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History of AEBC
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The
foundation of the Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church was set in
1925, when
Levon Shabaghlian, having just moved from Shanghai, China, with
his family, and Dikran Tarpinian established prayer meetings in their homes.
Since there was no Evangelical Armenian church in the Greater Los Angeles
area, they gathered in private homes. However, the number located an old
YMCA building and organized a congregation under the leadership of
Rev. Eflatone E. Elmajian. It was also during this time that Rev. Elmajian's
trilingual (and later bilingual) hymnal was published and used by Armenian
churches. However, their time at the YMCA did not last very long and the
congregation had to once again look for new facilities. A facility was
located within a mortuary on Main Street which they were able to rent for
$20 a month. The number of devoted Christians attending the service
increased in 1928 as numerous families moved to Los Angeles from
Philadelphia and joined the church. Once more the congregation moved to a
new location and for the next three years the worship services were
conducted in the facilities of a Seventh Day Adventist Church.
In 1931, the congregation was officially named and recognized as the Armenian Gospel Mission. Rev. Elmajian continued to serve as pastor of the church for the next seven years. Then the pastoral responsibilities were passed on to Rev. Peter Agulian. The congregation was steadily in number and there were approximately 120 individuals attending the worship services. The pastor and the congregation felt that no facility would meet all their needs unless they built it themselves, so they decided they wanted a place of their own. Rev. Agulian and Brother Shahbaghlian initiated a search for land for the construction of a church building. In 1945, the prayers for purchasing property were answered with the location and purchase of land for $3,900 on the corner of London Street and Silverlake. It was an exciting time for every one. Members of the congregation worked hand-in-hand to construct the building, which still stands today. Three months after the construction of the building Rev. Agulian passes away. Rev. Hovannes Markarian (John Mark) assumed the responsibility of leading the congregation in 1951. He moved into the attic of the Church and for the next seven years he served the church and the community. He also spread God’s Word abroad. From 1954 until 1958 Rev. Nerses Sarian served the Church taking on the pastoral responsibilities. After Rev. Sarian finished his two year term, the church was left pastorless. It was at this time that Rev. Touryan commited to pastoring his church in Pasadena as well as the Silverlake Church. The congregation suffered during this time and the average attendees were in their golden years. Sunday School and Youth groups ceased to exist for a time. Rev. Touryan commuted from Pasadena every Sunday to preach the sermon and to administer communion. By his efforts the church was renamed as the Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church in 1959. Emigrating from Beirut in 1964, Brother Baghdasar Ajemian aided with Sunday Sermons. In 1973, Brother Missak Hairapetian, who emigrated from Iran, helped Brother Ajemian in conducting these services. However, in 1985, Brother Ajemian moved to Fresno and Brother Hairapetian welcomed the task of leading Sunday Services as well as reestablishing and leading the youth group. In mid 1986, Rev. Dikran Shanlian, who was occasionally serving the Church, was officially invited to take pastoral responsibilities as an associate pastor. In less than two years Rev. Shanlian was officially ordained as the minister of AEBC by Rev. Konsulian and the elders of the church. A few years later Antranig Afsharian joined the church and later became the moderator. The church was also blessed with the services provided by Rev. Konsulian, Seroj Gahramnian and Zareh Hagopian. Also, we remember the services of Dikran Tarpinian who served as treasurer for the church up until he passed away in 1977. Satenig Baronian took on the responsibility of treasurer until 1990. Currently, Sarah Afsharian is the treasurer. Beulah (Agulian) Murad, Emma (Shahbaghlian) Shahinian, Roma (Shahbaghlian) Swan, Nver Ajemian and Satenig Baronian served as pianists/organists during the church services throughout the years. Antranig Afsharian, followed by Kevork Baronian, conducted the choir. Mihran Knajian is the current conductor he took on this role after Brother Baronian moved on to his calling in Utah. Sunday School, Youth Group, Young Adults, Women’s and Couple’s meetings each have their own dedicated leaders. Since 1987, the AEBC publishes its newsletter, “Pari Lour” (Good News). The newsletter, which is in Armenian, is sent to Armenia, the Middle East, France and throughout the United States and can now be accesses through the church website as well. In 1996, with God’s will and grace a new church was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah. With the leadership pf Kevork Baronian, the Ararat Evangelical Church is growing. For the past several years AEBC has been in the process of trying to locate and purchase a larger facility to accommodate its growing membership. It is with great thanksgiving we celebrate an important milestone in 2005; the 80th anniversary of the church. We anticipate, with God's help, continued service for His kingdom and we also seek the possibilities of relocating to a bigger and better facility. God has been faithful thus far, and we continue to look only to Him to meet our needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.
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