Sunday, April 23, 2006

Synopsis of the Armenian Message

Ezekiel 37:1-10

Dry Bones or a Vast Army?

In 1985, while I was a theology student in Dallas, Texas, I often worshipped in a nearby church called the Highland Park Presbyterian Church (HPPC). The Armenian community of Dallas at the time was small in number, scattered here and there. They were still trying to organize themselves and plant a church.

HPPC was a huge church with 8000 members and 15 pastors. They had a beautiful sanctuary, three Sunday morning services, an 80-member choir, and numerous classes and ministries.

As the Missions Sunday was approaching, one of the pastors asked me to say a few words about the Christians in the Middle East. I was thrilled for this opportunity. As I started preparing, I thought I could offer the music minister an Armenian anthem to be sung on that their day. I took along the music and a recording of “Sourp, Sourp” (Holy, Holy) by Gomidas and went to visit the music minister. He was a very kind man. He listened to the tape once, twice, three times and said; “I don’t understand a word but this music is heavenly!”

That Sunday the choir sang “Sourp, Sourp.” It was a wonderful service.

At the end of the service, as I went out to get ready for the second one, someone laid his hand on my shoulder and asked in Armenian:

“Are you Balaban Khoja’s (Teacher Balaban’s) grandson?”

I turned back and saw an elderly man.

“Yes, sir, I am,” I said, “and who are you?”

“Have you read ‘The Forty Days of Moussa Dagh’?”

“Yes.”
“Do you remember that a baby was born on the mountain during the resistance? I am that child, Movses, Rev. Antreassian’s son.”

What a surprise! I thought I was the only Armenian in the huge sanctuary. I meet the son of the leader of the heroic Moussa Dagh people, a man who was born in 1915 during the historical resistance. Not only that, but he knows my own grandfather!

I will never forget that day’s meeting. What is the probability of me meeting someone like Movses Anteassian at a Presbyterian Church in Highland Park, Dallas, Texas? Probably very low, almost impossible.

Ninety-one years passed since the Armenian Genocide, and Armenians still meet each other all over the world. Armenians are scattered over all continents. It is very interesting to find an Armenian in Melbourne, Australia then to find someone in Singapore, then to find other in SF. So far from each other geographically, yet so close in relationship and history.

In these 91 years, we went through: the rebirth of Armenians all over the world, acceptance and recognition of our Genocide, and finally the independence of Armenia.

The people who wanted to eliminate our nation and to keep only one Armenian in the museum failed. The credit goes to God. By His Grace, we are what we are: “Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.” (Lament. 3:22)

To be continued in English.