News from Jinishian Memorial Program – Sept. 2024

Dear Friends,   I want to sincerely thank all of our study tour participants. Seeing Armenia through your eyes helps me appreciate this beautiful country in new ways, even though it’s a place I know so well. Each time we visit the Jinishian Memorial Program’s beneficiaries and see faith in action, I feel even more grateful for our donors and the hard-working staff who make everything possible.   Thanks to the support of the Presbyterian News Service, we are happy to share with you a series of stories and reflections from both our program staff and study tour participants. These stories show the important work of the Jinishian Memorial Program and how it’s making a difference.

I invite you to read these stories and see the impact of what we are doing together. And if you feel inspired, I warmly welcome you to join us on a study tour in 2025 to experience Armenia firsthand and be part of this meaningful journey.   Best Regards,

Eliza Minasyan,  Executive Director Jinishian Memorial Program Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Study tours relay JMP’s impact

JMP offers self-sufficiency and hope to Armenians. The first in a series of stories highlighting JMP’s impact features a Q&A with JMP executive director Eliza Minasyan.

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Children’s rehab center makes huge strides in five years

More than 150 children with mental and physical disabilities are served thanks to JMP funding and oversight. The Rev. Vicki Sauter, guest author, reflects on her past and recent study tour visits to Armenia and the progress that’s been made at the Sevan Rehabilitation Center.

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JMP supports wide range of programs

Children’s rehab center, youth leadership, and family businesses are all initiatives that receive assistance from JMP. Guest author Eric Diekhans reflects on his visit to JMP-supported organizations during the most recent study tour to Armenia.

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Rich background of Armenian life revealed

A start-up beekeeping business was made possible through JMP’s loan and business guidance, but it was the “belief in a dream” that made the difference for Gayane Simonyan’s BeeLife Enterprise. Guest author Eric Diekhans profiles his visit to BeeLife and other JMP-supported businesses.

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Interested in the 2025 study tour to Armenia?

If these stories have inspired you to learn more about Armenia and/or JMP, consider joining the 2025 study tour. For more information, including an itinerary and application, click the box below.

2025 Study Tour

2023 Gratitude Report

Please read JMP’s 2023 Gratitude Report and share it with others.

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Consider a gift to JMP

Your gifts go directly to build up health, faith, farms and businesses by empowering local JMP teams in Armenia, Lebanon, Syria, Istanbul, Jerusalem and Georgia. To make the greatest impact, consider making a monthly gift.   Thank you for standing in unity with Armenian Christian leaders to share God’s love with the most vulnerable and to build a brighter future for all!

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Jinishian Jottings - A Struggling Teen’s Journey to Hope and Empowerment

Fifteen-year-old Shoushan is far from a typical teenager. She doesn’t daydream about school, new clothes or hanging out with friends. Instead, she lays awake at night worrying about her family’s struggle with inadequate food, clothing, hygiene and medical care.

Shoushan’s life has always been tumultuous and unstable. She and her parents continually relocated because of their inability to pay rent. Her parents’ tense relationship led to separation, with her father, who had a history of alcoholism and domestic abuse, being largely absent from her life. Shoushan’s mother, a victim of the abuse, lost sight in one eye at the hands of her father, ultimately forcing Shoushan and her mother to flee for their safety. They now live with her grandparents and uncle, the former suffering from their own health challenges.   The heavy weight on Shoushan’s young shoulders led her to spiral into depression, affecting her education and leading her to drop out of school. Desperate for her daughter’s well-being, Shoushan’s mother sought help from JMP. After a comprehensive assessment by the social worker, Shoushan was enrolled in the Teenage Program for Girls, and her transformation began.

Shoushan’s journey was not an easy one. Her lack of educational foundation, her introverted nature, her absence of friends, and struggles with depression and loneliness required intensive efforts from the social worker to facilitate her integration into the school system. Now, Shoushan is studying graphic design and aspires to become a successful designer. Joining the program gave her a sense of belonging, enabling her to make friends, attend school regularly and cultivate hope for a brighter future. Shoushan has recently expressed profound gratitude and credits JMP for being “a beacon of light amidst the so much darkness.” Donors like you allowed Shoushan to receive financial assistance and psychosocial support, allowing her to attend a technical school, boost her self-esteem and work toward realizing her dreams.

Please consider making your best gift to help JMP serve the most vulnerable teens in Lebanon. Your gift can make a difference for teens like Shoushan, giving them the gift of dignity and hope for their future.

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.”  -- (Jeremiah 17:14)

Eliza Minasyan,  Executive Director Jinishian Memorial Program Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

In Gratitude Please Read JMP’s 2022 Gratitude Report

Give Securely Online

Your gifts go directly to build up health, faith, farms and businesses by empowering local JMP teams in Armenia, Lebanon, Syria, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Artsakh and Georgia. To make the greatest impact, consider making a monthly gift. Thank you for standing in unity with Armenian Christian leaders to share God’s love with the most vulnerable and to build a brighter future for all!