MORE HELP NEEDED IN AFRICA, ARMENIA
By Dianna L. Cagle
BR Editorial Assistant
Raleigh Biblical Recorder, NC
April 20 2007
CHARLOTTE – Africa and Armenia ministries flourish because of North
Carolina help, said key leaders March 31.
"You all are doing so many great things," said Asatur Nahapetyan,
general secretary to the Baptist Convention in Armenia. "Because of
your help, we became the biggest evangelical organization in Armenia."
A mission action conference during the 2007 North Carolina Baptist
Missions Conference and Baptist Men’s Convention highlighted North
Carolina’s work with Africa and Armenia.
The conference at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte focused
on a theme of service. "Serve one another in love," the title of the
two-day conference March 30-31, came from Galatians 5:13.
Nahapetyan, along with Terry Rae, who serves as director for Africa
for Christ, encouraged participants to pray about going to their
respective regions. A couple of churches who had committed to projects
this summer in Armenia have backed out. Right now, only one association
is scheduled to make a trip.
Both Rae and Nahapetyan said partnerships with N.C. Baptists have
helped Baptist membership double in size, but also say support is
still needed to help with continued growth, training, evangelism, etc.
Rae created Africa for Christ to help plant churches in Africa. When
the organization started in 1990, they had no funds. Rae said he
approached six churches to supply one-sixth of a pastor’s salary for
four years. The first church planted grew quickly and has a building
completed by N.C. Baptists, Rae said.
Since the economy is different in each country, prices vary on what
is needed to support a church planter. North Carolina churches and
associations are currently supporting seven or eight church planters,
of the 72 serving in nine countries in Africa. Rae said $90 a month
supports a church planter in Ethiopia; $100 in Mozambique; $120
in Zambia; and $150 in Ghana and Malawi. South Africa is the most
expensive, costing more than $400 a month.
The first year is fully funded by Africa for Christ. Each year after
that, Rae said, supports drops by 25 percent, and the congregation
is expected to take up the slack. Most Africans do not handle money,
but barter for everything, Rae said.
"We don’t have to work hard to reach people for the gospel," Rae
said. "People are hungry. People have no security. The only security
they find is the Lord Jesus Christ."
Rae said 870 churches have been planted in the 17 years since Africa
for Christ began. The organization has seen only an eight percent
failure rate.
Some church planters are so dedicated to reaching the people that
they move to the fields for about six weeks a year. The people have
to protect their crops from monkeys and elephants, so the church
planter sleeps in the field too, leading Bible studies and witnessing
to the people.
For Armenia, Nahapetyan said that when North Carolina Baptists
began to help in 2003, 65 churches consisted of 2,000 members. But
membership has doubled to more than 4,000, and the number of churches
has increased to 135.
Jim Burchette, former president of North Carolina Baptist Men (NCBM),
said Armenia is in need of volunteers. One of the teams that had
committed to go has backed out.
"We have committed to those projects," Burchette said and urged people
to pray about going.
Nahapetyan credited N.C. Baptists with increasing the supply of
pastors and church planters in his country.
A three-story dormitory for the Theological Seminary of Armenia
was built with the help of N.C. Baptists, allowing 150 students to
complete theological degrees.
"We believe very strongly that not only do we need you but also you
need us," Nahapetyan said. "This partnership was and is for His glory."
In 2006, more than 80 volunteers were sent to work in Armenia holding
eye clinics, doing construction, helping with Vacation Bible Schools,
etc.
According to Nahapetyan, a Soviet encyclopedia said the Christian
sect was not considered a good denomination. But in 1991, when Armenia
declared her independence, previously held notions began to change.
"You changed our attitude in our society," said Nahapetyan. Because of
Baptist work in the country with medical missions and other ministries,
the reputation of Christians has changed.
"You will be very welcome," he said.
Currently, both Africa and Armenia need help in construction. A
dormitory is being built in Kenya to house students in a theological
school. In Armenia, churches are being erected as well as space for
Bible studies.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
