Friday, August 18, 2017

Project Teen Challenge Armenia

Mkrtchyan family
The coolest things we do on this blog are: 1) introducing the people behind the projects, 2) supporting new initiatives, and 3) getting acquainted with a "new" country. Take a cup of coffee and read along .....

In the picture on the left you see Gagik & Lusine Mkrtchyan and their children. They live in Armenia and are the directors of the Teen Challenge rehabilitation center. This work was set up in 2014 by Doug & Anna Boyle (who are also behind the work of Teen Challenge in Kazakhstan and Georgia).

Teen Challenge communiy
It's really amazing what Gagik & Lusine are doing to make God's love known to people who have no hope. Gagik says:

"God does miracles. Our administrator Artush got in our program almost dead because of drugs and alcohol. He was living a criminal life, his father was a mafia guy. Artush got in jail because of murder. God miraculously changed his life in the TC Armenia program. Today he is humbly serving God."

Karate class
In the Teen Challenge center time is spent on prayer and Bible study, but also on sports. In addition, there is also a variety of work projects as part of the therapy. Building, carving, shoveling and digging, it helps the men to use their strength and skills in a good way.

With very little resources a lot of work is being done! The team organizes sports events and competitions and try to involve as many young people as possible. Football, karate, judo ... just name it and they do it. Gagik & Lusine also give Alpha courses to these young guys who often hang out in the streets.

Blessing from the church leaders
Teen Challenge Armenia is an interdenominational organization. Their team members come from different churches like the Armenian National Traditional church, Evangelical and Pentecostal churches. They are happy to have the blessings of the bishops of these churches. There is power in unity.

The Mkrtchyan family also regularly visits needy families in the region. They offer prayer and food packages. Lusine also started a women's ministry.

"There are a lot of people who want  to  get into the TC Armenia program, but our resources are limited", says Gagik. Like most Teen Challenge programs in Eastern Europe, they are fully dependent on gifts.

Visiting families in need
Traveling Light would like to help them with a general gift for the work they do among addicts, young people and poor families. There is so much need, just think about food, shelter, utilities, transportation and evangelism materials... any kind of help or amount is welcome. Please, pray with us that we will succeed in planning a visit as well.

Armenia is a beautiful country, the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD. A country with a rich history. Are you willing to help and give the Armenian people a hopeful future?

Gifts for this project are welcome to IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U St. Traveling Light in Papendrecht. make sure to mention ARMENIA.

When in the USA, you can make your tax-deductible gift payable to EEO Inc. Make sure to mention: TC ARMENIA.