Armenia

Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. During World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths. The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in 1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.

CIA - The World Factbook 2006

YWAM in ARMENIA:
Through the years YWAM has had short-term teams in Armenia. This was especially true during the huge earthquake in the 80's.
The first mobile DTS which started in Istanbul in 2002 ministered in Armenia and in 2003 the first DTS was held in Armenia itself, near Sevan (see map). However so far there has been no perrmanent establishment of YWAM in this country, although good contacts have been made with the Armenian Apostolic Church. A bishop of the Apostolic church participated in the YWAM Europe consultation on Orthodox and Oriental Christianity in February 2004, and challenged YWAM leaders to invite Armenian young people to be trained in DTS's throughout Europe.

prayer needs:
PRAY FOR a permanent team to be established in Armenia and for continuing good contacts with the Armenian Apostolic Church.