Berberian Ministry

LETTER FROM SAMUEL BERBERIAN - From June to October, 2011

2011-11-29T20:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

As we conclude another year of academic activities at the Frederick Crowe Institute, we can see the progress of the students, whether adolescents or adults. This year we had 96 students in the weekday program, and 30 in the Saturday program. Several are pastors’ children, whose parents have been very grateful for the good formation their children have received. As they are sponsored, some of you have made possible their studies. Thank you.

FROM THE FREDERICK CROWE INSTITUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY. Pastor Gerber García (picture on the right) who graduated last year, is finishing his first year of Psychology at the university, being one of the best students, thanks to the preparation he received. He commented that having learned to investigate in the library and the habit of turning in papers on time, made it easier to study in the university. His wife told me: “The first to benefit from our studies are the members of our congregation.”

FROM THE GARBAGE DUMP TO THE UNIVERSITY. Hector graduated from the Saturday program in 2004, (picture on left). He had a full scholarship because he was born and raised in the garbage dump in Zone 3. During the 3 years he studied with us, he married, formed his home, and learned to repair computers to earn a decent wage. After graduating from high school, he felt in his heart to help youth in danger and in conflict, and with his wife they organized a non profit organization. To do a good job, he signed up at the university, and now he is completing fourth year of Business Administration. This year, in the Saturday program for adults (18 or above) there are four young people from the program he is directing. It is wonderful to see him, as if he was their father, checking up on them and how goes their studies. This is the fruit of the faithfulness of many of you to sponsor needy students.

DOULOS FOUNDATION. I am thankful to God for the Board of Doulos Foundation, for their help every moment; we meet the first Wednesday of each month for breakfast. I also appreciate the members of the Foundation; they are very busy people, but they generously back us up as professionals.

PANAMERICAN UNIVERSITY. As Dean of Theology we are closing the year of studies Nov. 24, and we are in full promotion for the New Year that begins January 21. Remember that our school year begins mid-January and ends in November. We are asking the Lord to send us students motivated to serve the Lord, with desire to prepare themselves. It is a joy to provide help to each student according to their need.

MINISTRY IN THE CHURCHES. Each weekend I am preaching in different churches in the capital and surrounding areas, and sometimes in the interior or out of the country. In June I travelled with my son-in-law, Iván, to San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá (facing Atitlán lake) for a special event (see picture top left). In July I travelled to México to share in the International Convention of Pastors of the Centers of Faith, Hope and Love. In August I was in Cobán for three conferences in a pastoral actualization with Nazarene pastors. In September, with my wife, we travelled to Patzicía for a special service in the church called “House of Prayer”. In October, with Martha we shared at a couples’ dinner in a Central American church in Colinas de Minerva. October 23^rd we shared about the Role of the Father, the Role of the Mother in the Training of the children, in a joint meeting of leaders of Church of God Full Gospel, near Boca del Monte. October 9^th I had the priviledge of baptizing my grandson Daniel, at his request (picture below).

Thanks, dear friends, for praying for our ministry, which is priority. Thanks also for

investing in our work as the Lord leads you to do so. If you need a tax receipt, please use the enclosed envelope, and write your check to CMM. If you don’t need a receipt, you may make direct deposits into our Bank of America account number 9010 00668613 to the name of Samuel Berberian. God bless you abundantly! I would love to hear from you.

Your friend,

Dr. Samuel Berberian My e-mail address: Samuel.berberian@gmail.com

We invite you to share this letter with your family and friends.

LETTER FROM MARTHA BERBERIAN - From May to October, 2011

2011-11-29T20:27:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

The years are passing by so fast. Last Sunday I turned 67 and to celebrate it we played the piano with

three generations! Elizabeth, Daniel (age 12), and I. I was 33 when we arrived in Guatemala, you can see the picture when I taught music at the Calvary Bible Training Center, with two of my piano students, Julio Sosa and Luis Morales. It has been a blessing to invest in the lives of young (and not so young) people in our dear Guatemala.

MINISTRY OF TEACHING. At the Panamerican University, School of Theology, I taught Alternative Techniques of Teaching in second trimestre, to the second year students, using my book Enseñando con Eficacia (Teaching with Efficiency). One of my students is using the book to teach a similar course in his church, his first formal teaching experience. At present I am teaching Introduction to Pedagogy to the first year students, at the Central Campus, Zone 16 on Thursdays and Naranjo Campus, Mixco on Saturdays, 18 students per group. I see in them potential to teach formal courses in their churches, or become university teachers in the near future. Even though the course says “pedagogy” the focus is really the formal teaching of youth and adults. On June 25 I gave a conference to Nazarene school and Sunday school teachers presenting “The 10 characteristics of teachers that impact their world.” My grandson, Andy, age 16, accompanied me, filmed the conference and helped me with the book table. (Thank you, Andy!)

WRITING, PUBLISHING AND EDITING. Since October 2008 til now there were over 8,000 visits to my web site for writers: www.ComoSerEscritorGuatemala.blogspot.com It is a blessing that people in various parts of the world are reading the capsules. The last one was on: “The use of the interview to write history.” In July we did a revised edition of the book En Busca del Cónyuge (In Search of a Life Partner), a useful tool for teenagers. October 15 I formally presented to the autor, Dr. Edgar Menéndez (Rector of the Nazarene Seminary), his first book, Desafíos para el Ministerio en un Mundo Complicado (Ministerial Challenges in a Complicated World). I worked with Edgar chapter by chapter as editor, and I am very pleased with the eight deep but very practical chapters. Also in October we published a brand new book written by a Christian banker, Saúl Contreras Hernández, titled: 12 Principios para salir de la pobreza (12 Principles to rise out of poverty), with only 24 pages, but a great and useful content.

FAMILY: Susy has been a substitute teacher for two months at Christian Academy of Guatemala, and is expecting her fourth child for April 2012. Lisa is elementary coordinator at CAG, her four children study there, and on Saturdays she is studying School Administration in the university. Steve and his family came down in September for a delightful week; his many patients keep him super busy in Houston. In the picture below I am with my twin brothers, Jim and Joe, Pennsylvania, 2009. I am the eldest of five. Do you notice how small I appear next to them? Ha! In Guatemala I am considered tall!!!

SPECIAL EXPERIENCES: May 20th I was invited, with two students who graduated from our Frederick Crowe Institute, to participate in a one hour radio program on Radio Voz Evangélica de América. The program, called “The Healthy Home” is directed by Luis Morales Orellana (my student back in 1978). We discussed the importance of education to have a healthy home. The two graduates from the IFC adult program, Boris and Felipe, shared their experiences as adults studying high school. I presented four excuses many give not to study: “If I didn’t study, you shouldn’t either.” “Work is more important than study.” “To serve the Lord you only need anointing of the Holy Spirit.” “I don’t have money to study, I am poor.” I talked about the scholarships available for low income students, and how a home is more stable when both parents have completed at least high school.

Proverbs 19:17 says: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what

he has done.” I invite you to consider sponsoring a student at IFC in 2012. $270 per year, and you can send it in installments.

Your sister in Christ,

Martha Saint-Berberián BerberiansInGuatemala@gmail.com

www.BerberiansInGuatemala.blogspot.com www.edicionessaber.wordpress.com

If you have e-mail and you haven’t received any letters from us by that means, please send me a note from your e-mail. We can keep in touch faster that way. Right?

GENERAL NEWS AND UPDATE ON BUILDING SITUATION

2011-06-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

from Samuel Berberian, April 19, 2011

Dear beloved friends,

At the Panamerican University my contract as Dean of Theology was renewed for another five years for which I am thankful. I have some 26 teachers under my responsibility, and I am glad to see older teachers hanging in there with excellence, and some newer, younger teachers doing a fine job. My salary covers about 50% of our expenses, for which we are very thankful. And the difference comes from our prayer partners who contribute as they are able, in various parts of the world. Thank you, dear friends, for investing in Guatemala, especially for praying.

I have had unique experiences recently. For example, mid March I was contacted by Prensa Libre staff, Guatemala’s largest daily newspaper, inviting me to write a weekly column in their Sunday paper (two pages long), for their section called Opinion, on page 21. Feeling that God was guiding this, I accepted, and the first column came out March 20. It has been a blessing to receive positive comments even from total strangers, saying how the column has helped them understand, for example, about forgiveness. You can access the column by going into the web site, www.PrensaLibre.com

Another unique experience was to participate in the 25^th anniversary of the pastor of a Nazarene church way out in San Marcos, not far from Southern Mexico. Rev. Enna Giron-Ríos was my student at the Nazarene Theological Seminary almost thirty years ago, when she was single, determined to answer God’s call to enter the ministry, but having many obstacles blocking her way, including the fact that she was a woman. She founded the church 25 years ago, and raised up a solid church. She married in San Marcos and has three children. It was a joy to see her church, her family, and reme

mber her as a determined student.

I have the personal obligation to inform you on how things have advanced about the buying of our building here in downtown Guatemala City. On March 16^th we were able to pay the $5,000 dollars to initiate the process with the owner of the property (thanks to donations sent from Kentucky, Kansas, Virginia, Argentina, France, California and Texas).

Also we are in the final phase of the paper work to obtain the mortgage from the bank, BanRural, with monthly payments to the bank for 20 years. In this phase we are praying and asking God to give us 10 people, organizations or churches, who can help us with $65.00 dol

lars a month, to help pay the mortgage. Three have signed up already, and three more with smaller monthly donations. Of course, God never looks down on the widows’ mite; whatever amount before the eyes of God and before our need, has an eternal value. We invite you to consider a monthly gift for one year, as a start. Let us know your decision as God guides you.

Once the building is ours, we will be enlarging the classrooms, and

eventually adding a third floor. May God bless you for being a part of this project, and personally, in a periodic way, I will be informing you of how things are, so that you, united with us in prayer, can rejoice in the faithfulness of eternal God, that until today has never failed.

For an income tax receipt, send your check to CMM, P.O. Box 7705, Charlotte, North Carolina 28241, with our name on the envelope (or inside). For a touch of humor, here’s a picture of me teaching in 1980! In a blue suit! I count it a privilege to teach and train Guatemalan leaders.

Always holding on to the hand of God, and counting on the solidarity of the people of God, we are at your service with a grateful heart. Your friend,

Dr. Samuel Berberian, founder

Frederick Crowe Institute/Doulos Foundation,

4 Av. 9-66, Zone 1, Guatemala

My cell phone: (011 502) 5202-4763

Samuel.berberian@gmail.com

January through April, 2011 - Making a difference through preaching, teaching and writing.

2011-05-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

My Thursday class, in Zone 16

Dear Friends,

THE MINISTRY OF TEACHING.

At the PANAMERICAN UNIVERSITY School of Theology, we have new students since January, and I taught one group at the main campus in Zone 16 on Techniques of Research. Surprisingly, this group has five couples who are studying theology together! In the Saturday group there are new students sign up each year to studytwo couples. In a country where 30% of the population can’t read or write, and many pastors have only a junior high education, it is a joy to see theology, many who have a second profession. The lady behind me on left is a medical doctor. Next to her is a young girl, whose father was my student 30 years ago! About half of our students are either pastors or leaders in their churches.

Do you remember this picture of Pastor Boris Mendoza from the last newsletter? He graduated from our high school last November, and when I walked into the classroom in January, there he was in first year of theology! He is in the center back of the larger Saturday group. Several of the older students have told me that returning to the classroom has been difficult for them, but they were trying their best. So besides the course on learning to write formal research papers, I throw in tips about study, reading, agenda management, etc. And via e-mail I write letters to inform and motivate them. They are also sending homework via e-mail. It costs the students $55 dollars a month to study and even so, some have a hard time to pay it, forcing some to drop out.

HISTORIOGRAPHY PROJECT Dr. Clifton Holland visited from Costa Rica and Sam and I organized a session April 14th to help get the ball rolling in collecting information and writing the history of the evangelical church in Guatemala. God has done marvelous things in this country, and we have several mega churches, though very little has been documented. As brother Cliff said: “If we don’t study our history and its flaws we will repeat our mistakes.” We invite you to pray for this new project. I invited Cliff to teach my Saturday class on research techniques, with the 4th year students joining in. It was a well-spent hour and a half.

WRITING AND PUBLISHING.

My new book, out mid January, has been of much help in my courses. It is being used in other universities also, and 360 books have been sold in three months. I plan to write a course on Introduction to Pedagogy, to fill another need for textbooks in Guatemala. Books published by Ediciones SA BER and selling well are: Cómo Predicar, Enseñando con Eficacia, and Sam’s Hablando de Frente.

FAMILY:

Susy is kept busy with her three little ones. Lisa continues working at Christian Academy of Guatemala, with school out end of May, and studying School Administration at the University on Saturdays. Steve continues taking care of lots of patients in his clinic and at various hospitals in Houston. I am very thankful for my Mom and Dad, Phil and Ruth Saint, who with their example motivated me to Christian service. Here is a picture of them from 1980.

1 John 3:17-18 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

Your sister in Christ,

Martha Saint-Berberian

BerberiansInGuatemala@gmail.com

Note: if any of you have access to e-mail, please send me a note from your e-mail, since we communicate more via email.

From Sam and Martha Berberian

P.O. Box 1602, 01901 Guatemala, Central America

Telephone: 011 (502) 2478-0634 (home)

www.BerberiansInGuatemala.blogspot.com

A BUILDING FOR THE FREDERICK CROWE INSTITUTE

2010-11-20T16:54:00.001-08:00

YOU CAN BE PART OF A MIRACLE
Guatemala, October 24, 2010

Since 1994 the Frederick Crowe Institute and the Doctor Núñez Library have occupied the house located on 4th Ave. 9-66, Zone 1, in downtown Guatemala City. During all this time rent has been paid while searching for something our own. Now the building we are renting is up for sale and we have the first option to buy it. As you know, both ministries are under Doulos Foundation (Fundación Doulos is legally recognized in Guatemala).

We invite you to pray and contribute so that this miracle will become a reality, and many Guatemalans of limited resources can be blessed, enabling them to complete their high school studies to go on to the university.
In August the owner of the property informed us about the sale of the building, setting an initial price of $300,000 dollars, but being renters for so many years, she gave us the option to buy it at $150,000 dollars.
The Board of Directors of the Doulos Foundation met and unanimously agreed to do all possible to buy the building, inviting all our students, graduates, all our friends and donors, to participate in this great opportunity to bless the Guatemalans, knowing that the Frederick Crowe Institute, the Doctor Núñez Library, and the Doulos Foundation are a work of God. The President of the Foundation, Dr. Samuel Berberian, said that each donation, no matter how small it might be, is of great value, and that if all of us give something, we can collect the needed amount.

The building is a house, whose bedrooms are used as classrooms; when the building is ours, we can freely modify it to better serve our students and library usage, since the 13,000 volumes need more space, also the reading room. God will provide funds through His children. A member of the Board said: “This is the opportunity of the Lord, and we need to take advantage of it with faith.”
We invite you to participate in this blessing, sending a special donation. Remember that your donation is tax deductible, whether from yourself or your company, when you send it to CMM. Be sure to include your name or your company’s name so the receipt will be filled out properly.

Thank you for your generous help,

The Board of Doulos Foundation:
Dr. Samuel Berberian, president (theologian)
Lic. Iván Monzón, vice-president (psychologist)
Lic. Hugo Ruiz, treasurer (communications)
Martha Saint-Berberian, secretary

Heri Muñoz Vargas (civil engineer)
Dr. Sara Salazar-Pezzarossi (medical doctor)
Lic. Mario Rodríguez Morales (lawyer)
Licda. Margarita Sandoval-Rodríguez, Administrator

To form part of this blessing, you may send your donation to CMM for an income tax receipt.

CMM (Christ’s Mandate for Missions)
P.O. Box 7705
Charlotte, North Carolina 28241
www.cmmissions.net
officecmm@gmail.com

Dr. and Mrs. Samuel and Martha Berberian
Apartado Postal 1602
01901, Guatemala City
(704) 225-3927 Guatemala, Central America
www.BerberiansInGuatemala.blogspot.com
BerberiansInGuatemala@gmail.com
Samuel.Berberian@gmail.com
Remember this: … whoever sows generously, will also reap generously.
2 Cor. 9:6-7
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Prov. 11:25 NIV

Digging into our family history

2010-11-20T16:38:00.001-08:00

LETTER FOR SAINT AND WALLIS COUSINS June 4, 2010

Prepared by Martha Saint-Berberian

Many thanks to second cousin Stephen Wallis (of Lexington, Massachusetts), for letting Susy and me go through old family archives (Saint, Wallis, Proctor), taking many pictures of documents and pictures in the space of two hours, in June 2009. Many thanks also to J. Kenneth Leap (of Runnemede, New Jersey) for providing extensive material on the life of Lawrence B. Saint focusing on his stained glass work. Josiah K. Proctor and Sarah Jane Proctor (1848-1920)

(www.jKennethLeap.com)

PROCTOR FAMILY.

In Massachusetts I found a copy of the last will of our great-grandfather Josiah Kendall Proctor. The will was written up in 1911, he died in 1920 (his wife a few weeks later) and the funds were disbursed in 1951, dividing up the sum into twenty equal amounts to: his two daughters, Jane (Jenny) Wallis (our great-aunt), Katharine Saint (our grandmother), the 8 Saint grandchildren, and the 10 Wallis grandchildren. Josiah Proctor was the founder of the Philadelphia Textile Machine Company, which made its first $100,000 in the year 1895 and its first million dollars in 1917. The Philadelphia Textile Machine Company changed to Proctor and Schwartz in 1920. Josiah had a genius for invention and development, and was famous for his deburring machine. He had a remarkably logical, imaginative mind coupled with the tenacity to work things out, given time. He was an expert in automatic drying of fibers. The family was active in the Presbyterian Church, and also the “Y”.

Josiah’s wife, Sarah Jane Wright, was from Groton, Massachusetts. Her father was Alva Wright. I found a copy of Alva Wright’s will, dated July 1891, giving one thousand dollars to each of his three daughters, and the same amount to each of the grandchildren (including Jane and Katharine).

I found five generations of ladies beginning with Jane/Jenny Proctor. Her mother was Fanny Gilson Woods-Wright, Fanny’s mother was Catherine Gilson Woods, and Catherine’s mother was Elizabeth Sartell Gilson. They are our family.

Jane married Allan Wallis, while Katharine married Lawrence Saint. 1884-1969

----

Jane (Jenny) Wright Proctor-Wallis Katharine Wright Proctor-Saint
1875-1956

SAINT FAMILY

Lawrence and Katharine Saint raised their family in the large house in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, beginning in 1920. The picture on the right I took in 1968 when my husband Sam, son Stevie, and myself visited Grandma Katharine. When Lawrence began his research experiments with stained glass, he changed their barn into the studio which was used for glass making for the National Cathedral.

The picture on the left is the barn-studio from those days in the 1930s. Note the huge window constructed to display the stained glass windows and evaluate the colors with realism.

The picture upper right is inside the barn-studio, on the second floor, where Lawrence (on left) is with two observers, and some seven workers.

The glass factory (see picture), was the third building on their property, in the back. With the furnaces going, it was VERY hot in there, since glass making requires very high temperatures. The determination and creativity of Lawrence Saint are in evidence, shown by the gorgeous colors in all his windows in the Cathedral in Washington, D.C. all colors that he created painstakingly with his team of workers.

A favorite picture of mine (on the right) is when my Dad, Phil, was in his twenties, shown here with his Dad, his brother Dave (who is showing the sculpture he made of his Dad) and their youngest brother, Ben. I truly thank God for our family, and all He has done for us.

BERBERIANS VISIT GRANDMA SAINT IN 1968

It was in 1968 when, with my husband Sam, and baby Steve, we visited Grandma Katharine, who lived in an apartment on the first floor of the studio-barn, since the house in front was rented out.

She invited us to go upstairs and choose some items that we wanted to have. It was dusty up there in the old studio, but all around were articles left from the stained glass work, and other art work of Grandpa Lawrence, who died June 22, 1961. We found two portraits Grandpa had painted, one of my father, Phil Saint, and one of Grandma Katharine herself, in her younger years. She let us have those two, plus some glass pieces, our family treasures.

Did you enjoy the historical stuff? Tell me what you think. I hope I got all the information straight.

Martha Saint- Berberian

Guatemala

Sam Berberian at Especialidades Juveniles, Aug. 9, 09

2009-10-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

Sam is one of the favorite speakers at the anual event to train youth pastors in Guatemala, called Especialidades Juveniles. Similar events are held yearly in Argentina and Texas with much participation.

August 9 he participated in a forum discussing the habits of Bible reading among youth today, and how vital that is. See 2 pictures.

The day before, Aug. 8 he spoke for an hour in a similar workshop (packed full with young people) discussing how to choose your vocation or profession. Sam is 68, and Dean of Theology at Panamerican University.

Praise God for these opportunities to bless others and help them grow in the Lord.
Martha Saint-Berberian Oct.19 2009

Letter from Sam Berberian - October 14, 2009

2009-10-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

From Sam and Martha Berberian
P.O. Box 1602, 01901 Guatemala, Central America

Telephone: 011 (502) 2478-0634 (home)
Fax: 011 (502) 2443 6582 (home)

October14, 2009

Dear Friends,

I wonder if you are seeing 2009 as I am, looking back at Easter, and looking ahead at Christmas. If we have been as productive as the Lord requires from each one of us, never mind about time going by. But I hope I don't affect you with my guilt, if I haven't been as productive as I should; anyway the time is gone. As I grow older (I am almost 69), I have learned to be careful to put time and duty in the balance, and try to evaluate priorities from God's point of view.

Training Christian leaders has been my main ministry since 1977, when we arrived in Guatemala, so I have taught many Bible courses in different Bible Schools in this Central American country of almost 10 million people. I thank God for my wife, Martha, who backs me up in teaching, transcribing my books, and keeping the home fires burning. In the picture above we are with our three children, Steve, Lisa and Susy, who are married and gave us ten grandchildren. The picture in front of the Brotherhood Church in Beirut was taken back in 1973; they were certainly learning years, blessed by God.

As we come to the close of the school year in Guatemala, with blessings and conflicts mixed up, we thank the Lord that He enabled us to be part of many lives of those who are accomplishing their goals.

Taking advantage of school vacations, I'll be flying to Pasadena, California December 3rd (after a good many years), to see and fellowship with many of you, and remembering God's faithfulness and the friendship we have developed in Jesus Christ. I am praying that being there will be more than just being busy, to be a help through God's grace to each one of you. I will leave Pasadena December 14th. Brother Mike Youssefian is coordinating my agenda. (818)351-0962. His e-mail is: 7youmik@gmail.com

In the Panamerican University (where I am Dean of Theology) we have 170 students studying theology, in the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels. About half are pastors and the other half are professionals serving in their churches. In the picture to the left Hugo Ruano received his PhD in Sociology of Religion. The other PhD offered is Applied Theology. In the picture below I am leading a teachers session.

In the Frederick Crowe Institute (where I am founder and Director), we have 145 students studying in the junior and senior high levels. More than 800 have graduated from high school since 1989 when the Institute was opened to provide education for pastors and leaders. 40% of our students are from very poor families, but have been able to study thanks to generous sponsors who give $300 per year per student ($30 per month for 10 months).

In both the School of Theology and the Frederick Crowe Institute we see in the coming months a time of enlargement, which requires more responsibility as well as wisdom, so things are not done because of the volume, admit needs, which the Lord can multiply, through his grace and power.

The enlargement of the School of Theology involves opening three new extension programs, as well as affirming the three extensions that we already have. Most of our extension students are pastors.

In the Institute, there are plans of enlarging more services to the needy people, on the level of individuals as well as communities, believing that this is a direct way of Christian witness and not simply solving people's problems. The Dr. Núñez Library is an important part of the Institute, providing access to 13,000 books, that otherwise would be impossible for them to buy because of limited resources. In the picture to the right, a group of students are reading in the library. Below, a good friend from Great Britain, Arthur Willis, visited our library. Both the Institute and the Library are under the supervision of the Doulos Foundation.

How gratifying it is to cross paths all the time with people on the street, who recognize me and express appreciation for a Bible course I gave them years ago or a sponsorship that made possible their studies. And they tell me what they are doing, the church they are pastoring, or what studies they were able to accomplish. Some of them tell me how they got to meet the Lord in the Institute, and now working in a church ministry, or helping in a very poor neighborhood of the city. This gives me much joy as you can imagine. That is why we are in Guatemala, to make a difference.

For the graduation at the Institute this year, scheduled for November 7, we invited a former student of ours, Rev. Juan José Pérez, to give the speech. He graduated from our adult high school program in 1993, being already a pastor, and today he has graduated as a psychologist, and is pastoring one of the leading churches of the Church of God Pentecostal. The majority of our students keep studying and reaching for more training, doing the best they can. For example, an Assembly of God pastor, Byron Mazariegos, after finishing his high school with us in the Institute, today has closed his Master's program in Theology and is one of our teachers in the School of Theology, teaching systematic theology.

If you wonder why all these details of the people we work with, it is just because you are a part of it through your prayers and giving, and we want to be thankful. We want to be like the Samaritan who came back to thank Jesus, not like the other nine who never were thankful. As you pray for us, we pray for you, so the Lord can make the difference in your life in these days of uncertainty that the world is going through.

As to my autobiography/testimony that came out earlier this year, Señor, Hazme Útil (Lord, Make Me Useful) young people have commented how the book encouraged them to follow their dreams. One person told me: "When someone meets you, they never think of all the things you have been through, to make you who you are now; so I can believe that God can use me too." The book has 47 pages, and includes many photographs of 50 years of ministry in Argentina, Lebanon, the United States, and visits to many countries, 36 in all. There are plans to translate it to English.

Luke 24:15 says: "As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them." The Lord today wants to walk with us, and inspire us to greater service for Him. I invite you to continue to be a part of our multifaceted ministry in Guatemala through your prayers and generous donations. Funds are needed to sponsor needy students, plus funds for the building that seems just out of reach, like this beautiful Guatemalan volcano, but ever more necessary to provide better service. If you need an income tax receipt, make your check out to CMM, Christ's Mandate for Missions, P.O. Box 7705, Charlotte, North Carolina 28241. The Director of CMM, Jorge Parrott, is a close friend.

Your brother,
Dr. Samuel Berberian mailto:samuelberberian@hotmail.com

Letter from Sam Berberian - April 26, 2009

2009-05-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

From Sam and Martha Berberian
P.O. Box 1602, 01901 Guatemala, Central America

Telephone: 011 (502) 2478-0634 (home)
Fax: 011 (502) 2443 6582 (home)

Making a difference through preaching, teaching and writing. April 26, 2009
Dear Friends,

After going over my agenda since November, and seeing the diversity of ministry, I remember what I prayed when I was a newly converted teenager: Lord, make me useful! That is a dangerous prayer, because the Lord takes us seriously. Even today the Lord calls us: "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men" (Matt.4:19).

I never imagined the wide variety of ministries God would lead me into over 50 years of serving the Lord: fishing for men through street evangelism, tract ministry, literature distribution, traveling speaker in 36 countries, pastoral ministry (in Lebanon and in Kansas), and now in Guatemala: training Christian leaders since 1977. Martha has been updating and editing my life story, adding more photographs, and, you bet! The title is "Señor, Hazme Útil" (Lord, Make Me Useful).

So, what "useful" activities filled my agenda in recent months? I have traveled five times to the interior with responsibilities as Dean of the School of Theology, because pastors from several major cities have been requesting extensions of theology in their area. Three extensions have already started with much enthusiasm in Zacapa, Jutiapa and Puerto Barrios. My present goal is to train enough teachers who can teach in these extensions. I think you agree with me that a pastor who reads and studies makes a better pastor, and serves his congregation more efficiently.
On the other hand, the Instituto Federico Crowe (Frederick Crowe Institute), graduated 27 students in November, including a pastor's wife, Irma, a grandmother, whose husband, Fermin Cuyuch, graduated from the IFC a few years ago, and recently graduated from the School of Theology (see foto). We are proud of these Guatemalan leaders who didn't give up, but decided, with effort and determination, to complete their high school education and more.

A new school year began mid January, and at the end of February we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Institute and Library, that my wife and I, with a group of Christian professionals, established in 1989. With my wife, my daughters and their children, and a host of former students, we celebrated this unique effort to train leadership, in a country where education has been so limited. One after the other, our graduates (now university students or professionals) expressed the meaningful impact the Institute had in their lives. This is just the hand of the Lord that makes it possible, using donations from many of you to provide sponsorships for needy students.
And the Dr. Núñez Library? Begun with my personal library, it now has 13,000 titles. Let me tell you something: every time I get a call that someone has books to donate for the library, the question is: where do I put them? The library is growing and we expect a miracle of the Lord to give us the right facility (a building of our own) so we can serve God and His people through education as well as through the facilities of the library. There is no greater gratification than when you see someone walking out of the library with a smile and a spark in their eyes, expressing appreciation because they found what they were looking for and promising to come back because there was a lot more available.

The more meaningful for my heart is the privilege to serve the Lord, preaching the Word and counseling with people in different ways. Believe it or not, I am 68 already, an old man, and now I have volunteers to drive for me, taking me to my preaching engagements in the interior. In one of the cases, my son-in-law, Ivan, offered to drive for me to Cobán which is 200 kms away, and then drive back the following day after the preaching engagements were over. It must be God's grace.
Last Sunday our home church had anniversary activities, so I was asked to preach in the three services. Man o man! The third round was a "knock out" for me! Gone is the time when I could preach five times a day and no problem! Today the pastor gave the comment that it was a real blessing, that my being worn out in the third service didn't show. What was so gratifying was that in the services people came forward to accept the Lord as Savior.

Thanks for your prayers, so this old "machine" can still function and be productive on the basis of God's requirements. My prayer for you is that this crisis that we are going through, can reveal in you the Mighty One that can give you maturity to adjust your life and not miss your responsibilities.

Your brother,
Dr. Samuel Berberian mailto:samuelberberian@hotmail.com

Letter from Martha Berberian - April 28, 2009

2009-05-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

LETTER FROM MARTHA BERBERIAN
Guatemala, April 28, 2009

Dear Prayer Partners,

Life is always full of things to learn, and Sam encourages me to keep learning. With the crisis in the world today, we have ample opportunity to study about what happened, how it happened, and pray intensely that God work mightily in the hearts and minds of the world leaders today. It is said that the United States is in trouble because its leaders left aside the Word of God and its teachings, and are harvesting the consequences.

WRITING AND PUBLISHING

It seems that I spend 8-10 hours a day at my desk writing, editing, correcting. Personal letters are part of my ministry. For several years (until he was set free in December) I corresponded with a Christian inmate, unjustly incarcerated, encouraging him to write; God has given him a wonderful writing ministry now. My weekly column comes out in La Palabra newspaper, where I answer questions related to family, studies, church ministry, health, all kinds of topics, and folks comment how they are helped. Who knew when I took that elective typing course in 10th grade that I would get so much good out of it! November 26 I graduated with my Masters in Pastoral Theology (see the picture above), and the following day I began a blog to train Christian professionals to write, with 53 now signed up.

TEACHING. I just finished teaching another course Techniques of Research to the first year students at the Panamerican University School of Theology. I am honored to invest in the intellectual lives of pastors and leaders who are excellent preachers and teachers, but few know how to write a research paper. Actually my job is to help them organize their thinking as they analyze a Guatemalan problem such as domestic violence, adolescent pregnancy, or a church problem. Four pastors weren't there the day the picture was taken. I have enjoyed photography since Sam bought our first camera in 1967, and consider it a ministry because it blesses people.

FAMILY. I enjoy baking with the grandkids, and attending school events, seeing the kids participate in various activities. But mostly we sit on the rug, get out the blocks and make a garage, and put cars inside it. With some of the family living far away, we installed Skype in our computers to be able to chat with Lydia in Argentina, and Steve in Houston.

DOULOS FOUNDATION: Frederick Crowe Institute and Dr. Núñez Library. Many of you know about the Institute that we founded with so much love and effort 20 years ago. Over 800 students have graduated successfully from the excellent high school program we set up, oriented to pastors and leaders. Sam is there every day supervising and guiding. Our constant prayer is that the many Guatemalan adults who never completed high school, will have the determination to study in our Saturday program.

About 40% of our 170 students are from extreme poverty level families who live on less than $250 dollars a month, such as Florinda (see picture right), who completed her studies with honors; her mother is a Bible translator. You can make a difference in a student's life being a donor. We continue to rent a large house in downtown Guatemala City; the 6 classrooms barely hold 15 students each when our goal is 23. We are considering a building in downtown Guatemala City valued at $160,000 dollars and we have 20% in hand. You can be a part of this important project by designating a gift.

THANK YOU for your prayers and gifts. We invite you to be a part of our ministry by praying and giving, perhaps sponsoring a needy student ($300 per year per student), or a gift towards buying a building.

For a tax deductible receipt, write your check to CMM (Christ’s Mandate for Missions) directed by our close friend, Jorge Parrott, and mail to P.O. Box 7705, Charlotte, North Carolina 28241, USA. Telephone: (704) 225-3927. If you don't need a receipt and it is more convenient, you may deposit your gift directly into our Bank of America account. Write us for details.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10: “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel 'Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!…' And God granted his request". God wants to bless you with a larger territory for His glory.

Prayerfully,

Martha Saint-Berberian
To write to me: marthaberberian@yahoo.com

Letter from Martha Berberian - Oct. 23, 2008

2008-11-17T07:44:00.000-08:00

LETTER FROM MARTHA BERBERIAN

Guatemala, October 23, 2008

www.edicionessaber.wordpress.com

Dear Prayer Partners,

Today is my 64^th birthday. Where have all the years gone? Certainly the Lord has been faithful since my early childhood in New Jersey, growing up in North Carolina, moving to Latin America at the age of 11, meeting Sam in Argentina in Bible School, serving the Lord in so many ways since then, and living by faith day by day. (And I am still learning new things, Office 2007, blogs and websites.)

Seven months have gone by since our last letter and I am wondering how have YOU been? Has the Lord blessed you in a special way? Perhaps He entrusted you with an unexpected problem that shook you from complacency and brought you into a new relationship with the Lord. That has been the case, working on my dissertation for 3 years, finally finishing October 1^stwith 150 pages, titled "The need of national authors and publications to develop a truly Guatemalan church". With 2.5 million evangelical Christians (out of a total population of 10 million), you would think that Guatemala would produce a good amount of its own literature. Not so. Less than 2% of the literature in the bookstores is produced by Guatemalan leaders, and the dissertation includes proposals to solve this problem.

WRITING AND PUBLISHING (via our small editorial: Ediciones Sa-Ber).

My weekly column appears in La Palabra with a wide readership, and I am continually editing articles or books for fledgling writers (all in Spanish of course). We decided to reprint a book Sam and I co-wrote on the family a number of years ago, finding it as straight to the point as ever. We scanned the text, added clip art, retitled it Principios para la Familia Integral (Principles for the Integral Family), and are preparing a new cover. It fits our 3 goals: short (64 pages), economical ($3.25), and useful (family orientation).

TEACHING. The end of April I finished teaching the course Techniques of Research to the first year students at the Panamerican University School of Theology, and then for three months I taught an experimental course on the Masters in Theology degree level, guiding the writing of the dissertations of 9 students (5 pastors, 3 university professors, 1 administrator). See the picture above. We had an interesting experience of learning and growing, with one of the students graduating October 2^nd, and several more will graduate in November.

FAMILY. We became great grandparents in July, when Ryan Samuel was born to Kristina and Mark in Houston. The Lord is good. It's unbelievable that Lisa's son Andy is as tall as I am! We are thankful for each of our children and their families. Sam's sister Lydia visited us earlier this month; she and I edited Yenovk Berberian's autobiography (68 pages), adding photographs. Excellent story! Lydia plans to publish it in Spanish in Argentina. See the following picture of Lydia, when visiting the library.

DOULOS FOUNDATION: Frederick Crowe Institute and Dr. Núñez Library

The Institute, founded and supervised by Sam, provides junior and senior high education to pastors and leaders (and other adults) in the Saturday program, as well as providing the same level of education to adolescents in the weekday program. 40% of our 170 students are from extreme poverty level families who live on less than $250 dollars a month. You can make a difference in their lives as a donor. We continue to rent a large house in downtown Guatemala City; the 6 classrooms barely hold 18 students each when our goal is 25. The 13,000 volume library (begun with Sam's personal library in 1989) survives and grows with donations of Spanish books and funds to cover projects. We need funds to digitalize the extensive card catalog.

THANK YOU for your prayers and gifts whether large or small. We invite you to be a part of our ministry by praying and giving, perhaps sponsoring a needy student ($300 per year per student), or a gift for our personal expenses. We want to thank those who have donated towards the building fund, and for library projects. Please send the designation with your donation.

For a tax deductible receipt, write your check to CMM (Christ’s Mandate for Missions) directed by our dear friend, Jorge Parrott, and mail to P.O. Box 7705, Charlotte, North Carolina 28241, USA. Telephone: (704) 225-3927. If you don't need a receipt and it is more convenient, you may deposit your gift directly into our Bank of America account. Write us for details.

Proverbs 11:25: “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

Prayerfully,

Martha Saint-Berberian

Letter from Sam Berberian - Oct 22, 2008

2008-11-17T07:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Since our last letter in March our ministry continues as varied as you can imagine. For example, twice this month I was a guest on Vision Radio; one was a 6:00 to 7:30 a.m. interview on the subject of "Determination". The other program was from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on "How to recognize your vocation", both aimed at young people. In August I taught two workshops in a large congress for youth leaders called Especialidades Juveniles. I was surprised to be included among the three favorite speakers. I wonder if it is the sense of humor, or saying it like it is.

Teaching and Training Leaders for 30 Years
Looking back over 50 years of ministry, 30 of those have been spent in Guatemala, which has become our home, our people. During these past months I have had trips to Escuintla, Baja Verapaz and Mazatenango for meetings or classes, as well as two workshops in San Lucas, teaching a group of some 40 pastors who separate 3 days every 3 months for training. (See the picture, I am on the left in the black suit.) Most in this group have barely 7th grade education so the training needs to be simplified. As you know, I am Dean of the School of Theology of the Panamerican University; I am proud of the pastors and professionals who give priority to training to enhance their ministry for the Lord. Since March, two of my students graduated, one from the graduate, the other from the undergraduate program. In the picture is one of my 2rd year students, Sergio Martinez, pastor of the large church pictured below where I am preaching.

Ministry in churches, schools, retreats, dinners
Sundays I have been speaking in various churches in the Guatemala City area, some of them with 100 members, others are larger, including a Baptist church, Nazarene, Verbo, Central American, and independent groups. I have spoken at several couples dinners, motivating family unity (once team-teaching with my wife), as well as men's breakfast meetings. A couple of months ago I gave the closing message to a large group of pastors and leaders in their international annual retreat. The presence of the Holy Spirit was very evident and touched many lives. I am often invited to speak in schools, either to the teaching staff or to the parents. As you can imagine, I need to be flexible and my style and content is continually changed and adapted according to the need.

Cell phone ministry and counseling
I use my cell phone for personal ministry, so when the phone is ringing (or vibrating), you wonder, like a fireman, what will be the call and you have to be ready to help and guide a pastor, a teacher, someone with a question or problem. For example, a student of mine got stuck while studying a passage in the New Testament with his discipleship group. I was able to give him some ideas from the Greek context that helped the study get on its way again. (You may remember that my mother was Greek and I have spoken Greek since childhood.) Another call came from a former student, leader of a big church, asking for guidance before attending a board meeting. My goal is to be available to help people in need.

Thank you for praying and giving
The description of our ministry that I just gave makes clear we can go on doing this work by the grace of the Lord and your prayer support, so that we be sure and do the job the Lord asks us to do. Only eternity will show how far has gone the investment of our friends in our teaching and preaching ministry through the years. As Paul said to the Corinthians, knowing that our work is not in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15:57-58.

As a closing paragraph, all of us know how long we have been living, but we never know how much is left ahead of us. Please pray for us to be faithful to the Lord, and thank you that your support gives us the means to do the job that God calls us to do, in the Frederick Crowe Institute, Doctor Nunez Library, Panamerican University, or in the churches.

Your brother,
(Dr.) Samuel Berberian samuel.berberian@gmail.com Feel free to send me a note.

Newsletter from Sam and Martha - May 13, 2007

2007-08-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

Making a difference through preaching, teaching and writing.

I see that we owe our dear friends a letter! Evidently we have been too busy “doing” and not much “reporting” about the blessings of God here in Guatemala. After graduations in November last year, Martha went to have an operation so that helped me to slow down some for a couple of weeks, and activities of the end of the year. Starting the New Year, I had a trip to El Salvador for a leadership seminar as well as several preaching engagements before the start of the academic year, which is mid January.

With God’s help, the second week of January we had the start of the classes in the Frederick Crowe Institute, having a new school director. The manager of Doulos Foundation, Margarita Rodriguez (my student of theology back in the 1980s), has set clear goals for this year on matters of administration as well as looking at the possibility of a new building so the whole staff can be consciously involved in this process. Our library of 12,500 volumes (see the picture, with the stacks very close to each other, because of lack of space) could well use the whole space we have now for the institute and library, so you can imagine how tight we are. In the other picture you see how the thousands of newspaper and magazine clippings are collected and bound in black volumes that an investigator can use easily, by topics. Because of our space limitation, it demands careful planning to make things function. So with God’s help we are getting the job done. Thank you for your prayers for us in the decisions we have to make. Our advisors have suggested that when we purchase the property for the library, it can rent class space to the Institute so that can give an income to the library to be self supported.

The good team of teachers has been a motivating force to encourage more students to enroll, even being of a low income. The students have the support of the teachers to help them and encourage them to reach their goals. Plus your financial help, their studies become reality. It is a joy to see among the very poor students excellent minds that are being developed for the Lord. Thank you for your part in sending $250 per year.

In the Panamerican University classes began also in January with the undergraduate and graduate programs. This year we started with a new doctoral program: Sociology of Religion. One of the students is an academic dean of a university and the other student is a consultant for publicity agencies, both who are professionals and actively involved in their churches.

I continue to travel and lead workshops for leaders all the time. In this picture I am giving two talks to 100 pastors and wives in the area of Quiche. Thank you again for being a part of our ministry.

“Whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

Your brother,

(Dr. ) Samuel Berberian

A letter from Martha - May 18, 2007

Sam has been involved with ministry for 50 years now. With our children, we organized a motivating service of thanks to God in April, which dates when Sam was converted in Argentina and began immediately to serve the Lord in street evangelism with other Armenian young men who were also converted. His first ministry was in pushing the sound system cart, setting it up with the record player, and controlling the volume for the microphones. Thousands met Jesus Christ in those 7 years of street ministry.

Sam’s next ministry (actually simultaneous) was with tracts through the mail, sending evangelistic literature all over Argentina to people who requested them. That was hard work but very effectual in winning more people to the Lord through literature.

Sharing with Sam in ministry for these past 42 years of marriage has never been boring. Of course, the first part of our ministry was with books, with the CLC bookstore in downtown Buenos Aires. See the picture. I was expecting Steve at that time. We are still working with books, using them as a tool in ministry, through books we have written, and books that we have collected to share through the medium of our well-stocked library of 12,500 volumes. I need to add that over a 1,000 books are stored in boxes as there is no room for them on the shelves, and they are not repeat titles.

After a two year trip in 25 countries (1968-1969), we were in Buenos Aires for a year, that was when Elizabeth (Lisa) was born.

Our next ministry was in pastoral work, three years in Beirut, Lebanon with the 2nd Armenian Brotherhood Church (see the picture during summer conference). As a young couple with two small children, we gave ourselves wholeheartedly to caring for the congregation.

From there we pastored 3 years in Topeka, Kansas, in English this time, again with special experiences, such as when Sam was a Police Chaplain.

Arriving in Guatemala in August of 1977, our work took a turn toward training leadership. This has been a challenging ministry, to raise up among young people and older people, leaders who know the Word, know their church and know their world, to make a difference. In the picture Sam and I are in a Doulos Foundation session, planning how to help Guatemalans grow spiritually and intellectually, through the Frederick Crowe Institute and the Nunez Library. Thanks for being a part of our ministry.

Income tax receipts are provided by Christ’s Mandate for Missions (CMM), Directed by Jorge and Anna Parrott. Please write your check to CMM and mail to P. O. Box 7705, Charlotte, North Carolina 28241, with a note “For Berberians in Guatemala”.