the truth.

The life line for someone who is hurting.
The energizer for those who are tired.
A Pastor who has dedicated his life to ministry but has no Bibles to give away.
His voice still rings in my ears as he thanked us for a donation of 150 Bibles to gift to others.
Let me ask you again, what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend?

Motor Still Running

October 4, 2011

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.

Though when I sit down and try to pin point what is really bothering me I keep coming up with only one thing. That ‘my’ people have hardened their hearts to the truth that is being put in front of them.

This nation that was the first to adopt Christianity as their official state religion cannot see past their noses (yes, some of those noses are long… LOL) at what can fill the huge void in their lives. It’s not more jobs, even though jobs would help support families. It’s not a new government, even though the corruption of the government has been adding to the frustration of the people. It’s not more money from the outside, even though money would definitely put food on the table and smooth the crease of worry from their foreheads. It’s simply accepting the free gift of salvation that God sent through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ His Son.

It’s simple. It’s free. It’s life changing. It’s right there for the taking.

Hearts hard as the majestic mountains and rocks of this ancient country.

Keep in your prayers the missionaries that daily are out there spreading this wonderful message.

Day 10 & 11 – Last Day & Farewells

October 1, 2011

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.

Dad spoke at the Armenian Brotherhood Church of Yerevan for the last time on this trip. Notice how I gently worked that in – the brothers and sisters in Armenia have repeatedly asked for another visit and soon. They crave to be fed and they have so many questions to ask. They hunger for the truth and to learn more.

Dad and Pastor Hovhannes doing their pre-service preparations
Pastor Hovhannes leading the worship. He has the gift of leadership
You can hear dad’s sermon “Do You Love Me” preached in Armenian. There are a few snippets of other parts of the worship service included as well. You will enjoy hearing their choir and a young girl singing even though you may not understand the words.
There were about a dozen of our family members who attended church to hear dad preach, including the Rumyan family. We are praying that they build solid friendships with those in the church including Araik’s children. The girls of both families were already making plans to meet for pizza that was a good sign for all of us and we rejoiced for this new friendship.
There were many hugs and promises to write and visit again as we bid everyone farewell.
We then headed to Araik’s home for a last meal together. It was a bittersweet time we had all come to enjoy each other’s company and support over the last ten days. I will truly miss this family, I was blessed by their openness, their sincerity and the joy and love that they expressed. We shared tears and laughter together and that is what friendships are built on.
After lunch went back to the hotel to meet with the last cousin who actually lives in Philadelphia but had just arrived in Yerevan for her son’s wedding on October 8th.
Vartouhi dad’s cousin from PA
Levon, Vartouhi’s husband
Three cousins together
We had a short visit before we rushed off to have dinner with Pastor Hovhannes and his beautiful wife, Shake, at a great restaurant in Yerevan. Picture this would you, five large / tall adults in a clown car whipping around corners and through the streets of Yerevan. On second thought, three of us were so tightly fitted in the back that nothing short of a Mack truck hitting us would have dislodged us from our seats. 
We had a great time sharing and breaking bread together but we needed to get back and close up our bags and get some shut eye. But hold on, one more stop for a quick coffee at Hovhanne’s home. Ahhh, the aroma of Armenian coffee still haunts me or is that just my mom making her morning coffee next door?
A 5:30 a.m. wake-up call is brutal but dad and I were both up and ready before the call came. At 6:00 a.m. Araik and his family were there to drive us to the airport. It was a very quiet ride not because of the hour but because we were all absorbed by our own thoughts.
At the airport we were not disappointed by the bureaucracy of the airline. We each had two bags a total of four, we checked two of them in and had our carry-ons left. The agent weighed our carry-ons, oops we were way over. How is that possible we came with the same full bags but you can’t argue over there. After several whispered conferences on their part we parted with $90 US dollars just so we could take our bags on to the plane. Highway robbery.
Our farewells were quick, none of us could handle a long drawn out farewell. But there were tears involved with lots of hugs and kisses. It was not a good bye but a “see you soon”.

Day 10 – Christian Leadership College (CLC)

October 1, 2011
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.

100 Bibles ready to be distributed
Every Saturday the sanctuary of the Armenian Brotherhood Church of Yerevan becomes a seminary for approximately 65-70 persons. They attend lectures and the following weekend are tested on their knowledge. At the end of the course they receive a diploma from the Christian Leadership College.
Students taking the exam.
Dad teaching his course “The Price”
Refreshments during the break
The students are men and women, young and old.

Dad’s lesson “The Price” was well received with many questions during the Q&A time. The lesson can be heard on Vimeo in Armenian.

After the lecture ended I headed to the hotel to get work done but dad joined by Pastor Hovhannes had a couple of visits to do. At teach stop there were many spiritual questions that needed to be answered and these men of God have asked Dad to visit again and teach and mentor them.
Home #1
Home #2
Home #2
It was after 10 p.m. when dad finally made his way to the hotel. It had been a long and exchausting day and he had one more like it the next day. But God has given him the strength that he has needed on this trip and that is how it is when we do God’s will and calling.
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