AMAA Holds 105th Annual Meeting in Montreal

Paramus, NJ — The Armenian Missionary Association of America’s (AMAA) 105th Annual Meeting was held on October 19, 2024, hosted by the First Armenian Evangelical Church of Montreal, QC, Canada. The theme of this year’s Annual Meeting and its related activities was “Celebrating Our Youth.”

AMAA President Nazareth Darakjian, M.D. welcomed the delegates and invited Rev. Georges Dabbo, Pastor of the First Armenian Evangelical Church of Montreal, to offer a devotional and the opening prayer.

AMAA President Dr. Darakjian and Treasurer Dr. Nurhan Helvacian presented their reports covering the Association’s activities during the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year. Reports were also received from the AMAA Officers, Committee Chairs, as well as Representatives of the Armenian Evangelical Unions, the Armenian Evangelical World Council, and affiliated organizations.

The AMAA’s general membership elected the following nine members to the Board of Directors Class of 2027 for a term of three years: Ronald Altoon, LEED AP (CA), Lucienne Aynilian (NJ), John Janigian (NH), Christine Momjian (PA), Thomas Momjian, Esq. (PA), Jack Muncherian (CA), Alan Philibosian, Esq. (NJ), Roseann Saliba, LMFT (CA), and Aram Shemmassian, M.D. (CA).

The AMAA’s 105^th Annual Meeting concluded with a closing prayer offered by Rev. Joël Mikaélian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches of France.

Prior to the AMAA Annual Meeting, the AMAA Board of Directors met on October 18. AMAA President Dr. Darakjian welcomed the Board members and guests attending the meeting and invited Rev. Calvin Sagherian, Pastor of Calvary Congregational Church of Francisco, CA to offer a devotional and the opening prayer.

During the meeting, the AMAA officers presented their reports since the last Board meeting. The meeting adjourned with a closing prayer offered by Rev. Joe Garabedian, Pastor of the Armenian Presbyterian Church of Paramus, NJ.

On October 20, members and guests joined the First Armenian Evangelical Church of Montreal for a special Worship Service culminating the 105^th Annual Meeting and the related activities.

Church Pastor Rev. Dabbo welcomed the delegates and representatives coming from the United States and from many countries worldwide. Rev. Paul Haidostian, Ph.D., Acting President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East and President of Haigazian University in Beirut, Lebanon, offered the Armenian message. The topic of his sermon was “The Beginning and the Ending of the Wisdom.”

The English message was delivered by Rev. Dr. Ron Tovmassian, Field Pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America. The topic of Rev. Tovmassian’s sermon was “Goliath Must Fall.”

During the Service, a special prayer was offered by Rev. Dabbo in memory of AMAA members and friends who made the transition from this life-to-life Eternal during the past fiscal year. In his prayer he remembered the late AMAA Executive Director/CEO Zaven Khanjian, the immediate past Pastor of the United Armenian Congregational Church of Los Angeles, CA Rev. Harut Khachatryan, one of the former pastors of the First Armenian Presbyterian Church of Fresno, CA Rev. John Najarian, Jr., and Yeretsgin (Pastor’s wife) Rebecca Karjian.