PRESS RELEASE
Bible Society of Armenia
Zakiyan 6/26
Yerevan 375015, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 1) 58.55.09, 56.49.06
Fax: (+374 – 1) 54.24.39
E-mail: bible@arminco.com
September 10, 2004
The Children’s Bible to Summer Camps, Armenia
A number of local churches run annual summer camp programs in the
mountains of Armenia, where children converge to get a break from
the sweltering heat of the Armenian summer. Needless to say, these
occasions are a tremendous educational experience as well. The Bible
Society has always been requested to assist with the provision of
scriptures and relevant materials to support the volunteers who
oversee every aspect of the childrens’ lives for an average period
of 2-3 weeks per group of children.
Between August 12 and 19 this summer the Bible Society visited the
summer camps run by the Evangelical, Catholic and Armenian Churches and
provided them with 1500 copies of “Children’s Bible in 565 Stories”
(New Edition, 2004), which is the total capacity (number of beds)
of all the camps combined, and will belong to the camps, remaining
there to serve hundreds of children over a number of years. This
project realized by the generous support and the cooperation of
“New Life Armenia” benevolent association.
The Bible Society Board Secretary Arshavir Kapoudjian and the
representatives of “New Life Armenia” (NLA) Vardan Blboulian and
Vardan Tadevossian from August 12 to August 19, 2004 visited the summer
camps in Yeghegnadzor, Vanadzor, Tsaghkadzor and Hankavan, organized
and sponsored by the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Evangelical
Church, Armenian Catholic Church, “Solidarite Protestante France
Armenie” and “Entanik” Benevolent Organization. It was pleasant to see
the cooperation of the churches here. We met a priest who frequently
visits “Our Lady of Armenia’s” summer camp, other deacons from Holy
Etchmiadzin serve at the “Solidarite Protestante France Armenie” camp.
The Primates of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Representatives
of the Armenian Evangelical Church and the Sisters of “Our Lady of
Armenia” welcomed the BS and NLA Representatives at their summer
camps, where the guests have the opportunity to meet hundreds of
students. “Vow, what a big book!” exclaimed a nine-year-old boy, while
the representatives were opening the boxes. A group of students from
different ages came out of their seats to see what kind of books will
be distributed. “Shall we read all the content of this book?” asked
another one. “This was our main goal,” stated Kapoudjian, “to meet with
the young people, to bring them the Word and the Light of our Lord. In
this generation do we see the bright future of our people. It’s hard
to work with them, it will take time but it’s encouraging to take
this responsibility.” The majority of the gathered students come from
socially vulnerable families: street children; martyred soldiers’
children. All the Primates highly appreciated the initiatives and the
efforts of the BS, which became a daily presence in our people’s life;
in the churches, in the schools, and now in summer camps.
The Representatives shared their thoughts with the students during the
meetings, stressing the importance of the spirituality. “I was dreaming
to have a Bible in my childhood. You are luckier than us, said Vardan
Blboulian, you are blessed, not only getting the Bible but having
the opportunity to read it every day.” Fr Vahan from the Armenian
Apostolic Church in Vanadzor continued the same idea and concluded,
“Our day has been opened and closed by the Bible. The Bible is our
life.” A twelve-year-old boy ran towards the representatives and
opening up the Bible showed the story # 25 (“Jacob’s Trick,” Genesis
27), which was coinciding his birthday and declared with an excitement:
“My name is also Hakob!” Finally, it was nice to see the crowded
corridors, the halls and the rooms full of joy. After getting their
own copies everyone begun to look at the illustrations, the pictures;
to read different passages; to find out interesting stories. It was
encouraging also to see how some of them are putting their own Bibles
under their pillows.
A week later a lady, who has visited several summer camps, called
the BS office expressing her joy: “What a wonderful job you have
done! During my visits to the camps I noticed a lot of young people
were reading The Children’s Bible.”
The Bible Society of Armenia was established in 1991, when the late
Catholicos Vazgen I and representatives of the United Bible Societies
signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the translation,
publication and dissemination of the Holy Bible in Armenia. The Bible
Society of Armenia is committed to the widest possible meaningful and
effective distribution of the Holy Scriptures in languages and media
which meet the needs of people, at a price they can afford. The Board
of Trustees of The Bible Society of Armenia consists of representatives
of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church and
the Union of Armenian Evangelical and Baptist Churches.
For further information on Bible Society of Armenia and its
activities, call (3741) 58-55-09 or 56-49-06; fax (3741) 54-24-39;
e-mail bible@arminco.com
###