Anyone who has ever seen the snow-capped peak of Mount Ararat against a bright blue sky will never forget the sight. In front of it, the fertile plain with its orchards and greenhouses. In the middle of it all, the Armenian village of Araksavan and a small congregation of 35 believers. They gather in the pastor's apartment in an old Soviet-era house. Their hearts beat for the people of their Armenia, their village and the neighboring villages, especially the children.

But working with children and young people is impossible in the confines of the apartment, and even adults are reluctant to attend services in a small private apartment. "When we first visited the site in 2023," reports Paul Hagelgans, BM project manager, "the need seemed as great as Mount Ararat on the horizon—vast and insurmountable."

For 18 years, the congregation had prayed for a miracle. Now God has answered those prayers. At the foot of Mount Ararat, where Noah's Ark landed in Genesis 8:4, a new house of worship with a Hope Center for children is being built! The land was donated by Samuel, pastor of the Araksavan congregation.

His testimony is another miracle of God at the foot of Ararat.

Samuel's story:

"My wife was the first to convert. I refused to hear anything about the gospel she was telling me. For three years, I harassed my family. When my wife went to church in the neighboring village with our four children, I demonstratively stayed home. But I had no peace; my heart was lonely and empty.

Three years later, a group of Christians came to our village. I practically HAD to listen to their evangelistic songs, because they were standing right outside a window of our house. From their sermons, I understood that faith in Jesus Christ alone saves and gives eternal life. For days, I didn't leave the house, afraid that I would die, because I knew I wasn't saved.

One Sunday my daughter came to me and invited me to join her for church service. As always, I was rude to her and chased her out. Sad and very slowly, she walked to the church. Seconds later, I suddenly felt a call within me to follow her. I ran after her, crossed the threshold of the church, and gave my life to Jesus. With Him, joy and love came into my heart. I have been leading the small church in Araksavan since 2003. God blessed us with a piece of land, and it was my greatest wish that a house of prayer with a center of hope could be built here—so that many more parents would follow their children to church, just as I followed my daughter and found Jesus."

The Araksavan construction project

Please join us in praising the Lord for the Niedernberg construction team that served on-site in Araksavan in May.

Pray for the completion of the House of Prayer and Hope Center by fall 2025.

Pray God for abundant fruit from the ministry of the brothers and sisters in Araksavan, that the people at the foot of Mount Ararat may find Jesus Christ and that more churches may be established.

If you would like to support the construction project with donations, please quote project number 241402.

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