Armenian Evangelical Union of North America Interim Minister Rev. Hendrik Shanazarian was appointed on October 1 by the AEUNA Board of Directors.
His candidacy for Minister to the Union was unanimously confirmed at the June 2021 AEUNA Board of Directors meeting. He will be officially presented to the next Biennial AEUNA General Assembly for endorsement in June 2022.
In a meeting with the Western United States Central Committee, Rev. Shahnazarian was welcomed by Rev. Berdj Djambazian at the party's headquarters in Glendale.
According to the Asbarez News, as part of the discussion, the Armenian Evangelical Union North America (AEUNA) focuses on the role it plays in advancing their national aspirations, as well as the current issue in Lebanon and the Middle East, which has an impact on the Armenian communities there.
“We look forward to working with Rev. Shanazarian and strengthening our already positive working relations with the Armenian Evangelical Church of North America. Our community has been fortunate to have a leader like Rev. Djambazian at the helm of the AEUNA for the past several years. He has worked tirelessly to advance the Armenian Cause and bring unity and cooperation to our community efforts,” ARF Central Committee chair Dr. Ohanian said, as quoted in the report.
His Early Life
As an Iranian-born minister of Word and Sacrament, Rev. Shanazarian was ordained in the Evangelical Church of Iran in November 2000.
A Clinical Psychology bachelor's degree from Tehran's Allameh Tabatabaie University and a Master's in Divinity from Beirut's Near East School of Theology complement his background.
Dr. Mariet Mikaelian is Rev. Shanazarian's wife, and the couple has two children, Anna and Tadeh.
Youth leader since 1981, his ministry in the Armenian Evangelical Church of Tehran has seen him in various roles.
Shahnazarian taught Old Testament, Systematic Theology, Christian Counseling, and Worship at Iran's Synod's Bible School before relocating to the United States in 2007.
As stated in the United Armenian Congregational Church's website, while in the United States, he's taken on numerous roles within their Armenian Evangelical community.
He's also been on the AEUNA board of directors before and currently serves as chair of the Union's Ministry committee.
As of February 2016, he was appointed interim associate pastor at United Armenian Congregational Church in Los Angeles.
United Armenian Congregational Church
United Armenian Congregational Church is an Evangelical church located in Los Angeles, California.
It is the goal of the United Armenian Congregational Church to help people find salvation in Jesus Christ.
They are dedicated to bringing Christians together for worship and fellowship and missions, instruction, spirituality, and growth as a church.
The church's focus is on the Armenian-American families and friends in Los Angeles.
As of right now, UACC has over 800 Communicant members and ministers to around 1,500 people in the community.
The church staff has been expanded to better serve these people, and many laities are actively involved in helping the church's needs.
The primary objective is for their Church to be a powerful witness for Jesus Christ and give God praise and glory while creating an environment in which the Lord Jesus Christ can be ever-present and even more relevant in the lives of each individual.
