AS THE COLD WEATHER BITES

“I was praying and asking God that we do not get cold in winter and that we have fuel. At the time of prayer, the phone rang and I complained, thinking who could it be that was calling to stop me from concentrating on my prayer.” Hasmik, from a large and very poor family in Armenia, continued to pray, but the phone continued to ring. Eventually, rather annoyed, she stopped praying and picked up the phone. It was her local church inviting her to go and get fuel, donated by Barnabas Fund. “I cried for joy,” says Hasmik, “and apologised to God that I lacked faith and did not expect such a quick response.”

Suffering Armenians

Over 1.5 million Armenians died in the Armenian Genocide, which peaked a century ago. More recently, in early 1988 a violent persecution of Armenians in Azerbaijan saw hundreds beaten, tortured or raped and at least 30 killed. Some 18,000 fled to Armenia at that time. But in December of the same year a huge earthquake devastated the northern part of the country, especially Shirak. Many people in Shirak are still living in the “temporary” housing provided after the earthquake, buildings whose lightweight walls are completely inadequate for Armenia’s extreme climate.

Shirak region – the poorest of the poor

The poverty rate in Armenia as a whole is 36% but rises to 46% in Shirak, the poorest region. Unemployment in Shirak is running at 64% and only 27% of its population has access to medical services.

Be Christ’s helping hand for hungry children and isolated elderly

Every winter, Barnabas Fund helps some of the neediest Armenians, in the Shirak region, to survive the bitter winters, when temperatures often fall to -30°C or lower. Will you partner with us to be an answer to their prayers? Or, in the words of the local church leader who organises the project, will you be “Christ’s helping hand for fellow brothers, sisters, half-starving children and solitary elderly”? Arpik told us, “I have no children and God is my only relative and I entrust all my hopes to His hands as He never leaves me alone. Through the Church sisters and brothers, I always receive God’s support. My God is alive and that means that I live too.” The 92-year-old lost her home in the terrible 1988 earthquake. She has lived alone in a temporary shelter ever since and has no surviving relatives to visit or care for her.

Your gift to Barnabas Fund will be used by Armenian church leaders to help the neediest and most vulnerable this winter.

Fuel for one family for the whole winter costs around £70 If you would like to make a gift to help impoverished Armenian families this winter, please direct your donation to: 79-719 Winter Fuel Support in Armenia

Barnabas Fund is an aid agency for the persecuted Church. For more information about Barnabas Fund, or to make a donation, please visit our website: barnabasfund.org/donate or contact us at: 9 Priory Row, Coventry, CV1 5EX. Tel +44 1627 565030 Email: info@barnabasfund.org