Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close this search box.
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter

ICYMI: Crisis in Armenia coverage by TAB Media

  • April 24, 2021
  • Margaret Colson
  • Asia, Developing News, International News, Latest News
More than 150,000 refugees have been displaced by the recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. (Photo courtesy of Mission Eurasia)

ICYMI: Crisis in Armenia coverage by TAB Media

Editor’s Note: The following article by TAB Media staff on the crisis in Armenia ran Nov. 24, 2020. A followup article ran Jan. 15, 2021, and can be found here.

—–

The bombs started falling in once peaceful communities. People — mostly women, children and the elderly — began running for their lives as their homes were destroyed. Fathers, brothers and sons stayed behind to defend their land.

On Sept. 27, a longstanding land conflict boiled over between Armenia and Azerbaijan as Azerbaijani military launched air raids and artillery attacks on the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The result has been an unfolding humanitarian crisis, with as many as 150,000 Armenian refugees seeking food, shelter and life’s necessities.

Vazgen Zohrabyan, pastor of Abovyan City Church in Armenia, and Sergey Rakhuba, president of Mission Eurasia, recently spoke with TAB Media about the crisis.

‘Reach out and help’

“We were shocked. No one was expecting that [the conflict and subsequent humanitarian crisis] would take place now. Here we are. We have this big challenge, but this is also a big opportunity for us to reach out to the people and help them,” said Zohrabyan.

Because missionaries from his church had served in Nagorno-Karabakh just a week before the fighting broke out, “Pastor Vazgen became the nationally known leader in Armenia,” Rakhuba said.

Today, the Armenian pastor tries to coordinate refugee relief efforts throughout his country, which has a population of about 3 million.

Churches have become “the main source of life and hope in the society,” Rakhuba said.

A social media message posted by Zohrabyan reached some 2,000 Armenians seeking refuge in his city of about 40,000 people, nearly 200 miles away from the conflict.

His church of about 200 has helped those refugees find shelter, with about 50 refugees being housed in the church building itself.

Other churches throughout Armenia are also taking in thousands of refugees.

Desperate situation

As Zohrabyan speaks with the refugees, he begins to understand their desperation.

“A family who reached our church from the war zone couldn’t speak for a day,” he said. Zohrabyan was expecting two cars of refugees, but only one car arrived. “We asked, ‘Where is the other car?’ They couldn’t answer; they couldn’t speak. The next day they explained that a drone hit the first car, and the people in the car were killed, and they saw it all.”

Mission Eurasia seeks to help meet the most urgent needs of refugees, primarily food and shelter, Rakhuba said. Also as the weather turns colder, clothing is an urgent need. Armenian churches are doing what they can do in crisis relief, he said, but “Armenia is not a wealthy country. It is strong; it is faithful; it is a Christian-based country, but they need help.”

Aid efforts

Mission Eurasia is helping train volunteer counselors and is distributing copies of the Gospel of John and the New Testament, along with a prayer guide.

Rakhuba is calling on Christians worldwide to join aid efforts. For more information on how to help, including a link to TAB Media’s conversation with Zohrabyan and Rakhuba, visit tabonline.org/armenia.

Share with others:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email

Latest News

  • China closes three college campus ministries
    China closes three college campus ministries
    June 4, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Ripple effects: Supporting women who evangelize families
    Ripple effects: Supporting women who evangelize families
    June 3, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Meadow Brook Deaf ministry unites believers in worship, outreach
    Meadow Brook Deaf ministry unites believers in worship, outreach
    June 3, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Persecution of believers in Iran ‘very high’

March 31, 2021

Less than 1% of Iranians consider themselves Christians. Islam is practiced by a majority of citizens in the country of

Pakistani Christians face charges for studying Bible in public park

March 8, 2021

LAHORE, Pakistan — Two Christians face blasphemy charges for studying the Bible in a park on Feb. 13. Haroon Ayub

Christian girl, 12, kidnapped, forced to marry

January 21, 2021

FAISALABAD, Pakistan — A 12-year-old Christian girl kidnapped last year and forced to marry a 45-year-old Muslim man was found

Cease-fire holds but Armenian refugees feel effects of conflict

January 15, 2021

Desperation and a sense of deep sadness continue. Since the Azerbaijani military launched air raids and artillery attacks Sept. 27

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
The Alabama Baptist
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 The Alabama Baptist, Inc.
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
Email:
news@thealabamabaptist.org

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service

Log In

Lost your password?

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel