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Making the presence of Christ real for Armenian Youth!
"Rejoice over the children of the righteous, Letter from the Director: 7 September 2004 These are very exciting times in the life of the Youth Ministries. The Youth Ministries Center in Glendale is gearing up for the new school year and attracting young people on a daily basis. Plans for the new website have been delayed by one week. I've been given a new date of September 15. In a sense, the delay is a good sign - we underestimated the power of the ministry in the life of the community. Our first week of operation under the reorganization has been spent developing and placing structure to the new programs. The mentoring/tutoring partnership we established with USC will be starting up again this week when students return to their schools and the USC-ASA convenes its first meeting of the year. Adult education program (Wednesday evenings) begin this week as does our Christian education classes for the children (Fridays and Sundays). And most importantly, our Sunday worship services are being attended by record numbers. I am mostly moved by the tremendous outpouring of interest for the In His Shoes program. The new articles and definitions are in the works and we will have a calendar of events. Thank you for your responses and trust. We are equally excited on this end. Please be patient and check back with the website in the coming week.. In the meantime, please continue to keep us in your prayers. In Christ, P.S. If you're in the Los Angeles area this weekend, join us at church Sunday morning for a special tribute to the Holy Cross - complete with basil, mint and a special blessing to the suffering in the world. On the reorganization 31 August 2004 It ha According to arrangement made between the Diocese, the Youth Ministries' Board and myself, the ministry will continue through the Youth Center in Glendale, enjoying a unique status in the Diocese. This grants us greater latitude in addressing the growing needs of our community. Furthermore, His Eminence the Primate has given me responsibility over the Diocesan camp - Camp Hye Sierra - to direct and lead the camp toward a 10 year plan. We have a very simple philosophy at Youth Ministries: We aim high, because we do it for God. In this spirit, you've come to expect quality programming from us. We're committed to providing you with nothing less than your expectation. I thank you for your continued support and prayers and invite you back on Tuesday, September 7, for a look at the future of Youth Ministries and the In His Shoes mission. Prayerfully, Fr. Vazken Movsesian Looking for "In His Shoes"?
In His Shoes was created in response to acts of Genocide perpetuated against the Armenian nation in 1915. In His Shoes believes that people who have suffered evil have a responsibility to others who share their plight. As such, In His Shoes organizes rallies, information programs and fund raisers for victims of inhumanity. In His Shoes is a non-profit faith based organization. It is established on the Christian principle of repaying evil with good; however, membership and participation in the organization is open to members of all religious backgrounds and persuasions. *DVD is sent free of charge with provisions. A copy will be available for download beginning September 15, 2004. Summer Camp program completes 40th season The largest and most
successful youth program of the Western Diocese kicked off its year 2004
session with festivities. After four very successful weeks, Camp 2004 is
history, but the memories keep the spirit alive in over 600 Armenian
youth who passed through the program. Campers from Diocesan Primate,
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian attended each of the camp sessions and
highlighted the weeks with devotionals geared to the different age
groups. According to Fr. Vazken, "This was the year that camp became
camp again." *The Armenian Summer Camp Program has been created to nurture the bodies, minds, and spirits of the Armenian youth in a natural setting, providing a stimulating and fun environment of community which inspires individual growth and the values of Christian fellowship. Check out www.hyecamp.com for more details. Youth Ministries/Camp Internship splashes to a start on Vartevar!
Part of the program which has been organized and
executed
The Interns were instrumental in the implementation of the Camp curriculum working closely with the directors and with the Youth Ministry staff. Tutors and Mentors Honored It was a fitting way to
say thank you to a group of dedicated individuals who dedicated so much
of their time and talent for the others. On Sunday, June 13, Youth
Ministries recognized and honored the tutors and mentors of the
Ministries' after school program. In particular, the following mentors
received commendation awards: Edwin The date coincided with the Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin. Bringing into play the history of Armenia's conversion, Fr. Vazken used the story of Sts. Hripsime, Gayane, Gregory and Dirtad to accent the impact one person can make in the life of another and a people. He emphasized the need for individuals to think beyond themselves, serving the needs of the community. The scores of students who have been helped by the program translates in hundreds of lives that have been forever transformed.
The tutor/mentoring program will take a break for the summer and continue in September. To volunteer for a tutor or mentoring position, submit a resume to Youth Ministries. Of the many ways to serve the Armenian Church, some of the greatest awards come from serving others.
Ground Zero in Glendale? The work being done at
the Youth Ministries Center takes on many forms. The bombs of
materialism, rejection, misunderstanding, intolerance have leveled the
lives of so many young people. Many grow up without hope in the very
basics - an education and a dream for a brighter tomorrow. Prof. Richard
Dekmejian (USC, Political Science) Baccalaureate for Graduating Class of 2004
Graduatin
Archbishop Derderian led the group in prayer after a spiritually filled and moving Divine Liturgy sung by the congregation. A graduation prayer written by St. Basil the Great (see below) became the theme of the Primates message. Copies of the prayer and crosses were blessed and distributed to the graduates as they received their portion of the Holy Eucharist.
The Primate expressed his hope that the Baccalaureate will become a regular tradition within the life of the Diocese - having a blessing of the Church along side the graduation ceremonies will only strengthen the character of a student and s/he faces the new challenges of life. Prayer for Graduates: O Lord our God, teach us, we beseech you, to ask for the gift we need. Steer the ship of our life to yourself, the quiet harbor of all storm-stressed souls. Show us the course that we are to take. Renew in us the spirit of meekness. Let your spirit curb our fickleness; guide and strengthen us to perform what is for our own good, to keep your commandments, and ever to rejoice in your glorious and vivifying presence. Yours is the glory and the praise for all eternity. Amen. - St. Basil the Great |
s
been my pleasure serving the youth of the Western Diocese as Director of
the Department of Youth Ministries. The last year-and-a-half (since the
inception of the Department) has been challenging and extremely
rewarding. I'm pleased to report that by the Grace of God we were able
to make the presence of Christ real in the lives of hundreds of our
kids. Aside from the programs in our charter, God blessed us with a
Center which now has an identity and character of its own. 
You
saw the video and now you want to know more. In His Shoes is a movement
which rallies support for the suffering in the world. Through a variety
of programs it challenges individuals to stand and walk in the shoes of
the oppressed. You may sign up for the In His Shoes mailing list and/or
to order a copy of the video* by emailing
throughout the United States arrived at the Diocesan Campsite to enjoy
one another and the church-based program. Pictures and more information
about the program are available at 
The goal and mission of the program were reintroduced to staff and
campers alike in a curriculum entitled "Living the Mission." The
Department of Youth Ministries is responsible for the development and
implementation of the program. Over 120 volunteers were united under the
common mission statement of the camp.
The
second annual internship program of the Youth Ministries began with a
splash as 15 interns celebrated the Transfiguration at the Youth
Ministries Center - and a traditional water-exchange for Vartivar. The
Internship program was created to allow teens and young adults an
opportunity to serve the programs of the Department and grow spiritually
in doing so. Following church services, family and friends bid farewell
as the interns began their training period which involves travel,
classroom time and a three week long work-study at the Diocesan
campsite. The first day of training included an orientation program
which featured the new promo-video for In His Shoes. Each day features
spiritual messages from teachers and a peer-to-peer devotional by member
of the group. Ryan Tellalian who had just returned from the St. Nersess
Armenian Seminary, kicked off the string of messages.
by
Fr. Vazken includes meetings with people who have inspired and tapped
into the creative energy of the interns. Some notable meetings included
a meeting with Gita Saraydarian at the Torkom Saraydarian Foundation's
Center in Arizona, with Richard Melikian and youth in Phoenix, with
artist Gregory Beylerian in Topanga, California and with long-time
youth-advocate Mike Geragos. 
Babadjanian, Tate Bejanyan, Maggie Kirikian, Anna Hovasapian, Nanar
Hovasapian, Ara Krikorian, Arpine Shakhbandaryan and Talin Vartivarian.
The
tutoring and mentoring program pairs youth from the colleges with
students from the neighboring High Schools. Tutoring takes place in just
about every subject. The High School-ers receive the grades, but the
tutors are the ones who get the greatest reward.
describes the Youth Ministries Center as being at "Ground Zero" - a
place that has been abandoned by Armenian organizations, and certain by
churches. It is precisely in this environment that Youth Ministries is
growing. It is now a common site to see young people from the local
schools hanging out at the center, stopping in for a prayer, a few words
of encouragement and the strength to believe in tomorrow. The latest
efforts at Youth Ministries includes setting up "Opportunities for Hope"
for the kids. Immediately, there is a need for volunteers to work with
High School students on a weekly basis. In particular, a small
consortium is being set up to look at opportunities outside the normal
parameters of assistance. The object is self reliance and personal
growth. If you have skills you'd like to share in the area of business
management and advanced computer programming, please consider donating
your time. Interested in working at Ground Zero? Contact
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seniors from Armenian and local schools received a special blessing from
the Church and His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the
Western Diocese at a Baccalaureate service organized at the Diocesan
Youth Ministries Center on Sunday, June 6. Seniors from the following
schools were present: Hoover High, Glendale High, Pasadena High,
Mesrobian, Alex Pilibos, Dikranian/Tekeyan, Manoogian/AGBU, La Salle
High, Loyola High and Rubidoux High.