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Hasmik Babayan
-My Vision
In 1998, on a hot,
summer day, I was sitting on my small balcony at home in Armenia, and I was
meditating upon God and his mystery. Suddenly God’s presence became very strong
and for a second I saw a vision of an African woman. The woman was working on
her knees. When I saw this vision I told myself that I would go to Africa one
day.
In my historical and cultural context this vision did not make any sense. The concept of mission was dead in the Armenian national church. My family was not supportive of any Christian activity (I was even forbidden to be involved in any). Additionally, after 70 years of communism, my country of Armenia was isolated from Christian development and in general from the rest of the world. However, in 1991 the USSR collapsed, and the doors opened to the outside world.
I kept this vision in my heart, and did not dare to share it with anybody. I waited for years. The years of waiting were very difficult, but deep in my heart I knew that Africa was going to be a key place for my ministry. After only seven years I had an opportunity to go to Africa when I was given a full scholarship to study at Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST).
My Coming to Africa
Because Armenia and Kenya do not share an official relationship, it was only one day before my departure that I learned that I would be permitted to travel. I had only a one way ticket, about 150 dollars in my pocket, and I did not know when I would be able to return to my country. But I had only one passion in my heart: to realize the vision, regardless of the cost.
Three Years in Africa
From the very first day of my arrival, I had a new encounter with God. My only strength and trust was in God. Two years of studies at NEGST developed my vision as well as my personality. Through pain and blessings God taught me a lot. Almost every day I was having a new encounter with God. I knew that God was preparing and molding me for my ministry, but still I did not know what ministry that would be.
My Vision Today
After graduating from NEGST (in 2007 with a Master’s degree in Missions, Islamic emphasis), I worked for about a year as a staff member at Nairobe Chapel, where I learned a lot about Africa. Particularly Kenyan’s respond to post election violence and their struggle and suffering to overcome their pain and embrace life and the other party again taught me a lot not only about Africans but also about Armenians (the Turko-Armenian conflict). Although this was extremely painful experience, I thank God for allowing me to go through it. Then I was asked to join the staff of SVM2. The vision of SVM2 is to network and mobilize the emerging generation to passionately love and follow Jesus Christ and to share Him with all nations. So far SVM2 is working in Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Romania. Actually while I was in Kenya, I helped SVM2 establish contacts with Kenyan student organizations. It is amazing to see the potential among Kenyan students.
SVM2’s headquarters (our international facilitation team) is based in Istanbul, Turkey. After training and a visit to the US, I will be based in Turkey at this office where I will coordinate the Spread the Vision team in its international settings. My primary responsibilities will be outside of Turkey, mostly in Africa and the Middle East.
Mission Statement
SVM2 is an international network of students, leaders, churches and organizations serving a grassroots mission movement among today’s emerging generation toward the fulfillment of the great commission in our lifetime.
This is accomplished by:
- Serving the building of National Student Mission Movements among countries globally and associating these movements/networks together.
- Challenging the emerging generation to abandoned devotion to Jesus Christ and sacrificial living for the sake of the Gospel.
- Cultivating a prayer movement for the nations-campus by campus and nation by nation.
- Facilitating campus mission movements resulting in multitudes of laborers being sent to the least reached via their local churches or partnering agencies.
- Equipping students and leaders with practical resources and training for the student mission movement.
- Networking like-minded students, leaders, churches and organizations around a common mission vision.
What I believe I can accomplish with SVM2
1. Since I will be one of the key persons involved in networking countries and nations together, I believe that SVM2 will help me to bring revival to many places in this world. Particularly I have specific passion and love for Africans. I do believe that Africans will become a huge blessing for many nations. My prayer and passion for Africans is that they will step out of their boundaries and share their blessings with other nations, since the need is so great.
2. There is a desperate need to revive Christianity in Armenia, since Christianity is in decline. Armenia is strategically located at the crossroads between East and West, and between Christianity and Islam. I believe that SVM2 will help me to bring about a Christian revival in Armenia. Particularly I see this coming true through Africa. God has given me a vision of young Africans and Armenians coming together for mutual blessing and revival in the Middle East!
During my three years in Kenya, I have seen that there is deep faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, and there is a huge potential for spiritual revival among young people of Kenya which should be also shared with other nations. Based on this experience I am very confident in saying that Africans are able to minister to Armenians. Actually there are several things that Armenians need to learn from Africans! (Particularly in reconciliation programs/practice such as experienced in South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya…) My work with SVM2 will help me to bring about an exchange between Christians in Armenia and in Africa. Revival will inspire people to create a better and brighter future for us as well as for the generation coming after us.
3.In general I can say that my passion and vision for today is to equip and support students for mission, so that they will be able to share their faith with others, and bless and challenge others, so that the entire global body of Christ, the Church, will fulfill the great commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. I do have faith in this new generation. I do believe that there is a huge potential in this emerging generation and this potential should be used for God’s glory!