The Armenian Orthodox Church joined other Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Churches in celebrating the resurrection of Christ on April 20, 2025. Project Agape from the North Carolina and Western North Carolina Annual Conferences of the UMC has worked with the Armenian Orthodox Church in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia to bear witness to the Risen Christ by showing concrete actions of love to persons in need of assistance in the Caucasus. For 30 years, Project Agape has helped displaced persons recover from earthquake damage, the effects of two wars, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and political turmoil.
Countless persons have been supported in times of need. That support has included work teams, money, and supplies sent to that area of the world, which has helped with home renovations, building a school and hospital, providing cattle and chickens to farmers, and offering Christmas gifts to children.
For most of those 30 years, both Annual Conferences have split a budget which provides a meager salary for Director Nara Melkonyan, teachers, and maintenance of buildings that house the work of Project Agape, now headquartered in Vayk, Armenia. Until this year, churches from both Annual Conferences have loyally supported the Conference Advances, which underwrite that budget. However, donations are now desperately needed to help our Conference continue supporting this ministry. To continue supporting our share, we need about $7,000 monthly. We have received enough donations to pay our obligations through April of this year, but there is not enough cash to contribute to the budget for the remainder of the year.
To help, please contribute to the Conference Advance for Project Agape # S-00004.