If you've lived much of your life thinking that the first "Christian" leader was Constantine prepare to learn something new today. Please read pages 113-115, then return here for prayer.
Armenia was the first "Christian" nation - the first nation to adopt Christianity as the state religion. It was one of the earliest places where the Gospel spread - according to Armenian church history, Bartholomew and Thaddeus carried the Gospel to Armenia between 60-68 A.D. -- roughly the time frame Paul was writing his prison letters and Peter and Paul were executed under Nero. For the next 250 years Christians were a minority among the Zoroastrians of Armenia - until 301 A.D. when the king and royal family were baptized and Christianity adopted as a state religion.
Armenia's love for Scripture is evident in its history as well: "The first book written in the Armenian alphabet was the Holy Bible, translated in Armenian as The Breath of God....20% of the 14,000 manuscripts preserved ... are Gospels or Bibles." (For more information on the Armenian church see http://www.welcomearmenia.com/armenia/first_christian_nation and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenians.)
Armenia today needs our prayers. Like almost all countries with a "state religion", the spiritual life of Armenia needs revitalization. The state religion tries to shut out any new religious movements. The country was deeply impacted by genocide by Turkey a century ago and debates still rage over obtaining an official apology for the action. Much prayer is needed.
Today our prayer time contains a special blessing: An Armenian Christian leading us in prayer for her country. Please watch this video and allow God to grip your heart for Armenia as you join with this precious woman in prayer.
http://youtu.be/9uYIQGY8Tlo
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