From Prison to New Life in Christ in Armenia

Davit Hakobyan contacted Hope Media Armenia with questions after watching a YouTube video about Christ’s return. Pastor Zaven Gabrielyan spent more than two hours talking and praying with him at their first meeting at a church in Yerevan, Armenia. Further conversations and Bible studies followed. “That day, the Holy Spirit gave me the right words to comfort him,” Gabrielyan said.

Davit continued studying the Bible with Gabrielyan, sometimes returning after periods away from church. Davit said that, little by little, he left alcohol and other harmful habits behind with God’s help, and he now feels more at peace. Through consistent Bible studies, he eventually chose to be baptized alongside his mother, Margarita.

A YouTube comment leads to Bible study in Yerevan

Gabrielyan, who directed Hope Media Armenia from its launch, created videos and online Bible teaching for the ministry, part of the Hope Channel Network. The teachings that Davit watched were translated and voiced by Gabrielyan. In April 2023, Davit left a comment saying he had questions and wanted to meet someone from the team. Gabrielyan replied with a phone number and an invitation to call. The reply arrived a year to the day after his arrest, Davit said.

Davit went to the Shengavit church on a Saturday evening, and after their conversation and prayer, Gabrielyan invited him to return and get to know the congregation. They later met at a youth gathering, and Davit began attending a series of meetings where the gospel of Jesus was preached.

When Davit responded to an invitation to be baptized, Gabrielyan chose to give him more time. The pastor recalled that Davit sometimes stopped attending church, including an absence of a few months. “But I knew he would return; he was dealing with personal struggles, and I knew he just needed time,” Gabrielyan explained.

Davit told Syuzanna Egiazaryan, director of Hope Media Armenia, that he listened to God’s Word even at work and discussed it with a colleague, who noticed changes in him. His mother also began asking where he went on Saturdays. He invited her to church, and they began attending together.

Margarita, Davit Hakobyan’s mother, is baptized at Lake Sevan, Armenia. She began attending church with her son after asking where he went on Saturdays. Photo: Sargis Avetisyan, Hope Media Armenia.

When Margarita decided to be baptized, Davit still felt he had more to change in his own life before making that commitment. A friend from church asked whether he wanted to be baptized with his mother. He initially declined, then realized he wanted to be baptized too. He called Gabrielyan to talk about whether he was ready, and mother and son were baptized together at Lake Sevan on September 7, 2024.

Gabrielyan recalled a Saturday when Davit approached him after church and said he could tell that the pastor was hurting, even though Gabrielyan was smiling. Davit offered encouragement. “Even when he was carrying his own burdens, he went out of his way to lift others up. That is simply who he is,” Gabrielyan said.

Davit Hakobyan (second from left) sits on a road with three friends. He describes feeling more at peace and having new aspirations for his life. Photo: Courtesy of Davit Hakobyan.

Davit named Philippians 4:13 as his favorite Bible verse: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (NKJV). “I want everyone to know God, because I know how it can change a life!” he told Egiazaryan. He says he talks about his faith always and everywhere, because he received the truth freely and wants to share it freely.