April Mission Updates: Saturday, April 25

Where I am: Yerevan, Armenia 

Looking forward to seeing Pastor Natalia and her leaders today.

Today in a sentence:

After a long day yesterday, I was grateful for a slower morning and meaningful reconnection. 

After a full day of travel on Friday, I welcomed a more leisurely start to the morning. 

I made my way to breakfast at the hotel – Armenians certainly know how to eat well. While there, I was greeted by David, a young man I’ve come to know over the years from my stays here.

”Mr. Richard!” He said with a wide smile, shaking my hand. “How is your wife and family?”

It’s always a joy to see him. I asked about his family as well, and in between caring for other guests, he returned a few times just to catch up. These small, relational moments are never small. 

At 1:00 p.m., Pastor Natalia, Hasmik, and Hovo arrived. Our first stop was a local mall so I could purchase a shirt and a few essentials – my suitcase is still enjoying its extended stay in Istanbul.

From there, we went to Pastor Natalia’s church. She walked me through the property, pointing out the many improvements since my last visit – security cameras, block walls, tiled flooring, and more. 

This building is more than a structure – it is an answer to prayer. 

I remember when she shared how the landlord of their previous meeting space raised the rent to an unsustainable level, forcing the church to leave. What followed was not despair, but faith. 

They found this property – an unfinished building abandoned when the owner ran out of funds. They made an offer.

There was just one challenge – they didn’t have the money. 

Yet the owner agreed to sell, allowing them to make monthly payments. Step by step, God has provided. 

This church is growing and making a meaningful impact in their community with the gospel. 

Pastor Natalia continues to be a remarkable testimony of steady faith. To the best of my knowledge, she is the only female pastor in Armenia. In a deeply patriarchal culture, that reality brings a unique kind of pressure – and often isolation. 

For the past several years, we’ve met monthly over Zoom to pray, talk, and encourage one another. 

She shared that recently the bishop she is connected with has begun inviting her to the pastors’ gatherings. Slowly, steadily, walls of resistance are beginning to come down. 

She is a gifted, courageous, and gracious servant – a true gift to the Body of Christ.

After touring the facility, we gathered in her office with members of her team. I’ve Armenian coffee and sweets, we shared, listened, and prayed together. 

These moments – quiet, relational, Spirit-filled – are where much of the work truly happens. 

I returned to the hotel around 8:00 p.m., grateful and ready for rest. 

Tomorrow, I will have the privilege of ministering to her congregation. 

Prayer/Reflection

Lord, Thank You for the quiet strength of faithful servants like Pastor Natalia. In places where the road is not easy and recognition is not guaranteed, You continue to build Your Church- steadily, faithfully, and often unseen. 

Give her continued courage, wisdom, and protection. Strengthen her leaders. Let this church remain a light in its community. 

Remind me again today that Your work is often not loud – but it is always powerful. – Amen.

Fun Fact:

Armenian coffee is traditionally brewed unfiltered in a small pot called a jazve. The grounds settle at the bottom of the cup – and it’s not uncommon for people to “read” the patterns left behind as a form of cultural tradition.