AMAA 100th Annual Meeting Banquet Inspires

This generation has capabilities that far exceeds those in 1918, he stated. “Our work is not done as long as there is hunger for God’s work, as long as there are children who are thirsty for education, and as long as there are families or individuals for whom finding daily bread is a daily challenge. May God make us worthy of this mission.”

A video of the Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian High School in Yerevan’s Malatia-Sebastia district was shown, a school totally funded by the AMAA that has been tuition-free for more than 580 students.

One of the graduates of the Avedisian High School, Lucine Mnatsakanyan, was invited by Dr. Darakjian to come forward, and accept the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificate and the glass plaque for the Avedisian High School in honor of the Avedisians who were not present. Avedisian High School is the first building in the Republic of Armenia to achieve this status and was also awarded the LEED Earth Designation, given only to the very first building project in each developing country to satisfy the USGBC LEED criteria.

Mnatsakanyan, who is now a third-year student at the American University of Armenia, paid tribute to the great attributes of the Avedisian High School, saying, “We are raised to be true Christians, and citizens, and have been exposed to all the studies of an exemplary education.”

Delighting the audience, two acclaimed world class musicians, tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan, and mezzo soprano Victoria Avetisyan, who had started the banquet program with the American and Armenian anthems, sang several Armenian and international favorites, including the soul stirring Pari Arakil, Habanera, Solo Mio and Hayastan.

Manucharyan who has sung at the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and other concert halls in the US, Italy and Ireland, brought the house down with his rendition of Pari Arakil dedicated to Armenia’s symbolic beloved bird (the crane). The couple’s dramatic singing of Hayastan was another crowd pleaser.

AMAA Vice President Dr. Michael Voskian paid tribute to the history of the Armenian Evangelical Church which he revealed has grown and consists of 124 churches and five unions in Armenia, North America, the Near East, France and Eurasia.

Representing the Armenian Evangelical Churches around the globe is the Armenian Evangelical World Council, with its President Rev. Joël Mikaélian who was asked to come forward by Dr. Voskian.

Also honored were Rev. Dr. Avedis Boynerian, host of the Armenian Memorial Church, as well as Rev. Stephen Carlyle of the first Armenian Evangelical Church in North America established on January 1, 1892 the Armenian Church of the Martyrs in Worcester. All were presented with special plaques.

True Faith

During the joyous evening, a female guest suddenly passed out, and was immediately attended to by attending doctors until the ambulance came. As this was happening, several small groups of badvelis (pastors) spontaneously rose making small circles with their arms on each other’s shoulders, bending their heads, and silently praying for the ill woman.

Expressing deep appreciation to the “ingenious and hard-working” banquet committee, the AMAA staff and all involved individuals for the successful weekend and Banquet, AMAA Executive Director and CEO Zaven Khanjian asked Stephen Papazian, the moderator of the Armenian Church of the Martyrs of Worcester, to come forward to receive a “Sugar Sculpture” donated by Linda Khachadurian.

Revealing the main challenge of his position, Zaven Khanjian stated “a challenge that I struggle with is the difficulty in conveying a well-deserved gratitude to righteous men and women who fly on the wings of goodness in life, and who instead, faithfully direct it to God.”

Khanjian also announced that a symposium will soon take place in Armenia on the post-Genocide endeavor to save the remnants of the survivors. It is being organized by the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute Foundation, and is sponsored by the Armenian Missionary Association of America.

“It will honor and bring to light the many heroes who miraculously embraced the orphaned Armenian children and widowed mothers with shelter, healing, food, education and lovingly shielded them from the killing fields of Der El-Zor,” he said.

He remembered that today anguished civilians in the towns and villages in Syria, deportation is once again taking place, leaving behind all they possess. “But the clear victims are the Syrian people, including the progeny of the Genocide survivors.

“The AMAA has faced the spiritual and humanitarian challenges of our people, and we have collectively and positively answered the call, and through your righteous giving will continue to make it happen,” he said in conclusion to a standing ovation.

The closing prayer and Benediction by Mikaélian, and the singing of God Bless America brought an extraordinary and inspiring banquet and weekend to a close.