Generations of Faith: Mentoring Our Future at St. Sarkis Church

One of the most beautiful aspects of Christian life is the relationship between generations. Scripture is filled with examples of older believers pouring into the lives of younger ones, modeling faith, and equipping them for service. St. Paul’s relationship with Timothy is a profound example. In 2 Timothy 1:5-7, Paul writes:

"I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

It is fascinating to see how personal and personable Paul gets in his writing in the passage above. It’s almost shocking to think that the author of the Epistle to the Romans, where intricate theological ideas are discussed so eloquently, can celebrate Timothy’s spiritual heritage in his pastoral letter. Paul’s personal touch in the letter makes me contemplate my ministry as the pastor of St. Sarkis Church for the past two decades. Like Paul, I also can look at young individuals whose parents and grandparents lived the faith and were pillars of our church community. Then, at some point, these young individuals made a conscious choice to engage more actively in their faith and be part of the church, and now they are investing in sowing the seeds of the Armenian-Christian faith in their children's lives. In other words, I am fortunate to witness our version of the story of Lois, Eunice, and Timothy unfolding organically in our church and community.  

This passage also encourages us to reflect on our roles as mentors and mentees within the body of Christ. I am pleased to see that many young parents have taken on the role of mentors for our youth through the Salt and Light Youth Ministry Program. Mentoring is a powerful tool because mentees receive messages not just from a priest—whose role is to preach—but from familiar faces within the community. These men and women, who have respectable careers and juggle many responsibilities in their daily lives, choose to share their Christian faith with our teenagers in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

This Friday, as we welcome a new season of the Salt & Light Youth Ministry, I want to recognize the dedication of our facilitators and express my gratitude to the parents of our members for trusting us with the care of their children and teenagers. Together, we are committed to making St. Sarkis—not just the church of our grandparents and great-grandparents—but the spiritual home for us and our children as well.