Category Archives: Armenia and Artsakh

The Heart of a Soldier

Posted on by Standard 29

The Bible calls true believers “soldiers”, fighting an ongoing battle in this world of darkness. We are vying for a Kingdom, in a war to uphold the honor of our Commander and rescue as many ‘captives’ from Satan’s clutches as possible. We are mandated to “put on the amor of God” and above all and through all, “to stand”. In fact, Jesus said, “He who endures to the end will be saved.”

But, to our discredit, soldiers of worldly campaigns and wars outshine Christians with their commitment, sacrifice, zeal and diligence even though their victory lies this temporal realm. The Old Testament, replete with the battles and wars of God’s people, is foundational to the precepts of spiritual war in the New Covenant under Jesus Christ. Allegiance, sacrifice, diligence and enduring love must mark the soul of believers. Complacency and ‘lukewarmness’ are the marks of AWOL Christians whom, as Jesus threatens in Revelation 3:16, will be judged.

The Lord calls us into the battle and, in everyway, leads us and teaches us how to wrestle, fight, and win. “Praise be to the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”

However, there is still value in studying the heroes of this world, acknowledging the bravery and sacrifice. While there are great many leaders and soldiers that stand upon the pedestals of history, there is one unknown to most that I keep framed before me.

Haroutiun Sarmanian, 1894-1977.

My grandfather left Marash Turkey, in 1911 at the age of 16, to seek a better life for himself and those he left behind. He found a vibrant Armenian community in Watertown MA and began working as a barber. Soon after he was able to open his own barbershop and, with a pool room in back, worked 6am to midnight to prosper and support his family overseas.

Then the bloodshed of strategic genocide began, April 14, 1915, and soon lead to the devastation of his homeland Marash.

Few folks, even Armenians, know of the French Foreign Legion’s campaign in Armenia, 1918. Within the complicated politics of WWI, the French Army moved into Cilicia, to capture and liberate the region from Turkish occupation. Marash, a major Armenian city therein, was destroyed, its inhabitants massacred. A call was proclaimed to surviving Armenians and those abroad to join in the battle to reclaim Turkish held Cilicia. Thousands of surviving Armenians who were exiled fled back, including 20,000 from Marash. They joined the French as the French Armenian Legion.

From Watertown MA, Haroutiun Sarmanian immediately answered this call to “wrest Cilicia from the Turks”. In 1918, with 20 American gold coins, he boarded a ship back to Turkey. His treacherous journey with 1175 others, led to France and then forward to the Mediterranean, was fraught danger even as their ship struck a mine and left the survivors in the ocean for hours until rescued by French and British ships. Other fighters died of malaria. Haroutiun Sarmanian survived the journey; the French sent part of this fighting group to Adana, the other part to Marash.

However, the French occupation and Armenian fervor for justice and freedom came to a bitter end when, in January 1920, the French military received orders to immediately evacuate the region. In the dead of night, even covering the hooves of their horses with cloth, the French evacuated and left the Armenians. Those who had returned to their homeland after the genocide, to recover their land and home, were abandoned to be slaughtered. Thousands of civilians fled to churches and schools but perished as they were locked in and set aflame by the Turks.

A story of great valor, deep betrayal, and heartbreaking defeat. So why tell it? Why keep the photo in daily view?

My grandfather returned to Watertown MA and reestablished his life, worked diligently to raise a family and contribute to the community. But the photo reveals his heart and soul.

When the call came to defend his homeland, fight for the hope of repatriation and reclaim what was devastated, he left all his gain and traveled weeks by sea, to reach a land of bloodshed and anguish. Brave and selfless, sacrificial and zealous, Haroutuin Sarmanian had hope of victory in a land of utter death and destruction.

Our call to battle goes beyond this physical realm and calls for no less. We have a ‘Commander in Chief’ to Whom we must give total allegiance and honor. He will never forsake us and in that truth we’re called to bravery, “Fear not!”. As our Forerunner in triumph, he mandates us, “Pick up your cross and follow Me”. Like my grandfather, we may have to leave behind worldly gains, abandoning plans and ambitions for an uncharted course. While all are called to fight, some will face unbearable suffering and martyrdom.

Winning may look like losing in the Christian faith. But as God pronounced victory through a suffering Servant, through the death of His Son, our obedience in the battle and in suffering hold eternal value and reward. Unlike the wars of this world, the victory for us is already won. Jesus is Victor! Our call as His soldiers is to bravely obey Him in all His directives and acknowledge that “our lives are not our own”. While I may surely be one of His weakest soldiers, I pray for a willing heart to hear and obey the Lord’s call, to sacrifice and go where He leads, and fight with a living faith that will honor our Sovereign God and count for eternity.

“Armenia, Give Up or Die!”

Posted on by Standard 24

Azerbaijan’s Dictator Aliyev declares, “This is Armenia’s last chance!”

Azerbaijan Dictator Aliyev: This year is Armenia’s ‘last chance

Where have we heard this before? For Armenians, the echo of genocide ever resounds as generational memories of Ottomans’ swords threatened, “Give up your faith or die!”. The Armenian genocide of 1.5 million Armenians testifies of the ruthless bloodshed and annihilation of a nation. And the world watched….

But believers of every background will recognize the spirit speaking through this despot. We can see it in II Chronicles 32 as Assyrian King Sennacherib taunts and threatens Jerusalem while laying seige to them,

“On what are you basing your confidence, that you remian in Jerusalem under seige…Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the other lands?…How can your god deliver you from my hand?…” Give up or die!

As a world power with unmatched military strength, these were no idle threats.

As the world watches, Artsakh remains under siege, strangled by an Azeri blockade for over a month now. Arm in arm with Turkey, a Neo Ottoman spirit sharpens its sword over Armenia and Artsakh. “Give up or die!”

Armenians have inhabited Artsakh for thousands of years. In 301AD, as Armenia became the first Christian nation, Artsakh was a launching ground for missionaries,

“Artsakh became a major stronghold for Armenian missionaries to proclaim the Christian Gospel to neighboring countries. In 310 St Grigoris, the grandson of Grigor the Illuminator, was ordained bishop of Iberia and Caucasian Albania in the monastery of Amaras, being just 15 years old at the time.[47] After his martyrdom by the Mazkutian king on the field of Vatnean (near Derbent), his disciples conveyed his body back to Artsakh and buried him in Amaras, which had been built by Gregory the Illuminator and Grigoris himself. Hence St Grigoris became a patron saint of Artsakh.

In the 5th century, Christian culture flourished in Artsakh. Around 410 Mesrop Mashtots opened the first Armenian school at Amaras.[49] Later, more schools were opened in Artsakh.[50]“

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artsakh_(historical_province)

Albeit many nomimal Christians, Artsakh is a Christian nation surrounded by and besiged upon by Islamic oppressors. Over the past century, bloodlust has devoured Armenian people and land. Western Armenia, with 1.5 million Armenians, was destroyed between 1915 and 1918.

Ongoing history of persecution, oppression, and war continues to pummel a people who seek to survive in peace.  From 1989:

Following the earthquake of 1988, Turkey and Azerbaijan embarked on a stranglehold of Armenia for five years, aptly called The Invisible War by media sources such as the Boston Globe.  Massacres, genocide, pogroms, blockades, war….all forging ahead to eradicate this Christian nation. 

  “This is Armenia’s Last Chance!”

With heavy heart and great passion I pray for Armenia and Artsakh to rise up in a living faith.  Believers understand that this world is not our home, we await with great hope, the return of our Savior Jesus and His Kingdom. But until that day, I pray with fervor the prayer of King Hezekiah,

“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater One with us than with him.  With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

Lord, defend and protect!  I pray the Holy Spirit rise up in the hearts of believers, let them see Your deliverance, Your provisions, Your protection.  Confound the vast enemies who lay siege to destroy.  Let Artsakh survive and flourish and once again rise up to be a light and a beacon!  

Please stand vigil and pray!

  

Artsakh Under Siege – Day 28

Posted on by Standard 20

updated

The latest Turkish/Azeri aggression upon Artsakh, an enclave of Armenia, is a blockade now nearly one month. While the Azeri war upon Artsakh in 2020 devastated Armenian villages and ancient landmarks, killed nearly 4000 soldiers and displaced tens of thousands off their homeland, current efforts, under ‘peace treaty’, aim to starve, deprive, and drive away those who survived.

As of December 12th, 2022, there is no food, no fuel, no medicine, no access to hospitals!

This stranglehold holds 120,000 Armenians hostage – a prelude to ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Human Rights Organizations Warn of Risks of Genocide in Artsakh

https://en.armradio.am/2023/01/09/uk-says-closure-of-lachin-corridor-risks-severe-humanitarian-consequences/

Christian Genocide Warning Signs in Artsakh

Artsakh, and most of Armenia, are surrounded by enemies. This blocking the lifeline to Artsakh is now a humanitarian crisis, worsening day by day.

https://www.armenpress.am/eng/news/1100163/

Please join us and cry out for Artsakh!

Pray that the blockade be lifted! Pray for critical provisions to come through!

Pray for the pastors, elders, and clergy in Artsakh:

  • Pray for the Lord to encourage them as they face great challenges
  • Pray that God’s word comes alive in their hearts
  • Pray for unction and revival, to shake the hearts of nominal Christians


Pray for faith in villagers and townspeople:
• May the Holy Spirit, shake every heart, encourage and revive faith
• May they see God move mightily as their Provider and Protector
• Pray for powerful prayer meetings to gather, unity their faith and strong trust in God


Pray for Artsakh and Armenia to become a light and beacon for their surrounding enemies:
• That the Lord, in His sovereignty and mercy defend and protect the boundaries of Armenia and Artsakh
• That the Lord confound the enemy, weaken their limbs and their resolve for battle, extinguish their zeal and drive them away!
• Call upon the Holy Spirit to convict the hearts of Azeris and Turks, open their eyes and grip their souls!


Pray that they, and all of us, grasp the power of prayer, gain a greater revelation of our Father in heaven, and walk in victory through the dark times in this world.

We will be praying every night until the blockade lifts. Please join in whenever you can!

Thank you all.

Hayer Miatsek!

Posted on by Standard 16

Hayer miatsek, miatsek Hayer! Armenians unite!

Once again, on April 24th, Armenians gathered for Armenian Martyrs Day, commemorating the onset of the Armenian Genocide perpetuated by the Ottoman Turks on April 24th, 1915.

Bob and I waving flags high (under awning “surreal”) in Times Square on April 24th. Ts4-1024x768

Year after year we gather, members of Congress and local leaders speak, proclaiming support for Armenia and stirring up their constituencies. Religious leaders also speak. Our pastor, Pastor Haig Kherlopian, spoke about the resiliency of Armenians, even after attempts to desecrate and annihilate, we still stand by the grace of God to prosper and testify.

As we gather and proclaim, rally and commemorate, we must check our hearts and assure that they are aligned with God. Why must we gather and rally?

Although 1.5 million Armenians perished and thousands were set upon death marches, exiled from their homeland, Turkey continues to vehemently deny these atrocities. Those who dare teach these truths either disappear or languish in Turkish prisons – Turkish prisons hold more journalists than any jail system in the world. We gather because the truth matters – especially for those who died with no voice to proclaim it.

After the recent war – the onslaught of Azerbaijan upon Armenian enclave Artsakh, Armenia lost much historical land and villages which they inhabited for thousands of years.

“The Greek geographer Strabo, who is estimated to have lived from 64 BC to 23 AD, included Artsakh in his geographic description of Greater Armenia, writing that the entire population spoke Armenian by the second or first century BC, an observation confirmed by archaeological finds.” (Read More: https://www.grunge.com/260893/the-long-and-tragic-history-of-artsakh/?utm_campaign=clip)

Armed with the wealth of military weapons supplied by Turkey, Israel, and Ukraine, Azerbaijan now salivates with prospects of further aggression once the ‘cease fire’ period is over. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, believed responsible for supplying the Phosphorus bomb that devastated Armenian environment, openly celebrated with Azeri President Aleyev’s victory. Thousands of Armenians died, thousands are displaced, suffering as the world does not look on. We gather to be a voice for those who suffer in silence – we will plead your cause; we will lift you up in prayer. We will not forget you.

Ultimately, we gather to encourage one another and reaffirm our faith in God, regardless of outward situations. While possibly tempted toward vengeance, we must pray for our enemies – may the Holy Spirit convict them, take away all their false peace, and cover them with a shame and godly sorrow that will lead to repentance. As our people suffer and homeland is stolen and destroyed, we must be the serving hands and feet of the Lord to help them and above all, encourage them that “Հայկական հողէ” – Armenian land- is not their forever home – our heart must be set upon the Kingdom of God.

Armenians unite! Let us honor those who died for their faith by living for our faith for the glory of God.

Death, Devastation, and God

Posted on by Standard 14

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Those close to the plight of Armenians in Karabakh deeply lament with yesterday’s surrender, 11/9/2020 at 5pm EST. There is plenty to grieve. The onslaught of radical Islam jars open the storehouse of anguish in every Armenian.

War crimes and terrorism launched against Karabakh – Artsakh for Armenians – ignited and unified hearts around the globe. Campaigns, rallies, protests, and prayer meetings rang through every country with desperate cries for intervention, justice, mercy and outright miracles.

Miracles needed indeed for a small volunteer army against the military wealth of Turkey and Azerbaijan and the endless supply of hired mercenaries from numerous Islamic countries. I beseeched God, day and night, fasting and crying out the battle cries of David for Armenia…

‘Rescue them O Lord, from evil men; protect them from men of violence, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day…Keep them O Lord from the hands of the wicked…Hear O Lord, our cry for mercy. O Sovereign Lord, our strong deliverer, who shields our head in the day of battle, do not grant the wicked their desires…do not let their plans succeed…

But zeal and faith were not enough to overcome the vast enemy nor the inner battles of raging COVID, dysentery, and growing despair amongst the soldiers that fought without a break.

I had planned all night prayer last night, postponing today’s Bible fellowship with a precious new believer Raquel. With Armenia’s surrender however, all night prayer canceled. Somehow I slept well and awoke with the Lord’s words strongly pressed upon my heart,

“My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight…”

I texted Raquel and asked if she wanted to fellowship – “sure!”. I shared with her how the situation turned out in Armenia,

“I am heartbroken for the destruction, bloodshed and death of so many and the rejoicing of evil people”

Raquel replied,

“We can only do what Jesus said, pray and do not give up and trust in the Lord.”

“Evil people will always rejoice in this world because Satan rules this world. Jesus already tells us that many will die in His name. The Armenian Christians that have been slain will be risen again by the Lord when the time has come and we will win this fight and reclaim the Earth that Father God made for us.”

Remarkably, for a new believer, she went on…

“I know you are heartbroken. Our deaths and suffering are inevitable. We all have a date reserved for each one of us to die. Sadly, many of those Armenians have met the last day of their flesh life. Remember though, they will live in eternity and they will no longer suffer. They are already with Jesus. Remember He said to the convicted man who believed in Him, crucified next to Him, that he would be with Him today. And as are the Armenian Christians who died in His name. He has wiped every tear from their eyes….”

I had not considered Armenia’s defeat, losing Karabakh. I had truly believed that the Lord God would move as He did against evil armies like the Moabites, the Ammonites, and Assyrians. One angel, at His command, could change the battle. I was sure, certain that I would travel to Armenia in the spring, hear the church bells ring at Sushi and burst with rejoicing.

I know this world is passing away. Darker days are coming for us all. I had such zealous hope though for the Armenians to stand and prevail after years of massacres, genocide, and persecution.

The Lord did not “strike the enemy with fear, panic and confusion” and sadly, He did not “bring Erdogan to shame.” But soldiers were baptized on the battlefield. Zoom prayer meetings joined me with Armenian believers whom I never met, to cry out for Armenians and pray for the enemy as well.

In my despair, the Lord’s very words gripped my heart with the truth I wasn’t reaching for and uplifted my heart through the new believer I am mentoring.

“My Kingdom is not of this world”

“…pray and do not give up and trust in the Lord.”

Pressing on….

“Overcome Evil With Good” For Real!

Posted on by Standard 17
Syrian-mercenary-3

Interview with captured mercenary Yusuf Alaabet al-Hajii, 11/4/2020

“He told us we should slaughter, kill all Armenians…Abu Hamsha, as well as the Turkish and Azerbaijani servicemen, were telling us that each of us would receive an extra 100 dollars for beheading an Armenian. They also armed us with long knives. Those of us who were afraid were given some special drugs by the Azeri military, and they stopped feeling fear after taking them. I have personally witnessed how the Azerbaijani armed forces servicemen were giving the drugs to our Syrian guys, the drugs were round tablets, I haven’t tried it myself, but many of our guys did,” the Syrian mercenary said.

Those are the words of hired mercenary Yusuf Alaabet al-Hajii, recruited from the village of Ziyadiya, Syria. The full interview can be viewed here: https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1033852.html?fbclid=IwAR3tM5G5LqtIfRobD1i9_FRbQi27y8BBIEw5QXQ-Ed2G3pmR2u0YhqeRE3Y

The mercenary described in detail how they were approached with a $2000 monthly payment promise and, along with 500 others that day, boarded one of the 10 buses to a civilian airport where they flew on Turkish planes to Azerbaijan.

Upon their destination, they met up with 500 previously recruited Syrian fighters. He noted that the Turkish and Azeri soldiers both had body armor however the Syrian fighters had none. Commanded by both Turkish and Azeri military, they were ordered to proceed in front of Azeri fighters, into Karabakh to capture the village and slaughter all civilians….

“When we approached the Armenian village, we came under fire, and also mortar fire, in this period 15 of us were killed, the operation was a failure and we had to escape into the mountains. When we fled, I wasn’t wounded yet, we were lost, we went by a path until we found the Azerbaijanis who had accompanied us, they took us through some path, but during this the Armenians began shooting at us. I got wounded, I was wounded for 5 days, no one asked me anything, no one was interested in me. After three days, I began moving towards the Armenian positions, the Armenians gestured me from distance telling me I am safe, when I approached them they took me to their position, treated my wounds, gave me food and water. They took me to safety, they didn’t harm me, they helped and treated me well, may God bless them,” the mercenary said.”

(video of interview here: https://en.armradio.am/2020/11/04/second-syrian-mercenary-capture-by-artsakh-forces-interrogated-video/)

Although the Azerbaijani army continues to kill Armenian POW’s, (https://www.kazakhstannews.net/news/266843554/azerbaijani-troops-kill-more-armenian-prisoners-of-war) this is not the first news article of Armenians utilizing desperately needed medical resources on an enemy captive.

While I beseech readers and others to join in fervent prayer to strengthen and undergird Armenians and thwart the enemy’s onslaught, God is doing more. He enabled the Armenians to “overcome evil with good’. In the words of Yusuf Alaabet al-Hajii:

“I want to thank Armenians, they helped me, they treated me, they saved my life, we were wrong to have come here, they – the Armenians, are much better that we thought, they treated us, treated us well, may God bless them. I, Yusuf Alaabet al-Hajji, am stating that anyone who is planning to go to Azerbaijan should not take that step, because Armenians are very good people, they saved me from death, they helped me. I am urging you all, if they try to deceive you and attempt to lure you with money against this country and Armenians, don’t go, even if you are poor, it is better to stay poor then to go to Azerbaijan and fight for money. The Azerbaijanis call the Armenians infidels, but they themselves are the infidels, we are infidels for coming here and fighting against these good people, I stayed wounded for five days in Azerbaijan and no one helped me, but the Armenians did, they helped me and treated my wounds,” he said.

Thank you Lord!

“Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord. On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good…”

Please continue to pray!

Oh Lord, Arise and Save!

Posted on by Standard 18

Phosphorus Bombs, banned by International Law, pummel the rich forests of Karabakh, creating an environmental disaster.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/azerbaijani-forces-use-white-phosphorus-over-karabakh-video/

MAJOR: Azerbaijan Uses Banned White Phosphorus Munitions in Nagorno-Karabakh (VIDEO)

The crisis in Karabakh is a multiple humanitarian catastrophe, driven by the Azerbaijanis but, without a doubt, charged by the Turkish government and their pledge to resurrect the Ottoman Empire.

To sum up the dire situation, the population of Karabakh, approximately 150,000, was attacked on September 27th when Azerbaijan staged a surprise bombing. The daily horror in this Armenian enclave escalates daily as Turkish employed mercenaries and Jhadists are launched into this battle.

Cluster bombs, Turkish drones, phosphorous bombs hammer the land and people….

Thousands of Armenians are displaced and winter’s coming….

How does a rural enclave of villages stand against oil rich Azerbaijan and the military strength of Turkey?

All I know is this: the Ottoman Empire strove to annihilate the Armenian people in 1915, through a strategic and merciless genocide of 1.5 million Armenians. Survivors of this crime against humanity were displaced throughout the region. Like my father’s parents who survived the death march into Syria, many prospered in foreign countries and ventured on to further freedom in the United States.

Many held on to their Christian faith, built churches, and continue to worship and serve God. Although Armenia was the ‘first Christian nation’ in 301AD when apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew preached the gospel there, it is predominately nominally Christian.

However, since this onslaught upon Karabakh, the slumbering faith of many Armenians is rising up to stand and fight. We are fasting, praying, locking arms through Zoom around the world, in a unison cry to God.

Please join us in prayer for the sake of Armenians survival.

The Azerbaijani government hired a high level Washington DC public relations firm to produce deceitful media to skew public opinion. Adolph Hitler did the same thing in Washington to ‘polish’ the reputation of the growing Nazi party. https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/us-public-relations-firm-hired-nazi-germany-spread-favorable-propaganda.html

The BGR firm is now spinning events, interfacing with media and politicians, to serve this client. I could not be at the BGR Washington rally….

I could not be at BGR Washington rally today…

Please pray for the Armenians in Karabakh.  That they are still surviving is a testimony of God.  True believers and nominal alike there know, without God there is no hope.

  • Pray for President Harutyunyan and the Defense Minister, pray for commanders and soldiers.  Lord, give them wisdom, discernment and strategy beyond their ability.  Encourage them as their world and fellow man seems devastated daily.  
  • Please pray for a spiritual awakening.  As priests are baptizing soldiers on the battlefield, let them receive true salvation.
  • Lord, strengthen Your people, the Body of Christ, endow them with courage and unction 
  • Pray for the truth of war crimes and atrocities to come out 
  • Pray for God’s intervention against the Azeris and Jhadist fighters, God Almighty, strike them with confusion, fear and panic.  As King David cried, let “…their path be dark and slippery; with the angel of the Lord pursuing them…” 

Thank you.  

Cluster Bombs on Karabakh – Pray for Armenia!

Posted on by Standard 26

cluster bombs

“The use of cluster bombs in any circumstances is banned under international humanitarian law, so their use to attack civilian areas is particularly dangerous and will only lead to further deaths and injuries,” Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty‘s acting head of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said in the statement.

“Cluster bombs are inherently indiscriminate weapons, and their deployment in residential areas is absolutely appalling and unacceptable,” he said.

https://www.24newshd.tv/06-Oct-2020/amnesty-warns-of-cluster-bomb-use-in-karabakh

On Sunday, 9/27/2020 at 7am most Armenians were preparing for church and family gatherings when struck by surprise military attack from Azerbaijan. Not a random act of aggression, this act of war was strategically calculated from Armenia’s darkest foe, Turkey. President Erdogan’s mission to resurrect the Ottoman Empire takes a big step forward, exerting Turkey’s military strength in the region. Although criticized, they remain virtually unchallenged.

“Turkey bets that the West and Russia will sit idle as Nagorno-Karabakh burns.” Walter Russell Mead, Wall Street Journal 10/6/2020

With world powers preoccupied with pandemics, social uprisings, and chaotic elections, the Azeri – Turkish alliance is forging ahead to claim the cherished Armenian territory of Nagorno-Karabakh – Artsakh.

Bombings destroy Stepanakert….

Bombings leave death…
utter destruction….
displaced famlies

Turkey’s recent invasion into Syria, aggressively pushing out the Kurdish stronghold against ISIS, provided a devilish resource. Turkish ‘security corporations’ now employ these freed ISIS fighters – mercenaries – to join the attack upon Karabakh. A perfect Islamic coalition of wealth, military strength, and jihadist blood thirst vows to fight on until all Armenians are removed.

Of course, Armenians globally are deeply grieved by these unprovoked acts of war and the real threat of another genocide (From 1915-1922 the Ottoman Turks annihilated 1.5 million Armenians, the first genocide of the 20th century).

While many are mobilizing resources, volunteer soldiers, and humanitarian aid, it is my cry that believers also will join in a spiritual battle through prayer.

As the world once again turns away, may the Lord burden the hearts of believers to press in for the suffering Body of Christ. Armenia claims to be a ‘Christian nation’, although many are nominal and religious. May true believers rise up in faith, may nominal Christians cry out to God with true faith.

Please remember Armenians daily and especially on Friday night, 10/9/2020 starting 8pm as we cry out to the Lord on points such as these:

1. Pray for the Body of Christ in Armenia and especially those in the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

* Pray for church leadership – Pastors, elders, deacons – that God will strongly encourage them, and speak clearly to them that they may deliver God’s heart to the people.

* Pray that God strengthen believers, quicken their faith, and ignite a living faith in nominal Christians

2. Pray for soldiers on the frontlines, many of whom are farmers and villagers defending their families, their community, and country.

* May the Holy Spirit bring a spiritual awakening on the battlefield, that God will ignite their hearts to pray, finding their marching orders through Christ.

* Lord, stir up a revival on the battlefield. While bombarded by vast numbers and sophisticated weaponry, draw them to depend upon You and Your leadership, strength, and wisdom.

* Let great testimonies arise from the battle, may the Lord be glorified and honored

3. We pray for the enemy Lord, confound and push them back. Bring their Islamic onslaught to naught. Shake the hearts of these Azeri, Turkish, and ISIS fighters. Raise up a contention in their hearts and thwart their zeal, deflate the spirit of murder, and lead them to godly sorrow.

* Lord, thwart Azeri stock piles of bombs, drones, and missiles.

4. Pray for peace negotiations and conflict resolution.

Lord, even surrounded by enemies, stir up Armenian churches, let them be a light and let Armenians live to glorify You!

“Let God arise and His enemies be scattered.”