The newly-elected AEUNA Board of Directors (BOD) had their first meeting October 18-20, 2022 at the Armenian Presbyterian Church of Paramus, New Jersey. The meeting started with a devotional and prayer time, based on Isaiah 43:16-21, and led by the Minister to the AEUNA. Rev. Hendrik Shanazarian reminded the group of God’s faithfulness and promises of doing new things despite all our challenges, unfaithfulness and weaknesses: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (19). He encouraged new board members to offer their best to serve God and our people through their respective ministries at the AEUNA, and to trust that the Lord will bless that and do new things in unimaginable ways and places, which will bring glory to His name.
During two days of meetings, the officers, different committee chairs, and affiliated and recognized organizations’ representatives highlighted important aspects of their submitted reports. After each report, prayers were offered for the ministries and their respective leadership. Following the recommendation of the Executive Committee of the AEUNA, the BOD unanimously voted to call as Field Pastor of the AEUNA Rev. Ron Tovmassian, D.Min., who later presented the goals, priorities and vison of his work for the coming two years.
As a part of the Ministry Committee report, Pastor Hagop Haroutunian was presented for the final step of the evaluation his ordination. During an hour-long oral ordination examination, Pastor Hagop shared his life and ministry testimonies and answered Biblical, theological and practical questions from the floor. After deliberation, the BOD was satisfied with the preparation of the candidate and unanimously voted for the necessary steps to be taken for his ordination.
On Wednesday afternoon, BOD members visited downtown New York City and stopped by the Armenian Evangelical Church of the NY. While visiting the church, the group sang a hymn and thanked God for the church’s more than 125 years of service and prayed for its current leadership and ministry.
The BOD meetings ended on Thursday, October 20, but some board members stayed a few more days in New Jersey to be present at the Armenian Evangelical World Council and AMAA Board and Annual meetings. Revs. Hendrik Shanazarian and Serop Megerditchian attended the AEWC meeting where leaders of the five Armenian Evangelical Unions, AMAA and Philibosian Foundation exchanged information about their communities and ministries and discussed major issues and challenges facing our churches and nation.
The AMAA Board of Directors meeting and Annual Meeting were held on Friday night and Saturday morning. International guests and different committees highlighted aspects of their reports published in the Annual Meeting booklet. Participants, together with many leaders and members of the New Jersey Armenian community, enjoyed the AMAA Annual Meeting Gala on Saturday night. During the Sunday Service at the Armenian Presbyterian Church of Paramus, NJ, the newly elected AMAA board members were installed.
The AMAA Annual Meeting was an occasion that brought many Armenian Evangelical leaders from all over the world to have fellowship with each other, to hear about God’s work in different countries and to encourage each other.
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