The Sofiyan Family
Vova & Lucy Sofiyan
St. Khandjyan 16 Apt. 35
City Artashat, Ararat Region
ARMENIA asatur@arminco.com
Vova is an Armenian who was born in the neighboring Muslim country of Azerbaijan. Vova came to Christ in his mid-20s, several years after his family moved to Armenia. He soon came to believe that God called him into pastoral ministry. After a few years, he enrolled in a one-year pastoral training regimen in a Baptist church in Russia. Upon returning again to Armenia, he began to preach in the capital city of Yerevan. In June of 2004, Vova graduated from the Armenian Baptist Seminary. In addition to his work in Artashat, Vova also conducts Bible studies in outlying villages.
In 2000, Slavic Gospel Association requested that Grace Church visit Armenia to investigate missions opportunities. Grace Church has supported Vova and Lucie as a church planting family beginning in March 2001. This enabled Vova to quit his barber position and freed him to devote himself to planting a church.
In March 2001, Vova rented an apartment in Artshat and began to conduct Bible studies and worship services. In 2007, the Baptist Union purchased a house near downtown Artashat that is now being refurbished into a church (see picture below).
In addition to church planting, Grace Church is heavily involved in sponsoring annual Pastor’s Conferences and providing teachers for seminary instruction. Grace Church has sponsored several Pastor’s Conferences at which nearly 100 church leaders have attended. Grace Church staff regularly travels to Armenia to be a part of these vital ministries as well as help conduct evangelistic youth camps.
Early morning gathering for worship and devotional prior to a day of Bible instruction. The Bible courses are modular and all lessons are translated into Armenian by staff translators. The classes are taught for five hours a day with a chapel service on Wednesday afternoons and a written examination on Friday afternoons. The seminary offers a three year curriculum; all Baptist pastors and church planters are required to enroll in this seminary program.
The 2010 Armenian Baptist conference was held in the mountain resort village of Tsarghdzan. Ray Glinski and Dave Newton were the primary speakers. This annual conference is the only time when these men can gather together for encouragement from God’s Word and one another in a single setting. Many of these pastors and church leaders look forward to this opportunity for fellowship and instruction from God’s Word.
