Chapter 45

FROM TOWN TO TOWN, FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY

In the space of three years there was not one city throughout the length and breadth of Argentina that Vahram had not visited. And it was not just a matter of being involved with a few churches in each place. There were open-air meetings, visits to prisons, homes for the aged and hospitals, and ministry in any other place where opportunity presented itself. His violin always was with him. He formed a youth ensemble, comprised of three violins, two accordions and two wind instruments, which he directed himself. The music would always be heralded by a cry of 'Hallelujah!' He took the ensemble with him on home visits to bring joy to sick, elderly or disables people. He wrote that the musical group made a valuable contribution wherever they went.

All this time he could never forget his beloved Istanbul. In a letter from Cordoba dated the first of August 1958, he encouraged the believers: "There is a revival in Cordoba, Hallelujah! Do not forget to visit the hospitals. Stay faithful to the meetings. Keep your prayer meetings going even if there are only a few of you attending. News of spiritual progress in Istanbul pleases me so much that I would not be so happy if the whole of South America were given me! All will soon be past; only service done for Christ will last. In Cordoba a series of meetings continued for eight days. Many listened from the open windows of their homes. This church has not witnessed a revival like it for years. People followed the messages with deep satisfaction and were blessed. Hallelujah!" Interest in God's work had been kindled everywhere.

Calls for him to visit various towns were increasing. It was impossible to accept them all! A great number of people wanted him to come to their homes for a meal. Many of these too he had to refuse. As the Lord said, "I have food to eat of which you do not know" (John 4:32). again he wrote to Istanbul; "If you could only see what is happening here! It's like being in paradise. Hallelujah!"

When ever he went to a home to eat, the meal table became a spiritual feast. Each time he was able to draw the company from the physical to spiritual food. he would cause them to sit at the banquet table of Christ, which is promised to believers for all eternity. To share in a meal with Vahram and other Christians was to become part of a joyous fellowship in a happy atmosphere. It can honestly be said that no one ever saw him in a sour mood. His joy was the joy of the Lord.

If Vahram detected a person who was uneasy or nervous in a meeting, he would say something to put him at ease. He sensed when anyone was looking for and opportunity to escape, and he would seek ways to make that person enjoy the meeting. A lady would always slip out quickly the moment the benediction was pronounced. One day he went after her and said, "Why are you running away from the Lord?" The woman started to cry. He was able to lead her to Christ that same evening. Vahram was a workman who understood the need of everyman's soul.

On one occasion, he happened to be standing at a busy thoroughfare in Rio de Janeiro distributing tracts in Portuguese. A man and his son were passing when the son reached out to take one. Suddenly his eyes gleamed. "Oh father," her exclaimed, "this man is Vahram Tatikian!" The father could not contain himself. He ran up to Vahram and threw his arms around him. Taken by surprise, Vahram said, "Forgive me, I don't think I recognise you." "I'm a spiritual child of your from Istanbul," came the reply. The two of them embraced each other in that crowded street, shedding tears of joy, and they lifted up their voices in praise to the Lord. The words of Psalm 126, verses 5 and 6, are again borne out.

A celebrated evangelist was going to speak in a large church in a Brazilian city. A lot of people wanted to attend in order to hear that famous speaker. At the last minute it was announced that he could not come, but had sent someone else in his place. Everybody was disappointed. When they saw a stranger standing at the pulpit, and with an interpreter, they wondered who could have been chosen to take the place of the well-known preacher. They gave little thought to the presence of the Holy Spirit who anoints both well-known and unknown speakers and who alone can bring fruit in God's work. Vahram's message, "The Love Which Springs from God," struck fear into their hearts and was authenticated by results they could never forget.

Chapter 46

MINISTRIES ON THE WEST SIDE

For a long time Vahram had been praying that God would open the was for him to go to Chile. This longest country of the world, 4,250 kilometers from north to south and 360 kilometers wide from the furthest East to the ocean, was the last country on his agenda. Approximately five hundred Armenians were living in Santiago, the capital, not a high figure by any estimation, nevertheless an incredibly wealthy community. Many millionaires were among them. But spiritually they were bankrupt. His deep desire was to reach them for Jesus Christ. At long last, the Lord opened the way for him to go. The natural beauty of the land amazed him. But his main concern was for the men and women in this country who lived without any consideration of life's purpose or eternity's values. With these thoughts in mind, Vahram reached Chile. He began visiting his fellow Armenians, first in their places of business and then in their homes. They were swimming in wealth, but knew nothing of eternal riches! When Vahram started telling them about the reality of sin and the necessity of forgiveness to have peace with God and entry into heaven, some turned to Jesus Christ. Earthly riches gave way to heavenly wealth.

Santiago was celebrating an important occasion. The various churches of the city decided to have a children's parade with the emphasis on God and eternity. They prepared a striking float which grabbed onlookers' attention. The children preceding the float were carrying placards, one of which read: "We beseech you in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, repent of your sins! Turn from the way that leads to hell!" Vahram marched at the front playing his accordion and leading the way. He recognised this effort as a New Testament mandate. Therefore he was more ready to join such outreaches than to accept an invitation to preach in a church. His activities encompassed the marketplace, highways and byways, hospitals, prisons, public transport and homes. These places were the multi-faceted world arena where real life was in action. All sorts of human quandaries were brought into focus here with which he felt compelled to deal. This was the world to which Christ came. This was the field of the mighty Old Testament prophets. The apostles of the New Testament were sent to similar service. For Vahram, such places were exactly the battleground where his faith was put into effective execution. Those who endeavored in this milieu always won. Vahram said, "The church must overflow to the world."

As an evangelist constantly on the move and always encountering varying situations he prayed for a pragmatic approach to the call of each moment. The encouragements he experienced in Chile enhanced greatly the last stages of his ministry. His rich service here and the blessings deriving from it brought to his mind the prayers he had earnestly uttered about whether South America was God's direction. His Lord had not misled him. At this he raised a cry of 'Hallelujah!' to the Holy Spirit who had guided him all the way. On the 8th of March, 1964, he returned to Montevideo. Satan was repeating the same antics as in Istanbul years before. Some of the leaders had become jealous of him. Jealousy was a bitter cup not new to Vahram. As a human being, it shook him to some degree. All of a sudden, the Armenian evangelical churches closed their doors to him as had happened in Istanbul. He had been expecting such an eventuality. He could have said with the apostle Paul, "We are not ignorant of Satan's designs" (II Corinthians 2:11). As a seasoned servant of the sovereign Lord, he was conscious of this sad reality. His ministry had been under attack from various quarters over the years. What Satan couldn't achieve against Christ's servant through outside adversaries, he sought to do through people within the church.

God's mature servant, Vahram, could not resort to carnal retaliation. He earnestly prayed to his heavenly Father for new opportunities. And truly the Lord opened new doors. God encouraged him through the words of a sister: "I don't feel at all sorry for what has happened. Human resistance cannot negate divine performance. When one door closed, He is well able to open other doors before you." So, what happened in the end? The Armenian Gregorian churches enthusiastically invited Vahram for ministry in their community. Along with this, invitations from the Spanish-speaking churches were flowing in. The ministry among his beloved young people reached new proportions. Vahram was so jubilant that he exalted, "Oh my Lord, hallelujah! I have not seen your forgetting the ministry or abandoning me. How great is your faithfulness!" Both bitter and pleasant recollections from the past flashed on the screen of his memory.

He visited a church in a certain town where attendance was down to a mere eight people. Following earnest prayer and determined preaching, something fabulous happened in this church. The gist of his message was, "Confess your sins and repent. Turn to Christ in seriousness of heart and mind. Pray in faith. Pay attention to young people. Spread the Good News with earnestness." After two months the attendance had increased to 150. Young people who started attending the meetings regularly became a vital element in the church. He met a young Armenian fellow who hailed from Athens, Greece. He had run away from home and landed in South America. The money in his pocket was being squandered quickly on reckless living. Vahram talked to him tenderly like a loving father and invited him to repent and accept Christ as his Savior. What joy, what delight! The young man started running everywhere and witnessing for Jesus Christ. He was openly declaring that he had forgiveness from God. Vahram must have shouted many hallelujahs in celebration.

In a family of six, only the man was a believer. His wife, son and three daughters had no interest in the things of God. The man was constantly fasting and praying. On a particular day, again fasting, he managed to bring his whole family to the meeting. He was expecting in faith that God would do something. That day Vahram preached with special anointing and authority. Among those converted were his whole family. Undoubtedly Vahram raised another hallelujah. So it was, wherever God was leading him, some door opened which allowed him to carry on his ministry effectively. As the apostle Paul said, "For we are God's fellow workers" (I Corinthians 3:9).

One of the distinctive features of those years in South America was the staging of one military coup after the other. Under the threat of being toppled, no government felt secure. Coups had become a daily affair. The evangelist would explain that the universal Sovereign will come from heaven and establish his reign, which will never be toppled (Revelation 11:15). Vahram was a simple Christian in a complicated world. It was unthinkable to him that the sovereign God should be incapable of resolving any human problem. He emphasised the authoritative declaration of the prophet Daniel:

:And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever" (Daniel 2:44).

Chapter 47

ON HIS WAY TO THE CROWN OF LIFE

Vahram's longing for his beloved Istanbul and for the believers and close relatives there found expression in his letters. At the same time it became apparent that he wouldn't be returning to Istanbul. He was slowly reconciled to the fact that his life and ministry would be concluded in South America

Long years of ceaseless toil, constant travel, sleepless nights and general exhaustion took its predictable toll upon his body. Since coming to South America not once had he been to a doctor. He was convinced that the Savior of his soul was also the healer of his body. So in every emergency he would turn to Him with absolute confidence.

At the outset of 1965 he began to feel unwell, but said nothing to anybody. He did not want to interrupt the fruitful ministry that was in progress. He went on in the path of faith by prayer alone. When he returned from Brazil he was extremely exhausted and his sister and other relatives prevailed upon him to go to the hospital. Through the pain his faith and consciousness of God's care were strengthened. His strong Christian character shone through in the midst of his suffering. He faced the physical pain joyfully. He was continuously losing weight. The red blood cells in his body were gradually dying. On the first of August he was taken to the Sanatorio Evangelico in Buenos Aires where it was recognised that his condition was critical. Before the doctors performed any treatment, whatever it was, he would say, "Let us Pray", and he would proceed to do so himself.

His kidneys were no longer functioning, and many times he was given blood. Word was sent to every country and city, and believers everywhere were praying. His illness came quite unexpectedly. He had been laboring resolutely and tirelessly right up to that time, so the news of his fast deteriorating health overwhelmed with sadness all those who loved him. When visitors came asking ;how he was, he would respond with 'Hallelujah!' and declare in confidence that if the Lord wished to prolong his life it would be an easy matter for Him to grant it. Whenever he was able to speak with other patients or hospital staff, he would always give a lively testimony and exhort them to remember that Christ is in heaven. This was the picture of God's man wrestling with death.

He was concerned that his written messages be translated into Spanish and that especially the young be benefited from them. His mind was sound to the end. Each day he received a fresh promise from God's word. One of the last assurances was this: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

At nine o'clock on Sunday morning, the twentieth of August 1965, Vahram Tatikian, God's invincible and tireless ambassador was received, at the age of fifty-six, into the presence of his beloved Christ.

"We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (II Corinthians 5:8).

"I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better" (Philippians 1:23).

This was the end of the earthly tenure of God's faithful servant and proclaimer of Christ's Good News. He had assisted to propel multitudes of darkened hearts into Christ's infinite grace. His labors touched four continents, some for extensive periods. The number of those converted to Jesus Christ through his ministry could only be estimated in the tens of thousands. At least twenty young men were guided into the Lord's service through his ministry. His fully productive life here below now ended and the brilliance of eternity began. The comforting words of Daniel the prophet were fulfilled:

"And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:3).

Vahram was more than a believer in God. He was a soldier who gave himself wholeheartedly to carry out his Master's instructions He was deeply convinced that he must execute the purpose of God on earth. Paul's encouraging words to Timothy found their realisation in his life:

"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have first share of the crops" (II Timothy 2:3-6).

Soldier, sportsman, farmer. All three work with a purpose. Here the apostle Paul resembles the life and labor of God's servant to the disciplined mien of the three. He emphasises that the servant of the Lord must be equally diligent. A soldier's life is one severed from worldly work and distraction in order that he may fulfil the purpose for which he has been recruited. He recognises only his commander's instructions. So it was with Vahram. In His labors for Christ he was mindful not to step outside of his command. His whole life was a venture marked by obedience. He pleased his supreme commander and fulfilled His purposes on earth Furthermore, he trained himself and contested as an athlete with determined perseverance He completed the race of life with remarkable attainment. In former times; a laurel wreath was placed on the winner's head. His heavenly trainer placed a resplendent crown on his head, saying, "Well done, good servant!" (Luke 19:17).

How singularly did this servant of God resemble a farmer in his labors. Snow, rain, cold and heat - he disregarded them all. Whether the soil was soft or hard, cultivated or uncultivated, he toiled on. The jealousies of other farmers did not hinder him from persevering. He spared no effort as he gathered in fruit for the Lord. Finally he returned to the Lord of the Harvest, his arms laden with abundant sheaves, to receive the reward of the hard-working farmer.

What kind of a person was this worker? The apostle Paul described him long ago; "For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God" (I Corinthians 1:26-29). "Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On the Principle of works? No, but on the principle of faith" (Romans 3:27).

Brothers and sisters reminiscing on these noble qualities were grieved that this self-giving servant of God was no longer with them. On the other hand , they praised God for the joy that was his for being at home with his heavenly Father. In Buenos Aires, everyone who knew him wanted to attend his funeral, but this was not possible. His body was brought from the hospital to the Armenian Brotherhood Church. The doctors who had treated him attended the funeral also. The young pallbearers pledged that from then on they would faithfully pursue his unfinished task. Several young people were among those who took part in the service. One of them said, "Not only did he win us to the Savior, he also trained us to be disciples and workers like himself." While many expressed deep gratitude to him, this was especially true of the young. The service was a commemoration of thanksgiving for his life-long endeavors for Christ. Every speaker stressed the unequivocal reminder: "Life is short and death certain. Therefore, repent and believe in Christ." This was particularly directed to the unsaved who were present. Vahram would have wanted it this way., The Scripture that most aptly relates to his life, work and home going is this:

"And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth.' Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!' " (Revelation 14:13).

Vahram, during his rather brief tenure on earth, made heaven real to multitudes because he faithfully proclaimed God's grace by which he had discovered the road to heaven. He joined the ranks of many giants who preceded him, but above all he was satisfied with beholding His likeness (Psalm 17:15).