PARAMUS, N.J. – Benefiting from Rev. Haroutune Selimian’ s visit to Paramus, NJ, the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) organized an event on October 26, at the Armenian Presbyterian Church to hear updates on Aleppo.
Selimian is the president of the Armenian Evangelical Community in Syria and Pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church in Aleppo. During the five-year war, which continues to be in escalation mode, Selimian has been with his flock suffering together the hardship and supporting them morally and spiritually every day.
Rev. Berj Gulleyan, pastor of the Armenian Presbyterian Church, opened the evening with a prayer.
In his opening remarks, Zaven Khanjian, executive director/CEO of the AMAA, noted that the Western mainstream media recently hyped the reporting of the agony of the 250,000 Syrians living in Aleppo’s East side under the control of extremists. The media however ignored the five-year plight of the 1,250,000 people under government control who suffer from the daily barrages of rockets and mortars with no running water and no power.
Khanjian noted “now that we know ‘Where is Aleppo’ and ‘What is Aleppo’ it may be time to ask the question ‘How is Aleppo, all of Aleppo?’” He mentioned the continuous financial help that the AMAA has been extending to the Armenian community in Aleppo since the economic machine stopped because of the conflict.
He added that for those Syrian Armenians who are willing and unable, the AMAA has introduced the Syria Lifeline program which manages their move and covers all transportation costs to the Homeland. Khanjian commended Selimian’s courage and sacrifice daily risking his life shepherding the flock in the divided war-torn city.
