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Bible to Summer Camps, Armenia

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  • Bible to Summer Camps, Armenia

    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: [email protected]

    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 [email protected]

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