Armenia

Challenges for Prayer

Armenia was the world’s first Christian nation and enjoys a great spiritual legacy of more than 1,700 years of Christianity. Pray that Armenian Christians might become sources of light and blessing to the surrounding region; few peoples here have a significant indigenous church. Armenian Christians are only now realizing the blessing of their Christian heritage and the mission responsibility that lies with it. Pray that this movement may grow.

The Armenian Apostolic Church has long been a cultural refuge in times of persecution, but the very traditional nature of the Church, which is key to Armenian self-identity, also keeps them from discovering the living Christ. It often inoculates Armenians against the message shared by other Christian groups. Pray for:

a) Unity and cooperation within the Church. There are two main groups, tracing back nearly 1,000 years, which use different dialects. Pray that these two (Eastern and Western) will find common ground and the ability to work together for the purposes of God.

b) Deep spiritual regeneration of the Church and for godly leaders. This Church will almost certainly remain the dominant religious force in Armenian life. Therefore, pray that there would be a radical transformation therein that sees Christ glorified and many saved.

c) An appreciation of, and fellowship with, the smaller denominations in Armenia. Though this is improving, significant suspicion and occasional hostility toward non-Orthodox groups remain.

     For an additional 7 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.