June 24, 2006
On Saturday, May 20, Der Stepanos Doudoukjian, Director of Youth and Vocations at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and lifelong New York Mets fan, brought the third annual St. Nersess Mini Conference to Detroit.
This year he reached out to students from 7th to 12th grade in the form of a spiritual softball game. College students came to help facilitate the day, and blue skies and warm weather set the stage for a day of fun, fellowship and learning.
Graciously planned by Patty Kezelian, the day began with an All-American barbecue. As the students arrived and greeted their friends, college students manned the grill making the "best hot dogs and burgers ever" for the group.
On Saturday, May 20, Der Stepanos Doudoukjian, Director of Youth and Vocations at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and lifelong New York Mets fan, brought the third annual St. Nersess Mini Conference to Detroit.
This year he reached out to students from 7th to 12th grade in the form of a spiritual softball game. College students came to help facilitate the day, and blue skies and warm weather set the stage for a day of fun, fellowship and learning.
Graciously planned by Patty Kezelian, the day began with an All-American barbecue. As the students arrived and greeted their friends, college students manned the grill making the "best hot dogs and burgers ever" for the group.
"Let's play ball!," Der Stepanos shouted after lunch. He explained how baseball could be used to speak about the game of life. What is most important: The game? The people? What is your most joyous moment? What is your saddest or most challenging moment? Faith in Christ is the common thread through the moments of the game, and God walks with us from the first pitch to the final bat.
The two teams respectfully picked their names. Fr. Garabed Kochakian, Pastor of St. John's Armenian Church and captain of the "Medz G's" played "Khajag's All Stars". The bases were faith, hope and love all experienced in order to get us to home plate, the cross. Der Garabed shared his thoughts on love. Faith gives us hope, and with hope it's easy to love and to reach the cross, heaven.
In a few extra seventh-inning stretches, the group came together on the pitching mound to discuss further the important parts of the game. Jaclyn Assarian shared her thoughts on faith. Questions were raised such as, what is faith? In your everyday life when bad things happen, or you run into negative people, how does your faith help? Jaclyn described how, in her experiences, she felt God watching over her.
In the second "stretch" Sara Andonian reflected on hope. She gave examples of hope versus wishful thinking in our daily lives. "Hope is anticipation with patience, the Christian hope of the second coming and heaven," she said, adding, "with faith we have a hopeful future with the Armenian Church as our foundation."
In a few extra seventh-inning stretches, the group came together on the pitching mound to discuss further the important parts of the game. Jaclyn Assarian shared her thoughts on faith. Questions were raised such as, what is faith? In your everyday life when bad things happen, or you run into negative people, how does your faith help? Jaclyn described how, in her experiences, she felt God watching over her.
In the second "stretch" Sara Andonian reflected on hope. She gave examples of hope versus wishful thinking in our daily lives. "Hope is anticipation with patience, the Christian hope of the second coming and heaven," she said, adding, "with faith we have a hopeful future with the Armenian Church as our foundation."
Harry Kezelian offered the last "7th inning stretch" on the topic of the Cross. He shared his thoughts on the cross we all have to bear, to follow Jesus, and that Jesus died on the cross for us so that we can be saved.
By this point, many who thought they weren't good baseball players figured out that it in this game it really didn't matter!
Der Stepanos, still sporting his Mets cap, and pitching on the mound for Khajag's All Stars, summed up the message of the day.
By this point, many who thought they weren't good baseball players figured out that it in this game it really didn't matter!
Der Stepanos, still sporting his Mets cap, and pitching on the mound for Khajag's All Stars, summed up the message of the day.
"To get to home plate--heaven--Jesus throws us the ball from the mound. We sometimes miss the ball or even get hit by it. It can even be a curve ball. But when we focus and make the hit, we can get to home. As Christians, we pray, learn and grow in the Lord. Through it all, God is with us. By day's end, the "Medz G's" won! The final score was 12-6. Actually, everyone was a winner in the game of life on this day. They learned, had lots of fun and everyone left with smiles on their faces. Who would have thought that you could learn about your faith while on the baseball field?The players were: Danielle Kalajian, Katie Kalajian, Alex Hachigian, Amy Parks, Rosemary Matossian, Anahid Matossian, Margarite Matossian, Chris Sarkesian, Sako Manavdjian, Gregory Boyajian, Jeff Movsesian, Emily Movsesian, Anna Mamassian, Leah Mamassian, Brittany Durham, Natalie Jamian and Brent Palaian.
Helping out as well were college students: Jaclyn Assarian, Steve Assarian, Michael Mamassian, Harry Kezelian, Michael Kezelian, Micher Pifer, Dircan Callan and Raffi Boyajian.
On Saturday evening St. John's Parish sponsored an Armenian dance to benefit a parish fund which subsidizes youth from the parish to participate in the St. Nersess youth conferences.
Helping out as well were college students: Jaclyn Assarian, Steve Assarian, Michael Mamassian, Harry Kezelian, Michael Kezelian, Micher Pifer, Dircan Callan and Raffi Boyajian.
On Saturday evening St. John's Parish sponsored an Armenian dance to benefit a parish fund which subsidizes youth from the parish to participate in the St. Nersess youth conferences.
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