continued from page 5
In the early 20th century the
Baptist churches of Armenia were few and far between, existing primarily in the eastern parts of Armenia in the towns of Shushi and Gyumri. Their earliest influences came from a certain Swiss Basel Mission, whose missionaries planted protestant ideas in the 19th century, and also from Armenian Baptists who had formed fellowships in Tbilisi, Georgia, and Baku, Azerbaijan. In 1915 the young Turkish government began a widespread slaughter of Armenians, killing around two million and driving out many millions into the wider Caucasus and into many other countries of the world. The Armenians who were living in Baptist churches in Tbilisi and other Caucasus locations survived the genocide, receiving many refugees. Like the cavalry to the rescue, the Communist Red Army invaded the country in 1920, making Armenia an of- ficial republic of the Soviet Union. In the following decade Armenian Baptists were encouraged and strengthened, enjoying relative freedom in Gyumri, Armenia, as well as in nearby Tbilisi. In 1929, however, Stalin began his savage purges, exiling pastors to hard labor camps where many of them died. Families of believers were literally torn apart, and their children were given to be raised by relatives or state institutions. Under Stalin, the Soviet authorities imprisoned many local church members, effectively closing down the few remaining Arme- nian Baptist congregations. In the face of these cruel and trying
times, a few Armenian believers re- tained their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, when the end of
World War II neared, a sharp change in Communist policy in 1944 allowed for a rebirth of the Armenian Baptist church. Unfortunately, even then, the strict Communist controllers allowed only one congregation in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan. This central church even took in believers from Congregational and Presbyterian communities in western Armenia. Even though this led to certain conflicts, the Baptists’ high regard for Scripture eventually prevailed in teaching and preaching. A second church revived in the town of Gyumri in 1960, and until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, these two churches were the only Baptist congregations in Armenia. The Communist authorities did all
they could to choke the life and mission out of these two churches. They forbade the teaching of children. Only during Christmas and Easter could children participate in the life of the church. Relying on God’s abundant grace, the believers used these tiny windows of opportunity to maximum effect. Asatur Nahepatyan describes the life of Armenian Baptists during those days: “Believers could not organize any kind
of activity outside the church building. Bible study groups and witnessing to people at a workplace or in school was considered illegal. Very often, a KGB informant would attend the Sunday morning service to hear what pastors and preachers were saying. Afterwards, if something was objectionable, the KGB agent, through a representative of the Council for Religious Affairs, would invite the chairman of the church board to his office for an interview and an admonition.” The church board chairman at that time, Aram Arakelyan, who during this writing was still living in Pasadena, California, had vivid memories of those years. I interviewed him on December 9, 2003. He recalled that one never knew who the KGB agent was, though believers could try to guess.
“What if, during this time, liberal churches or
theologians had come to our aid? Instead, the Lord opened a narrow door and allowed the BMAA to come and help us.”
The State authorities also audited the church’s financial documents. Arakelyan recalled that the church leaders were very careful and tried to be correct so that there could be no accusation against them. Another leader from that period who was a deacon was Hakob Torosyan. He recalled that the KGB warned them not to have any activities outside the church building. The mission work of the church was hindered. Yet, it was not possible for the atheistic government to totally suppress the mission activity of church members. Often simple witness and testimony bore fruit. One of the Yerevan church members came to our home in November 1982 and witnessed to all of my family. Afterwards we visited the church. I came to the Baptist church because of the simple, authentic, and convincing witness of Baptist believers. Needless to say, any systematic evangelism or church planting was impossible. In the Soviet years, during the slow rebirth of the Armenian Baptist movement, the believers derived strength
6
theGLEANER n May/June 2010
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32