In January 2005 Nor Yerk gave a visit to the Armenian Evangelical Church of Athens. The three-day event included a concert and a Sunday morning worship service. 

Iran 2003 

The Armenian Evangelical Church of Tehran, Iran invited Nor Yerk to visit Iran for a week in the last week of October 2003. The whole week was a blessing to the participants as well as the Church in Iran. The band gave a concert in Ararat Hall. On the following days, Nor Yerk performed at the Church where hundreds of people participated in the worship services. 

Australia 2002 

In a special outreach event, the Armenian Evangelical Church of Sydney, along with the Armenian Missionary Association of Australia, brought the Beirut-based Armenian Christian musical group, Nor Yerk, for a whirlwind 12-day tour. 

 
Members of Nor Yerk in Sydney, Australia:  Rev. Nishan Bakalian, Hrag Karagoezian, Sevan Balabanian, Rev. Nerses Balabanian (leader), Houry Apartian, Garbis Deyirmenjian, Zakar Keshishian. 

This effort came about as a result of the leadership of the church's pastor, the Rev. Krikor Youmoushakian, and the 
dedicated work of the one-year-old Australian AMAA affiliate, which distinguished itself in the Sydney Armenian community last year when it sponsored the Australian tour of AMAA-Armenia's "Young Virtuosos" children's ensemble. Then, as now, the proceeds and special gifts resulting from the event were designated for helping the poorest of the poor, namely orphans in Armenia, through the AMAA. 

"Nor Yerk," in its tenth year of ministry, carried forth its dual mission: to share the Gospel message in song to 
Armenians worldwide, and to inspire a love for their ethnic heritage. 

The series of concerts began on July 19th with a benefit concert in Willoughby, organized by the local Rotary and AGBU chapters. An appreciative audience composed of Armenians and non-Armenians filled the hall to capacity, and with the Lord's help the group performed a mix of Armenian and English songs without their leader, the Rev. Nerses Balabanian. He joined the group for the subsequent concerts, beginning the following day. 

 
Rev. Nishan Bakalian and Sevan Balabanian speak to students about "peers and parents" at a joint Armenian high school retreat outside Sidney. 

A unique feature of Nor Yerk's July tour to Australia was their leadership in a camp for 9th and 10th graders of the 
two Sydney-area Armenian high schools. 

For the first time ever, the leaders of the two schools, the St. Gregory and Arshag & Sophie Galstaun schools, held a 
combined annual school retreat, which they traditionally have at the beginning of each academic year. 

Along with the active consultation of the heads of the three denominations, Catholic, Apostolic and Evangelical, and 
the particular input of Rev. Krikor Youmoushakian, this 3-day event saw the seven members of Nor Yerk not only giving evening concerts, but also presenting talks on five different subjects. 

Their topics, including dealing with peer pressure, relating to parents, the experiences of youth in Karabagh, 
discerning the messages in popular music, making responsible sexual choices, and understanding the love of Jesus, were warmly received by the group of 80 students and a dozen or so teachers. Nor Yerk also led the evening social activities and games, and many of them commented that they had never had such an interesting retreat before. Some of the students even confided, "Don't tell them, but we really like their music!" 

Held at a church conference center towards the Blue Mountain region north of Sydney, the conference gave a much-needed challenge and encouragement to youth and adult alike. After this they flew to Melbourne for a Saturday evening concert. 

Aside from these activities, Rev. Balabanian, Rev. Nishan Bakalian, and Sevan Balabanian spoke at two Sunday worship services and two women's group meetings during their stay. To cap off all of these events, on their last night in 
Australia the group played a friendly and informal concert during the AMAA Benefit Concert in North Sydney. A broad spectrum of the Armenian community was present at this and all the previous events, and expressed their enthusiasm and thanks for the high quality programs of traditional and contemporary music, spiritual and patriotic songs, touching the hearts of listeners of every age. Nor Yerk, in turn, expressed its deepest appreciation to all those who worked so hard to bring them from Lebanon for this unique ministry. 

Aside from the aforementioned members, the group also includes Houry Apartian, Garbis Deyirmenjian, Hrag Karagoezian, and Zakar Keshishian. Except for two of their number, the members are involved in other professions. Joining the group from the U.S. as sound and technical assistants were Vahe Sarmazian and Datev Karjian. 

Rev. L. Nishan Bakalian 
October 2002 
 
 

November 2001 

When we were in Armenia the Nor Yerk #6 CD (Havadkes Chem Morana) had already been recorded but was not duplicated and the covers were not printed. But while we were there we played a lot of songs from our new recording. 

God blessed us. We were there to be blessing. But, we were blessed too. We gave concerts all over Armenia. In Stepanavan, the church was full. In the second row a group of Armenian soldiers were sitting in uniform. It was a powerful concert. Singing about God and about His salvation to people that were without hope and on the edge of collapse. God gave us the message. In our program we sang the Hymn of the Armenian Army. The soldiers were on their feet. Their faces were changed. They could not believe that Diaspora Armenians were singing their song. In the end we invited them to accept Jesus in their life. I don't know what did happen in their lives. But I know that one of them, who was speaking to my wife, said that for the first time in his life he realized that the Diaspora is feeling with them and that this concert was the most satisfying moment of his life. 

All of our concerts ended with preaching. John Sagherian and Rev. Paul Haidostian did a very good job. In one of the concerts in Armavir (Hogdemperian in the old days) at the end of the concert Rev. Haidostian asked the children to come forward to the stage. Many came. One of them was without a shoe - barefoot. We prayed for these children. The local pastor and his group were there, and they invited them for Sunday school. In fact, in all the concerts we worked with the local churches with the guidance of AMAA. We wanted to insure that the Nor Yerk ministry will continue with the follow up of the local church. 

Inspired from the previous Nor Yerk tapes and hymnals many new musical groups have been organized. It was an emotional moment for me to be present at a concert given by an AMAA sponsored 50 voice children's choir from Armavir. They are all Sunday School children. During the academic year, after the school they assemble in the church. They eat in the church. Some cannot eat at their houses. They practice after dinner. When they came to the stage the conductor opened our Nor Yerk hymnal and they started the concert. WOW. They had taken our simple melodies and arranged them for their choir. It was a lovely and very emotional time for me to see the result of one hymnal and some tapes that were sent in 1996. 

In Yerevan, an orchestra was established called Haroutioun. It consists of 25 players of strings, wood winds, brass, percussion, and solo singers. All are teenagers. All attend our Sunday Schools. All are students in the musical schools. Talented Armenian teens. They were using our Nor Yerk hymnals as well. In fact, the director gave some of the songs to well known composers in Yerevan so that they will arrange these songs for the Haroutioun orchestra. 

Armenia is a miracle. Although they are poor in material things they have the potential to use anything which arrives in their hands. Although they are poor I know that they are rich in talent and spirit. I know that I have the duty to reach to them. This is one of the reasons I want to send 3000 tapes (#4, 5, 6, each 1000) to Armenia. 

I know that I did not raise enough money for this project but God is faithful and God is going to provide our need. Thanks you to all who already have contributed to this project so far. I want to thank the Armenian Evangelical Church in Sydney, Australia. This time again like the last recording of the Christmas CD, an anonymous person is financing the duplication of the CD. Our CD is duplicated in Australia. Special thanks to Rev. Krikor Youmoushakian for his efforts to make this possible. 

Rev. Nerses Balabanian 
November 2001