NAM Annual Report – 2009

Click here to download our 2009 Annual Report.

Finding your created self…

I am reading a book at the moment that talks about true vocation and the things we were all created to do. The writer goes back to the time in our lives before we were aware of and shaped by what we thought we should or ought to do. This history, he would say, is more than where we came from, it is who we really are and more than that even. It is what we are born and created to do.

I heard a speaker recently talk about the fact that understanding and knowing your history, is the first stage towards accepting it, and allowing it to shape your future choices. It is a case of looking backwards so we can see what the future truly should be.

Indulge me then if I take their advice and look at the way forward for the Azerbaijani people by looking back. In the beginning, all men were created by the Father God who calls them to acknowledge, and be drawn towards the Eternal Son, who gave His life  so they could live the life of Christ, strengthened and guided by the Holy Spirit of God. This is all peoples’ first cause and calling and the best to which we can all aspire.

Many stories are told of the Azerbaijani people’s history as followers of Jesus. For many years dating back to the day of Pentecost, believers lived in these Azerbaijani lands and worshiped the Lord. They were not cross worshipers they were Jesus lovers. Their faith lasted many centuries but was slowly crushed by various invading forces with a different faith.

It may however be good to consider the advice given earlier and look back so we can look forward.  What if the Azerbaijanis’ first and best calling was to serve the Lord God of the Bible. What if, after all the back and forth of history, this was all they were ever meant to do?  I do believe it is.

Join with me and pray for the Azerbaijanis to return to their first love and first faith, in the God of the Bible, who created them to be a blessing to the nations.

Novruz Memories

Dear reader,

this time of year always causes me to think back to former days and the fun things we did earlier on in our lives. Of course Sheker Boregii, little knocks on the door and mysteriously abandoned caps are fun, but one thing I always remember was when my children were in Azerbaijani school, and they had their first real Novruz Bayrami. The teachers would gather the kids in the yard and a small fire was built. The children were then given a chance to jump over the fire or tongal. In Azerbaijani culture, some people believe that their sins will fall in to the fire and be taken from them, and little children (ironically, the ones who need to jump over the fire the least!) will be encouraged to jump and be cleansed.

It is interesting that the concept of fire cleansing sin is used here and also the idea that the adults, who presumably have more to be sorry for, are not usually the ones to jump the fire. Both of these things are revealing. The idea that fire cleanses sin is a widespread one, just as fire refines metals or destroys germs and bacteria, so with sin we know that it is Jesus who will baptize us with fire, and we will be cleansed. Also it is in the nature of we adults to have the mind of a pharisee. We know what we should do and are determined to make sure that others do it. We make the children jump but we are somewhat afraid of the fire, and what might drop in to those flames. Strangely enough though this appears, at first glance, to be inappropriate, but there is actually a kind of heavenly wisdom to this.

Jesus told us that the kingdom of God was made up of little children and that all who wanted to enter would have to be considered in this way. I have fond memories of seeing my children, who were too young to jump at the time, being lifted in the air by the teachers and helped to jump over the fire. Christ is the One who baptizes by fire, and He is the only who can take away the sins of the world. It is then a beautiful picture to see others helping those who cannot jump through the fire, even symbolically. It reminds me that we all need some help at times, whether we are old or young to let certain things drop off in to the fire so we can be cleansed, free and have our sins removed so that we can be like the little children I saw so long ago.

This Novruz, remember who it is who cleanses us from all unrighteousness and remember that kneeling before the cross of Christ is more effective than jumping over the fires of Novruz  if you want to see your sins forgiven and your entry to the kingdom of Heaven secure.

Bayraminiz mubarek

Chris

Calling all Azerbaijani Believers in Isa Mesih

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Every culture has its points of gathering and its rallying times. There are things that we cherish and commemorate whatever our host culture or community. This coming week we will see the wonderful festival of Novruz Bayram upon us again. Of course this is an ancient festival with many historic roots and spiritual overtones, but like many cultural festival times it is also a time to come together as families and friends to celebrate the new year. Certainly all around us there are signs of new life and melting snow reveals a canopy of green waiting to grow again and to fill the landscape with nature’s announcement of Spring. Like a violin piece of Vivaldi’s, or the rays of the sun after a deep winter, this is health to our bodies and warmth to our spirits. I wish you all, “Novruz Bayraminiz mubarek.”

I also wanted to extend a call to believing Azerbaijanis in North America. If you know and love the Lord Jesus I would very much like to make contact with you. We are considering forming a group called Isa Mesih Azerbaijani Network or IMAN for short. We already have been in contact with several Azerbaijani believers who are interested to gather. I am proposing a meeting in the Fall somewhere in the USA where we can have a day or two to gather, worship, pray and hear from God’s word. There would be a time to consider what God might want of us and how we might serve Him with the talents and gifts that He has given us together to minister amongst the Azerbaijanis in North America and wherever they are found.

The Azerbaijani believing community is not large, but I believe it is full of potential and promise. I have met individual Azerbaijanis who have found it hard to manage on their own or have felt the pressure to be less Azerbaijani to fit in to their faith community. Whilst we are all constantly changing and adapting to our surroundings and that is to be expected, I also believe that we can, and should, preserve what is individual and specifically Azerbaijani. After all, God knitted us together in our mother’s wombs so we could be a blessing to our people, Azerbaijani or otherwise.

Please if you are an Azerbaijani Believer or you know some, go to the contact page and make yourself known or write to me directly at the address below.

I will make contact with you and we can encourage each other in the Lord. I look forward to hearing from you.

The Lord bless and keep you,

Chris Jones

chris@azerbaijanipartnership.org