There have always been staff devotionals at the AMAA headquarters. The pandemic structured and regularized the devotionals for us and Zoom added an opportunity to host gifted ministers and other guests from around the globe. Each of them shared a message anchored on the Word of God with the staff.

Recently, Rev. Jeremy Tovmassian of Chicago, Illinois shared a message with the AMAA global staff, introducing the above scripture, which in my mind connected all three subjects I pondered to cover today.

The repercussions of the calamitous 2020 Artsakh War devastated the Homeland and the Diaspora. The physical and psychic pain was so deep and entrenched that the social fabric of the nation was unprecedentedly fragmented. The ugly sceneries depicting hatred and anger toward perceived domestic enemies coupled with unbecoming language used in social media came to mirror a nation foreign to its culture, faith and morality.

The hysteric natural or instigated reaction is on a slide. Armenia’s Prime Minister Pashinyan’s resignation and snap parliamentary elections scheduled in June have helped subdue emotions. Cooler heads and time induced calmer minds are on the rise with hope resuscitating the masses. Our hope and prayer is for all to realize that properly addressed differences are not destructive but can be placed to effective use for the common good.

Thanks to its faithful donors and core convictions, the AMAA played its role in a high gear effort to reach out, sap the physical and psychological pain and help the country and its people rise to resiliency and revival.

The statement by United States President Joe Biden on April 24, 2021 acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, and complementing the almost unanimous voice of the United States Congress in 2019, had its healing effect, dampening the pain inflicted by the Artsakh War. Despite the absence of sanctions and demand for reparations from the statement, the fact that a major power came to join a world of nations preceding it to acknowledgment, helped boost the morale of Armenians worldwide.

Rationalizing our presence where Noah landed the Ark and where God placed our nation, we are bound to fulfill our end of the covenant with God and illuminate our surroundings. Neighbors should learn that we are not going away. We shall radiate God’s goodness around in a resilient cultural Renaissance and expression of faith.

Peace and harmony are what we need with honest and civilized neighbors who acknowledge historical justice, take a deep introspective look and commit to the common good of humanity.

July 1, 2021 marks the 175^th Anniversary of the founding of, as the founders consciously chose to call, the ‘Evangelical Church of Armenia.’ Often, we have covered each of the components making up the name.

Church is the body of Christ where believers individually come together as different parts of the body to worship an omnipotent Creator in holiness, worthy of the image of God.

Evangelical lays God’s Word, the Holy Bible as the foundation of faith from where all wisdom flows and through which spiritual growth and nourishment is served. The Bible is the source, where the Good News of salvation received through the grace of God and the ultimate sacrifice of Christ is revealed.

Armenian is a testament of our identity. It rationalizes our share of faithfulness to God keeping our part of the covenant through Armenia’s unique contribution as a nation, both to humanity and civilization.

That wholesome of Evangelical Church of Armenia remains part of God’s unfathomable creation, who together with other parts receive the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

This issue of AMAA News that you are holding in your hands generously celebrates the 175^th Anniversary of the founding of the Armenian Evangelical Church and covers a host of diverse subjects hailing the accomplishments of the past, the contributions and shortcomings of today and the expectations of tomorrow. A cabal of remarkable authors from within the Church and without have gracefully contributed to the subject. We value their opinion and thank them all.

There is a 96-year-old bank in California called Nazelie Elmassian. The bank abundantly issues free HUG COUPONS, ‘good for one hug, redeemable from any participating human being.’ There is one condition to receiving it, you must use it for the common good.

      Common good is the manifestation of God’s infinite love for you and me.

April 28, 2021