“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” (Rom. 10:14-15)

February 2020

I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I just came back from Armenia and Artzakh (Nagorno Karabagh) I truly praise God for this safe trip. When we leave home, or fly abroad, we take it for granted that we will come back safe and sound. This time I did not take it for granted. You will find out below why?

In the above verses Paul stated “And how shall they hear (the Gospel) without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent.”

In this chapter, Paul is emphasizing the importance of believing in God, and the way we would have God pleasing faith is, by hearing or reading His Word, preaching the Word of God, and being sent a preacher to preach. After all, that was the last commission of Jesus to His disciples and to His followers. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matt. 28: 19-20) So, obeying to His command and calling I headed to Armenia. First to secure a new place for our Summer Camp, then to respond to the invitation from Artzakh (Karabagh) “Come over to Macedonia (Artzakh) and help us.” (Acts 16:9) So I promised, and I went.

God graciously provided the orphans a new gorgeous place, where, God willing, we will hold our 11th Summer camp. Please, pray. Then on February 12 we headed to Artzakh. On the way we stopped at the farm and saw the improvement of the building and the business. Praise the Lord. After resting a little bit, at 7:00 P.M. we came to the Armenian Apostolic ecclesiastical hall, which we had purchased some 20 years ago.

The hall was packed. They introduced me to Mr. Masis Mailyan the foreign Minister, who also is a candidate for presidency. God willing, the election will take place on March 31st. (Please pray for him) The response to the Word of God was great. They asked me and later wrote and called asking me to go back this Summer and preach in the stadium, where I had the privileged preaching in 2002. I promised.

The adventurous trip. The next day, it was a sunny day, not even a cloud in the sky. Five of us got in the car, we thanked God for the weather and headed to Yerevan. At the boarder the officer said that the roads were not favorable. We stopped for a while, asked the people who were coming from Yerevan, the boys decided to continue our trip, if we face any obstacles, they said, it was not hard to come back. So, we did.

After driving about two hours, we noticed a gusty wind, but it was drivable. Cars were coming from the opposite side, which assured our skilled driver, Arayig, not to expect any danger. We noticed snow was being blown from the mountains and hills but still was drivable. After one more hour of driving, all of a sudden, we noticed a three feet high and four feet wide pile of snow blocking the road. It was too late to come to a full stop and impossible to cross the “red sea.” Needless to say, we got stuck. The car was hung on half frozen snow, the wheels were not touching the road. The wind was getting stronger and stronger, the visibility was getting very poor. I was told that some 175 cars were stranded. To make the long story short, the military trucks tried to pull us out, people from other cars came out to rescue us but the car was moving nowhere. Just then I was reminded

Paul’s journey to Rome when they faced such a violent storm. (Acts 27:18)

Finally, from the opposite side, a passenger van tried to pass through, he also got stuck. The passengers got out of the van, came to our car, with bare hands began rocking our car until the wheels touched the road, then they pushed the car and Arayig stepped on gas and the car slowly but surely began to roll. Believe it or not, we all thanked God that the van next to us got stock. I remembered Romans 8:28 and said to myself; “That verse is still in action.” “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who] have been called according to his purpose.”

Some nine hours later after we arrived in Yerevan, , I got several calls from Artzakh, the believers were so concerned they kept calling us to make sure we all were ok, because they were warned by the weather department that the ways to Artzakh were shut down and at least for two days no one was to try to travel. We never knew about that warning. For the first time I admitted that I should never take for granted when people say to me; “Have a safe trip.” No wonder James writes, saying (which I always say) “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

In conclusion, God is so great, compassionate and caring, regardless of our fraility and ignorance, He is still on the throne and remembers His own. We are not a number for Him but precious, He will keep us as the apple of His eye and will hide us in the shadow of His wings (Ps. 17:8)

We all can’t physically go and preach, teach and reach out helping people, but we can fulfill Jesus’ last Commission sending those who are called to go. “How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” God is equally pleased from the one who has the calling to go and from the one who has the talent to send.

Many thanks to you who sent me with your prayers and financial support. Jesus fulfilled His Commission. May God richly bless you. AMEN!

With gratitude.

Archpriest Aram Stepanian

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