Working for the Armenians
By V. Pampaian
COMING in contact with different individuals daily, and seeing their great needs, the mind is constantly busy thinking in what way one can make himself the most useful. I feel that I am out with a life-boat on an ocean where many souls are drowning. I realize the shortness of time and the ungodly condition of the world as I never did before. Money is the only god. Those who used to be susceptible to the things of God are now hardened and indifferent. I have met Armenians in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, and almost all need medical attention. Their physical condition gives me the best opportunity to minister to their spiritual needs. On going to a new place, as soon as I become acquainted with the people, I begin to watch for an opportunity to say something about the Lord’s coming. I find the prophetic chart very useful. As soon as I spread the chart, an interest is aroused; and with the chart before them, they get more out of my talk than they otherwise could. One evening, as I was talking with a friend on the present truth, he said, “Come; let us go down-stairs, where there are others; let them also have the benefit of these things which you are telling me.” We went down to a dirty room, where the people were very rough, and all were smoking. I took out the chart, and began to talk. They listened attentively for nearly an hour and a half, asking questions as they became more deeply interested. When I closed, they all thanked me for coming down and telling them such good news, and said they would like to have me come again. The next day was Sunday. My friend took me to another place. There we studied the chart for five successive hours, and could have kept on five hours longer if I had not grown weary. The next Sunday I went there again, and talked all day. I have had the privilege of giving a course of Bible readings to an Armenian lady whose father was a medical missionary and reformer in the old Armenian church, and who lost his life because he was one of the greatest men among the Armenians. This lady is now rejoicing in the truth. There are other people in New York who I believe are susceptible to the truth. I have given them but a little taste, and they seem to enjoy it very much. I am very happy here, but hope to be happier still as I go farther away. The Armenians do not live in colonies, as other foreigners do. They follow all lines of business, and are scattered about. But few can read English intelligently, and not many would be interested in reading in any language. For this reason, working among them through our literature is not so good as talking to them. They can sit down and listen all day. The majority of them have no interest in religious things. They simply have lost their interest, in the great struggle for existence and gain. The people of the Orient are religiously inclined; but as they are very quick to conform to their surroundings, soon after landing they become like others. If their associations are good, they become the very best; but if they fall in with the bad, they become the worst. I am sure the Lord has some precious souls among them. Some must go to them with the truth. Christ said, “Go ye into all the world.” We are not to wait for them to come to us.