February 21 - Pray for: Armenia

The Armenian Apostolic Church has long been a cultural refuge in times of persecution, but the very traditional nature of the Church, which is key to Armenian self-identity, also keeps them from discovering the living Christ. It often inoculates Armenians against the message shared by other Christian groups. Pray for:

• Unity and cooperation within the Church. There are two main groups, tracing back nearly 1,000 years, which use different dialects. Pray that these two (Eastern and Western) will find common ground and the ability to work together for the purposes of God.
• Deep spiritual regeneration of the Church and for godly leaders. This Church will almost certainly remain the dominant religious force in Armenian life. Therefore, pray that there would be a radical transformation therein that sees Christ glorified and many saved.
• An appreciation of, and fellowship with, the smaller denominations in Armenia. Though this is improving, significant suspicion and occasional hostility toward non-Orthodox groups remain.

The Armenian Church-Loving Brotherhood, an evangelical-oriented movement within the Apostolic Church, was formally founded in 1895. Its main emphases are Bible study groups, personal witness, publishing and distribution of evangelical literature and Bibles, and work among the poor and needy, especially orphans. There are a couple of hundred workers in the movement, with thousands of people associated with it, particularly younger people. Pray for this movement and its influence for good on the nation.