Riverside Gospel Hall

A New Testament Church

Report on Armenia

 

Rep of Ireland

twwandhfw@hotmail.com                               April 22nd 2009

 

Dear Praying fellow Saints, 

I write to thank you for prayer fellowship with me in this work for the Lord; it is deeply appreciated by me and the saints in Armenia. The work is expanding out there and life is most difficult for the saints because the World economic crisis has also affected Armenia.

Unemployment is a problem amongst the believers and the general population. In the countryside the unemployment rate is about 80% and somewhat less in the cities. There is no State aid so the saints depend on family working abroad, either in Russia or the USA, and the little help from believers here in these countries - so your fellowship is most helpful.

I was greatly encouraged to see the progress of the work there even since my last visit in Nov/Dec 2008. There are two assemblies - one in Yerevan, the Capital, and the other in Gyumri, the second city. Both assemblies have an outreach work. The brethren have for the past 3 years being travelling from Yerevan to a little village called Dvin (40km distance) to preach the Gospel in a house made available for this work. Since then, about 28 souls have been saved and most attend the two meetings; the Lord’s Day and a mid week meeting on Wednesday.

Three weeks ago today, while visiting in the village, we went into a home and there was a young widow of about 24 years of age waiting to speak to us about getting saved, having heard the gospel just recently. We explained God’s way of salvation to her and she immediately repented of her sin, and we went on our way rejoicing. When we next met her she too was rejoicing in the Lord. Do pray for this girl, Eveta.

 We are currently placing a deposit on an unfinished house in the village to secure a dedicated property for the purpose of gospel outreach. As the work is expanding with more attending the meetings, it was thought better to have a separate building and hopefully one day soon will see an assembly established. Do pray for the preservation of two brethren who are showing leadership qualities; one called YASHA and the other called ARGAM.

 The problem with unemployment is there is little or no income and these men are tempted to go to Russia to earn a living. But that creates its own problems too, as work there is also hard to find. We believe that Satan wants them out of the village as it is obvious the Lord has His hand upon these brethren and the area in which they live.

 Toros Pilibosian, the only assembly missionary in Armenia, is currently busy translating two books, one titled “Assembly Gatherings” and the other, by John Ritchie, titled “The Second coming of our Lord Jesus”. These should be a good help and will add to the small amount of books available in Armenian suitable for the saints. 

In Gyumri we are also looking to build a small 'centre' to replace the 'soup kitchen' where gospel meetings are held every Friday. I was there to preach the gospel on April 3rd and it was wonderful to have almost 30 unsaved souls present, and this is the case each week. This outreach from the assembly commenced 6 years ago, and some of those saved are now in assembly fellowship. The giving of the free 'soup' finished about 6 months ago but the people still come to hear the gospel! It proves they were not just coming for the food! This 'soup kitchen' was operated by an NGO; they have now left but allowed the meetings to continue. We hope to recommence the 'soup kitchen' in the new building, if the Lord will, as the present building will not be available much longer.

It is encouraging to see a good number of young people coming to the meetings. There is a young man called Hrach who was saved about two years ago in the Yerevan assembly. He has been going through a difficult time since commencing university. Please pray that he will be preserved, as he showed good promise and there is great potential in this young life. Pray for Christig in Gyumri; the things of the world attracted her away in 2007 but she is now attending all the meetings, bringing her unsaved father with her. Christig's mother was saved and is in fellowship for the last 3 years.

Sincere thanks again for your love and fellowship with me in the gospel. The Lord has given me a love for the people in Armenia, something that is His doing as is His sovereign right to do in one’s life. I do appreciate the fellowship of the Lord’s people with me in this exercise. I came home very much encouraged, yet with a burden for the saints and the work there.

There is so much to give thanks to the Lord for and also to continue to pray for.

 

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