January 18 - Adventists in the First Christian Nation

After working in Armenia as a Global Mission pioneer for two and a half years, Vigen started a small group of believers. This group is excited to share the Adventist message in unique ways.

Many people believe Noah’s ark
settled on Mount Ararat after the flood,

in what is modern-day Turkey.

It’s a beautiful sight
from almost any angle,

but one of the best views of the mountain

can be seen from across
the border in Armenia.

Armenia was the first country to adopt
Christianity as its official religion

in the year 301 A.D.

Although Christianity
spread here a long time ago,

Adventists in the capital city of Yerevan

have been praying
for opportunities to share

a unique message
with the people of this large city.

Our main goal is to spread
the three angels’ messages

here in this area of Yerevan.

To serve people through health ministry.

After working in this neighborhood

as a Global Mission pioneer
for two and a half years,

Vigen started
this small group of believers.

This group is excited
to share the Adventist message,

and found that health ministry

is the best way
to connect with the community.

Over the last year,

they put on small health expos,
featuring lifestyle seminars,

like the “breathing free”
program for people who smoke.

Healthy cooking classes are a favorite
among community members.

They love learning new recipes
and tasting the food in a social setting.

Some of the members started
a colporteur ministry,

knocking on people’s doors.

As their group became
more known in the neighborhood,

they decided to hold
a series of Bible meetings

in their small rented space.

They mailed and passed out
dozens of invitations

to these upcoming meetings;

but just before the day of the event,
they were kicked out of the building.

It’s very difficult and expensive
to rent a space in this part of the city,

so the members did
the only thing they could at that point:

they prayed.

And after a few days of prayers,

we found a building on the same street,
two homes after.

It was very near.

For us it was a really
unbelievable miracle that God did.

Taking this as a sign from God,
the meetings went on as planned.

Karine received
an invitation from a friend.

She was willing to try anything
to fill a feeling of emptiness

she couldn’t explain.

About 2 years ago I met Vigen.

When I heard him speaking
it touched my heart.

I began to understand the Bible
and that empty space was filled.

Karine was baptized

and is now a very active member
of the Adventist church.

I became like a new person.

I’m more faithful to God now.

Wherever I go I feel a peace
and comfort that wasn’t there before.

Mission work in cities
like Yerevan can be extremely difficult.

Church planting can seem
like an impossible task at times,

but through prayer and God’s power,
new groups of believers can start.

Global Mission pioneers like Vigen

have found that by using
Christ’s method of ministry,

they can break barriers
that they couldn’t otherwise.

To show people that we love them,
we are interested in them,

that we are prepared to help them,

to solve their everyday problems.

I think the gospel is the answer
to the many problems of the people.

Thank you for supporting Global Mission

through financial contribution and prayer.

Your support is helping
pioneers plant new churches

in unentered areas around the world.

I would like to ask to pray that...

people could know the living God
and that they could find rest

and peace in Christ alone.