I arrived in Armenia in the wee hours of the morning November 3rd, Armenia time which is nine hours ahead of the East Coast of the USA. Curt, Diane and Doug arrived a few short hours behind me. With a few short hours of sleep, our hosts collected us for some sight-seeing. The first place was a very helpful, even essential tour of the museum where ancient Armenian bibles are housed and studied.
Armenia is the first nation in the world to declare itself a Christian country. As the history goes, the Armenian king was healed of madness through the ministry of Gregory. Gregory’s father had killed the king’s father so young Gregory was carried out of the country and was raised by devout christians. In gratitude to God he returned to Armenia as an adult to lead his nation to Jesus. Unfortunately for Gregory, the king at the time was the son of the man his father had killed. The king threw Gregory into a deep dungeon and kept there for 13 years.
After the king became crazy and nothing else worked to heal him, he finally sent for Gregory. The first miracle for the king was Gregory survived the pit all those years. The second was Gregory’s God healed the king and he came to his senses. The king converted to Christianity and declared Armenia a Christian nation in 301 AD.
The history we learned and experienced and the time with our new Armenian friends began to lay the foundation for the days of ministry that lay ahead. That my friends was my first day in Armenia.
I will leave you hanging for now… except to say the history of Armenia has not been easy and our visit was not as originally planned, but it was what God planned for those days.
To Be Continued…
In HIS grip
I want to learn more of this history. Cant wait!
Thanks, keep coming and you will learn more. =}