Publication of the Armenian Missionary Association of America SEPT/OCT 2004 - Vol. XXXVII No. 5 (ISSN 1097-0924) E D I T O R I A L M E S S A G E A Word of Gratitude Andrew Torigian e have just completed another ents and helpful advice. They are a won- W successful year at the AMAA. Our derful group of individuals who give gen- faith is well founded and we shall over- erously of their time and financial re- come all obstacles that may arise be- sources and we certainly appreciate fore us, as we continue our mission. them. The AMAA announced the retirement None of our work could have been of the Rev. Peter B. Doghramji, Ph. D., done if it wasn’t for the dedicated AMAA our Executive Director since January of Staff. Even though we have two less this year. Dr. Doghramji took office at a employees than the beginning of the special time of need for the AMAA. De- year, our productivity increased and our spite the brevity of Dr. Doghramji’s term work was accomplished. of office his knowledge and grasp of the Armenian Evangelical diaspora helped pri- The AMAA has a terrific group of oritize the AMAA’s worldwide agenda. We Committee Members serving on the vari- AMAA NEWS wish Dr. Doghramji and his wife, Mary, a ous projects nearest their heart. We thank each and everyone for the tremen- is a publication of happy and fulfilling retirement with all its the Armenian Missionary Association of America, well deserved blessings. dous effort they put forth on fulfilling their 31 West Century Road, Paramus, NJ 07652. goals. The AMAA has in the interim ap- Tel. (201) 265-2607; Fax (201) 265-6015 Once again we also want to thank E-Mail: [email protected]; pointed me to be the Acting Executive Website: www.amaa.org Director. I will do my best with an opti- our mission partners throughout the The AMAA is a Tax Exempt, not for profit orga- mistic attitude. With the ongoing coop- world for their hard work and faithfulness nization under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3) eration of our AMAA family, we will con- to our mission as we continue to serve tinue to progress in our programs in all in 22 countries around the world. OFFICERS the areas we serve. We praise God and thank Him as Andrew Torigian, President H. Steven Aharonian, M.D. Vice President I would like to thank the members we continue to ask for His guidance in Robert Hekemian, Sr., Vice President of the AMAA Board of Directors for their our work. We also wish to express our Peter Kougasian, Esq., Vice President support throughout the year. They not gratitude to the many thousands of our Harry Dulgarian, Recording Secretary only attended and participated in the supporters, friends and members who Gary Phillips, Recording Secretary scheduled and special meetings, but help the AMAA with their wonderful gen- Eileen Chopourian Stephey, Recording Secretary erosity and stewardship.G Aram R. Minnetian, Treasurer also supported the AMAA with their tal- David Hekemian, Assistant Treasurer Dikran Youmshakian, Administrative Director Inspirational Corner EDITORIAL BOARD Andrew Torigian, Editor A THANKSGIVING PRAYER Louisa Janbazian, Associate Editor, Layout & Design Dikran Youmshakian, Advisor I do not thank Thee, Lord, that I have bread to eat while others starve; CHANGE OF ADDRESS Nor yet for work to do while empty hands solicit heaven; In order to keep our mailing list up to date, Nor for a body strong while other bodies flatten beds of pain. please send all corrections, along with the old address to: AMAA NEWS, 31 W. Century Rd., No, not for these do I give thanks! Paramus, NJ 07652 But I am gratgeful, Lord, because my meager loaf I may divide; E-mail: [email protected] And that my busy hands may move to meet another's need; PRINTING Because my doubled strength I may expend to steady one who faints. Printsolutions, Englewood, NJ (201) 567-9622 Yea, for all these do I give thanks. Amen. COVER PICTURE - Janie Alford Children's Summer Camp in Bekaa, Lebanon 2 AMAA NEWS, SEPT/OCT 2004 M E S S A G E The Essential Characteristics Of The Church* Scripture: Acts 2: 42 –47 Vahan Tootikian he Church is a divine/human institu- Christ as their Savior and Lord. The Christ wants Ttion. It is divine because Christ is its apostles addressed an appeal for repen- his Church, head, which he rules through his Spirit. tance to their listeners and offered to the you and me, to Its members are viewed as the people of believers forgiveness of sins and the gift be people de- God, and therefore as the continuation and of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 38-39, 3: 25- voted to Chris- consummation of the Old Testament cov- 26, 5:31, 10:43). The early church was tian fellow- enant community. It is human because it devoted to the proclamation that God in ship! is composed of human beings, who are Christ has brought salvation, and they finite, fallible and sinful. Thus, there are invited people to believe in this Good 3.The third characteristic of the no perfect churches. The church as a hu- News and be saved. Church is power. man institution has its faults and foibles, Christ wants His Church, you and me, Acts 2:43 reports that “many wonders sins and shortcomings. to be devoted to the proclamation of the and miraculous signs were done by the There are some distinctive traits and Gospel! characteristics, which distinguish the apostles." The early Christians experi- church as a community of the committed enced the power of the Holy Spirit. The 2.The second characteristic of the Church is called to be in the flow of God’s drawn together by their faith in Christ. Church was communion or fellowship. They have a common destination, a com- transforming power to affect change in Act 2:42 states that “they devoted them- people’s lives! mon purpose, and a common commit- selves ... to the fellowship” ment. Their common destination is to God’s presence is the presence of the Christianity is a religion of community. grow up in Christ and to become Christ- Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit is There is no such thing as “individual like persons. Their common purpose is not only our spiritual compass which Christianity.” The church is like a spiri- to do what Christ did, to be his agents guides us toward that which is right, but tual family. Church members are the and ambassadors. Their common com- He is also present to empower us to do Body of Jesus Christ and, therefore, are mitment is to their Lord and Master, Jesus what we know we should. not independent; they are dependent on Christ. Jesus promised his followers the gift Jesus Christ and they are interdependent. The New Testament church is the of power. He said, “You shall receive People who call themselves Christian and model and paradigm of what the church power when the Holy Spirit comes on is called to be. Acts 2: 42-47 describes are not part of the church do not have life in the Christian sense; for without the you” (Acts 1:8). Christ’s gift to the dis- those characteristics. It portrays what the ciples was the Holy Spirit. In John 20: church was then, and it therefore tells us burning fire, without the community spirit in the church, no matter how glowing they 10-23, the Gospel writer describes how what the church is called to be today. the disciples, intimidated by their en- These are the essential characteristics of are, they are doomed to fade away and emies, were hiding behind locked doors, the church: die, just as one piece of coal, separated from the other coal is doomed to extin- but when the risen Lord “breathed upon them and told them to receive the Holy 1.The first characteristic of the Church guish and die. Spiritual life is not a game is Proclamation of the Gospel. of solitaire. We cannot play it by our- Spirit, the disciples were not the same Acts 2: 42 describes the first-century selves. anymore. They received new power. They church as a community who “devoted A person who calls himself/herself a became bold witnesses of Jesus Christ. themselves to the apostles’ teaching and Christian and does not have a church is The Holy Spirit is a power like the wind, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and like a student without a school, a bee with- unseen but penetrating and impelling. We the prayer.” out a hive, a sailor without a ship. Fel- can shield ourselves from this wind, or “Devoted to the Apostles’ teaching.” lowship also implies communication, hu- we can set our sails to catch it. If we set What is the apostles’ teaching? The core man heartedness, kindness, and accep- our sails to catch it, we definitely will of apostles’ teaching was Jesus Christ is tance of others as brothers and sisters. It move forward; we will become a dynamic Lord and Savior. For sinful human be- means as Jesus stated, “To rejoice with Church. ings, he is the only hope. Thus, sinful those who rejoice, and weep with those Christ wants his Church, you and me, human beings have to repent and accept who weep.” to be people of power! AMAA NEWS, SEPT/OCT 2004 3 M E S S A G E 4.The fourth characteristic of the sincere hearts.” The King James transla- estly, and should treat one another with Church is Love.