Armenia\Azerbaijan (MNN) — U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance recently visited Armenia and Azerbaijan, aiming to reinforce the U.S.-brokered peace agreement between the two countries. While the deal focuses on territorial, economic, and transit issues, deeper divisions remain.
Eric Mock with Slavic Gospel Association explains, “It seems like a territorial discussion — a discussion of finance and economics — and certainly the peace plan was born from economics. But that masks the polar-opposite dynamics of Azerbaijan and Armenia.”
Azerbaijan is predominantly Muslim, while Armenia is a long-standing Christian nation. Armenians also carry the deep trauma of the genocide that killed 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire more than a century ago. Today, strong ties between Türkiye and Azerbaijan revive fear and caution among Armenians.
Armenian cross and text (Photo courtesy of Frederico Machado via Unsplash)
Mock adds, “So what has been made as a peace agreement exists, in part, as a détente between the nations, while the deeper roots — ideological and theological — remain.”
Despite political tensions, Mock says the Gospel transcends borders. SGA partners with indigenous churches in both Armenia and Azerbaijan to advance God’s Kingdom. As Mock notes:
“The Church of Christ is a beautiful thing that is about the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom of men.”
In addition to its other efforts, the ministry focuses on training and supporting national missionaries, as well as assisting churches in both countries during outreach initiatives, including Christmas programs.
He adds: “Human preferences, human desires, go away, and you, when all is stripped away, all you have is the Gospel and the hope of the kingdom to come. And it unifies the people towards a common heart.”
As both nations pursue a fragile peace while still grieving their losses, uncertainty about the future creates space for deeper questions. In that space, the church gently walks alongside people, helping them seek answers.
“We’re aware of the tensions between the two countries,” says Mock. “But what I’ve seen is that when those tensions spike — when they’re at their peak — people seek Christ in much greater numbers.”
Please pray that the Armenian and Azerbaijani churches would respond faithfully to these challenges. Ask God to make them a source of hope for their nations.
Visit Slavic Gospel Association website to learn about their work in both countries!
Header photo courtesy of Mart Production via Pexels.
