Your support helps Hermine proclaim the beauty of God’s creation

Today, you’ll often see Hermine with a paintbrush in one hand and a Bible in the other. From a young age, she loved all art, from sculpting to painting. This deep passion for the arts ultimately led the 35-year-old mother of two to the feet of Jesus.

Hermine grew up in a Christian family in post-Soviet Armenia. But her heart was far from Jesus for a long time. She says, “For many years, I was far from God.”

Her passion for art led her to study ceramics and sculpture. Her final college art project—a sculpture on the theme of loneliness—changed the trajectory of her life. Hermine recalls:

“When I began to research that topic, God touched my heart. I started realizing that human beings are forsaken by themselves but not by God. It seemed God opened my eyes to see how unhappy humans are without their Creator. I realized that only God Himself can fill the loneliness. God, the Creator, is the unique Painter—the great Artist.”

Blending paint and God’s Word

This realization sparked a hunger for God’s Word. Over time, Hermine’s faith deepened, and she began seeking ways to use her gifts to serve Him.

“God Himself gave me my talents, and He wants me to be a tool in His hands.” Her desire to share the Gospel became a reality after her husband attended Bible League’s Church Planter Training. Inspired by his experience, Hermine decided to join the training herself. She is already blending her gift of painting with her desire to share God’s Word in her town of Masis. Every week, she leads a painting group for kids at the couple’s church.

The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies announce what his hands have made. Each new day tells more of the story, and each night reveals more and more about God’s power.
Psalm 19:1-2 ERV

Reaching the next generation

Children come to paint, but they leave with so much more. During the class, Hermine satisfies the children’s hunger for hope by guiding them to the Creator through engaging Bible studies from Bible League.

She says, “The children’s materials are perfect tools for the new generation to grow in Christ.” Many invite their non-believing friends. Their parents have also become curious. When the children complete their Bible study lessons, they receive their own Bible.

Growing hunger

She beams, “I am very thankful to all donors. From deep down in my heart, I thank all Bible League’s supporters for praying for the ministry here in Armenia. Bible League greatly helps our local people with its useful teachings and literature.”

But the hunger doesn’t stop there. Refugees from the conflict in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) are arriving in Masis, creating new opportunities to share Christ’s hope. She notes, “People are hungry for God. In this time of difficulties and war tension, the Word of God is the only hope, light, and trust.” Hermine dreams of reaching these children and their families, offering art lessons and the Word of God. She knows the great Artist is still at work, using the paintbrush in her hand to bring more people into His masterpiece.

Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who believes in me will ever be thirsty.” John 6:35 ERV

Feeding even more souls

The materials and training provided by friends like you are essential for satisfying the hunger for hope in Masis. Hermine explains, “I think it is vital to have spiritual tools like the Bible League training, which will help me to succeed in my future ministries. I want to develop more special painting groups and reach as many children and teenagers as possible. I am sure that the Lord will guide and help me.”

In 2025, nearly 4,000 kids and teens have been reached with the Gospel in Armenia through Bible studies like Hermine’s. Please pray with Hermine that the Bread of Life will satisfy the hungry souls in Armenia and around the globe.

She asks, “Pray to the Lord to open and touch their hearts. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring them all to Christ. Pray for the Lord to use me as a tool to reach many children and teens through painting.”

“I am 40 years old and have been serving in the ministry for about 20 years, together with Ilir, as the pastor’s wife,” she says. “For two years, I’ve also been leading the women’s meetings in our church.”

What can you tell us about the women’s ministry?

“It was a new ministry here in Pogradec. We realized that women were missing the Word of God in their lives, so we involved them in Bible studies using Bible League’s booklets. These have been fruitful, and we’ve seen women growing in faith. In our meetings, we ask the ladies about their understanding of the Word of God. Do they understand what salvation is about, what the role of Jesus is in their lives, and do they spend time building their relationships with God? We also make sure we know about their situation.”

Can you tell us about that situation? What specific needs make it essential for the women in the Pogradec area to hear the Gospel?

“The first challenge is that we’re dealing with different levels of faith. Some have heard the Word and know it. Others tend to prioritize their difficult economic situation more, which means they do not spend time with God. I need to work harder with these, helping them to see the connection between their needs and the Word of God. Seek God first, and He will help you with anything. That’s what we teach them, and I can say I see the results as they grow in their faith. Initially, it was difficult for me to work with these different levels. Yet, we have a good group now, where all the women understand that spiritual food is the most significant thing they can receive at church. Some of them are now ready to share the Gospel themselves. Regarding this, I understood that our method of motivating, encouraging, and organizing has been beneficial to them to be close to Jesus. They cherish the time they spend in their relationship with God. The Bible League books they have studied were of great help.”

Can you give some examples of how the materials are helpful?

“Their focus on specific Bible verses guides me when I lead the women. The topics, such as starting your faith journey, receiving salvation, and deciding to be baptized, are timely. They help the women to throw away their old lives and receive new life in Christ. It makes people realize they are not perfect. Only Christ is perfect, but we’re heading toward perfection through our relationship with God.”

What is your strategy to reach these women? Where and how do you meet them for the first time?

“We go from door to door or invite women we meet to attend our events. However, in most cases, they bring one another to our church. Their daily needs are our starting point. I look at the condition of their lives, assess their level of faith, and connect the Bible lessons in a practical way. And then, you’ll see they become more open and easier to interact with.”

How did you get to know Bible League?

“My husband, Ilir, is the one who introduced me to the materials, which I’ve been using ever since. For most of these 20 years, I’ve worked with children and teenagers. I’ve worked with women for only the last two to three years.”

What would you tell the donors of Bible League who send money and pray for the ministry so you can have the booklets and the Bibles?

“I would thank them, and I would ask them to continue our cooperation to make sure to have more materials. We will pray for them and ask them to pray for our mission.”

What was one unforgettable day in your women’s ministry in the past couple of years?

“We, Albanians, love to have an enthusiastic and cheery atmosphere. We have experienced two or three such special moments when we felt like being a family, sisters in Jesus Christ. I have seen the joy of the Lord around us. In the lessons, I always mention examples of women from the Bible, how they act in different situations, how they have a relationship with God, and how God responds to them. It’s so special when the women tell me in our meetings that they see such miracles happen in their own lives. These are the moments you don’t forget.”

The region’s diverse cultural landscape and politically hostile environment pose significant challenges for Abinas’s ministry. “We have people from different tribes living in our hilly region, each with their own religious beliefs and cultural practices,” he says. “However, when we spread the Gospel, we encounter numerous social barriers.” Village leaders and armed political parties actively oppose their preaching efforts. Abinas remains hopeful. “Despite these obstacles, people are accepting Christ, and churches are emerging in our area,” he says.

Abinas recounts a harrowing incident that took place in January 2022. Following a baptism ceremony, he and fellow pastors were surrounded and subjected to torture by an armed group. “Displaying their weapons, they forced us to walk through the jungle for an extended period before eventually releasing us. This incident left us all shaken,” he recalls.

Despite the persecution he endures, Abinas continues to serve Christ and provides support to new believers who face pressure from the Chakma ethnic group and opposition from the local Buddhists. He emphasizes the importance of the training he received from Bible League International, which equipped him with effective methods to share the Gospel and distribute the Word of God.

“The training and lessons provided by Bible League have played a pivotal role in my spiritual growth, the development of my church, and bringing others to Christ through evangelism,” Abinas acknowledges. He recognizes the significance of placing God’s Word in the hands of those with whom he shares the Gospel.

Reflecting on his transformation from Buddhism to serving God’s Church, Abinas shares, “Before embracing Jesus Christ, I practiced Buddhism and held negative attitudes toward Christians. However, after accepting Jesus Christ, my life began to change. I realized that my salvation lies solely in Christ.” Abinas finds immense joy in serving as a pastor and gives glory to the Lord for using him, despite his previous opposition to Christianity.

One of Abinas’s favorite Bible verses is Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV): “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.”

One day, a fellow student invited Alketa to visit a Bible study group in a church. Out of curiosity, she accepted the invitation and found 15 girls studying Bible League booklets. “They reflected love, kindness, and hospitality,” she remembers. As the girls shared Bible stories with her, Alketa’s interest was roused. She loved what she heard but felt she couldn’t accept it. “I told them I didn’t belong to their religion,” she says. “My family was Muslim, so I was a Muslim, too.”

Alketa expected rejection, but much to her surprise, the girls encouraged her to stay. Alketa asked a lot of questions, and they answered them all. “They told me my life could change because of the love of Christ,” Alketa remembers. “I was ready to open my heart for Jesus Christ.” She joined a Project Philip Bible study group and soon accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.

After finishing her studies, Alketa returned to her hometown and married. Unfortunately, her husband didn’t want to accept her faith. Years of struggle with him and his parents followed. “My in-laws interfered in our marriage,” she sighs. “They were totally against me being a Christian.” Eventually, the couple divorced when Alketa was 32.

“Again, I was sad, alone, and scared about my future,” she says. “However, I found hope, comfort, and safety in the Word of God. The Bible is now my friend that strengthens and comforts me!”

Now, five years later, Alketa dreams of leading a small Bible study group with women at her workplace. “I want all my colleagues to accept Jesus and be saved,” she states. “Jesus gave me hope, and I want them to experience the same.”

Evangelical Christians make up a very small part of the population in Albania in eastern Europe. At times, believers face persecution from members of the majority religion. One example is of a young Christian woman whose family forced her to marry a non-believer. Another is windows at a local church vandalized by radicals.

Because poverty is widespread among Christians, many pastors must find additional work since churches are unable to pay them a livable wage. Despite these challenges, Jason Lauthers and Anton de Vreugd of Bible League International discovered in their recent visit to Albania that Christians are faithful in their witness for Jesus Christ.

Subscribe today and tune in to this episode of The Word in Action Podcast from Bible League International.

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Telmina is 45 and lives in Jrashen, a village in Armenia’s Lori Province. “I’ve always lived far away from God,” she confesses. “I was an angry person with a gossiping character.”

In the early fall of 2020, Telmina was watching TV. “There was a show on a local channel about God’s miracles,” she recalls. Usually, Telmina wouldn’t listen to such “stupid Christian things,” but this time, she somehow kept watching. “They shared a Bible verse, which deeply impressed me,” she says. “It was from Acts 16:31, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and all who live in your house.’”

Telmina, who always had mocked the Evangelical believers in her village, now felt compelled to learn more about God’s Word. Setting aside her shame, she visited Pastor Mkhitar, a Bible League partner. He and his wife warmly welcomed her and told her all she wanted to know about God. Not long after, she joined a Project Philip Bible study group. “I gave my life to Christ after a couple of lessons,” Telmina relates. “I noticed a new light and joy in my life.”

Sadly, her newfound faith was seriously tested soon after. That September, the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out, and Telmina’s son went to the frontline to fight. She couldn’t sleep anymore; all she could do was pray. “I fought for my son in the spiritual realm,” she remembers. “Psalm 91, about the angels guarding us, comforted me a lot, giving me the strength to move on.”

Miraculously, Telmina’s son returned safely when the war was over after 44 days. “I realized it was all by the mercy of the Lord Jesus,” she says. Meanwhile, Telmina’s husband, a non-believer, was in a terrible state. His heart couldn’t bear the concerns for his son, and even when the boy came home, his father couldn’t physically recover. The war was about to cause another casualty. Thank God, that isn’t the entire story.

Once, while sitting at her husband’s bed, it was as if Telmina heard a voice inside: “It’s his final moment, but you can help your husband to receive salvation.” She knelt and asked her husband, “Will you pray with me, now you must go to the Lord?” She said the prayer of repentance, and, to her amazement, she heard him repeating it. “His last words were, ‘Lord Jesus, forgive my sins and accept me under Your roof.’ Then, he closed his eyes and died,” she recalls. “At that moment, I received peace in my heart.”

The words from Acts 16:31, “You and all who live in your house,” had become true.