THE PROPHETIC WORDS OF REV. ANTRANIK A. BEDIKIAN

Reading about AMAA in Armenia this year, at the 175th anniversary of the Armenian Evangelical Church, the prophetic words of Rev. ANTRANIG BEDIKIAN came to my mind.  He uttered them - posted in the text - during the 17th annual meeting of the Armenian Evangelical Union as it laid the founding of the AMAA on June 7, 1918, in the Armenian Church of the Martyrs, in Worcester, MA.

 The quote is from of Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian’s book “The Genesis and Early Development of the Armenian Missionary Association of America”. I also took the liberty of posting the last chapter of the book as well, which Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian labeled: “Rev. Antranik A. Bedikian: Founder and Crusader of the AMAA”..

Rev. Antranik A. Bedikian: Founder and Crusader of the AMAA

Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian

 

"Rev. Bedikian was a larger -than-life person, whose accomplishments are more than enough to fill several lifetimes, let alone that of one individual. Rev. Bedikian had a remarkable talent and energy; he was a most versatile and multi-talented Armenian Evangelical minster.

Endowed with numerous qualities of greatness, Rev. Bedikian played a giant role in the life of the Armenian Evangelical Church. He was a towering personality and a natural leader, whose words and acts stand out on almost every page of the annals of Armenian Evangelism, from 1915 until his retirement from public life in the early 1970’s. 

Bedikian witnessed, played a key role in the founding of the AMAA in 1918, and its incorporation as a New York based charitable organization in 1920. He was the major spirit that generated enthusiasm and zeal for missions and was instrumental in making the Association respond in loving ways to the heartbreaking calls for help from the Middle East and Europe.

Courtesy Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian, "The Genesis and Early Development 
of the Armenian Missionary Association of America" (2018)

For almost a quarter of a century, from 1938 to 1947, Rev. Bedikian served the AMAA as a hard-working volunteer in various capacities, such as executive secretary, recording secretary of the council, which surveyed overseas needs, editor of the AMAA publications, and public relations man and campaigner for funds, a package of talents few men could qualify to fill. 

Born in 1885, in Bardizag, Turkey, Rev. Bedikian’s roots lay in his early nurture in a pastor’s home. His father, the Rev. Arakel Bedikian (Kissag), presented the model of the pastor-scholar. Following in that tradition the younger Rev. Bedikian became a keen observer, and a perceptive analyst of our culture and society. He was one of the most notable Armenian clergymen, who provided a prophetic vision for the Armenian community by bringing to the Armenian community by bringing to the human scene a depth, philosophical and spiritual reflection. His sermons, lectures and writings had a profound impact on many people. He became a legend in his own time. 

Following his graduation from Robert College of Istanbul and the University of Chicago, Rev. Bedikian served only one church during his long and distinguished ministry: The Armenian Evangelical Church of New York.

For 38 years actively, for a longer period of time practically, Rev. Bedikian was the mainspring of the Armenian Evangelical Church of New York. He was a scholar, historian, a prolific writer, editor, crusader, social worker, and community leader. He was this, in addition to being a prominent pastor and father to his people.

A man of unshakable faith, Rev. Bedikian changed the shape of the Armenian Evangelical community for the better in many ways, great and small, through the force of his character and integrity of his beliefs. His influence upon the Armenian Evangelical Union and the Missionary Association stamps him as one of the few epochal figures in the Armenian Evangelical Church. Authoritatively and unequivocally, he affirmed his philosophy even though sometimes this aroused fierce antagonism in some people. However, he never ceased to be the subject of universal respect and admiration in our constituency. 

He was affectionately called “Father Bedikian.” For those who were his colleagues in the 1950s and 1960s, Rev. Bedikian was known to them as “The ministers’ minister.” When they needed guidance, they turned to Rev. Bedikian for wise and patient counsel. But he was also the “minister’s minister” because he was himself a serious preacher, an erudite scholar, and a great writer.  His writings were part of a lifelong preoccupation, which epitomize, as did their author, the best of the Armenian Evangelism. He strove to make the biblical truth available to all in language and vocabuly that were familiar, but never at the sacrifice of authenticity. 

A great Evangelical leader in his own right, the versatile Rev. Bedikian nonetheless directed his innumerable talents toward all Armenians, channeling them through organizations such as the Armenian General Benevolent Union, National Association of Armenian Studies and Research, Knights of Vartan, and many other denominational, community, literary, patriotic, and religious organizations, too many to count.  

One of Rev. Bedikian’s greatest contributions to the AMAA and to the Armenian Evangelical constituency worldwide was his spearheading of the 100^th Anniversary celebration of the Armenian Evangelical Church in 1946. The goal of the financial campaign was to raise $100,000. The actual sum raised surpassed the goal; the campaign raised $150,000. This financial success not only boosted the AMAA but also the Armenian Evangelical churches. It made the AMAA self-sufficient. Henceforth it did not depend on ECAM; it became an independent agency helping the Armenian Evangelical churches. 

The Centennial celebration was indeed a turning point for both AMAA and the Armenian Evangelical churches. It ushered a new era in the history of the Armenian Evangelical Church.

 

Testimonial Dinner in Honor of Rev Antranig A. Bedikian
April 30, 1955