A partner report from Akop & Svetlana
Dear friends and partners,
We are home after nearly eight weeks of travel through Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Poland, and Norway. Thank you for praying, giving, following our updates, and encouraging us. You helped send us, and we felt that we did not travel alone.
The journey was intentionally exploratory. We did not enter each country with a fixed program or a detailed list of expected results. We went to listen, reconnect with people, discover needs, and discern what God might be preparing. We returned with greater clarity about the message and calling before us. We are still praying through the structure, timing, and practical transition of the next season. Here is what we have seen so far.
God had already begun something in me before we left. During the journey, every opportunity to preach and serve gave me more confidence that I can do what He has called me to do.
Before leaving, I felt like an old tool that had become a little rusted. The tool was not broken and had not lost its purpose; it needed oil, sharpening, and regular use. Preaching again reminded me how much I enjoy it. This trip started that sharpening, and I want to keep preaching, preparing new messages, and growing in the freedom and strength of that gift.
At the youth conference in Bishkek, we met young people and leaders from across Central Asia who were eager to serve. Throughout the journey, I found myself returning again and again to Matthew 9 about Jesus seeing the crowds and speaking of the harvest. Pastors we met after services in almost every country we visited told us that this message was timely and important for their people. Their response encouraged me to keep developing and preaching it.
What impressed me most during this journey was God and people. I was touched by every person who chose to be part of it: your faithfulness, friendship, love, trust, prayers, and financial support. Some people supported us in ways we never expected. Akop and I are deeply grateful to each of you.
We knew we wanted to attend the youth conference in Bishkek, return to our family and spiritual roots in Armenia, and finish in Norway with time to pray and reflect. Much of the rest was unknown. Yet in every country, we saw meetings and relationships come together that we could not have arranged ourselves, especially with so little time. I kept thinking of a great orchestra. Different people and circumstances each had a part to play, and together they made one beautiful melody. Even Bulgaria and Poland, which we added later, seemed to have people and opportunities waiting for us.
We had planned Norway as a place to rest and gather our thoughts. Two days before we left, Akop spoke by phone with a minister we had never met. His wife, Anna, was listening, and within the first few minutes she began speaking prophetic words to us. She said we needed to hoist our sails because the wind of the Holy Spirit would blow strongly, not through our own ability but through His power. We arranged to meet in person. While we were walking together, Anna shared another picture — a catapult: she saw God catapulting us forward. For me, those words were a powerful confirmation to keep moving forward and trust the Holy Spirit for what comes next.
“Hoist your sails — the wind of the Holy Spirit will blow strongly, not through your own ability but through His power.”— a word shared with us in Norway
I also came home encouraged that God can still use us. We met people serving in churches, evangelism, youth ministry, media, humanitarian work, and leadership. I do not think we are supposed to do everything. But I do not want us to decide too soon that our place is only in one area.
More than anything, I came home grateful to God for leading us and to every person who walked with us.
As we reflect on everything God showed us during RESET, we can see that our ministry identity is beginning to take a clearer and more distinctive shape. The message of the harvest remains central, but we also recognize that this message is carried by many ministries around the world. Our desire is not simply to use familiar language, but to understand the unique contribution God may be asking us to make.
Our unique contribution may include:
We still need to clarify the language, brand, and public expression of this identity — but we can already see its shape beginning to emerge.
Reconnecting with longtime friends in ministry was refreshing, and we are grateful for the new relationships that began. In Armenia, Akop spent time with Pastor Raphael, his first pastor in the underground church of his childhood, and had the privilege of preaching in his church. That visit connected his earliest memories of faith with the work he senses ahead.
We came home with important relationships to care for across several countries, along with a number of future ministry opportunities that were discussed during the journey. None of these are being presented as finalized or scheduled events yet, but they are more than casual ideas. In several places, local leaders expressed genuine interest in continuing the relationship and exploring specific opportunities together.
Some of the possibilities currently in view include:
We also hope to strengthen connections with churches and friends in the United States, including in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and North Carolina.
We do not yet know which of these opportunities will become the next assignment, or in what order. We want to move carefully and prayerfully rather than simply filling a calendar. As we consider each opportunity, we want to ask: Is this aligned with what God is asking us to do? Is there a trusted local relationship? Can it produce lasting fruit? Do Svetlana and I both have peace about it? Is it financially and physically sustainable? And is there a meaningful way to follow up afterward?
Our conviction from Romans 10 is that those who send are part of the mission. During RESET, your prayers, messages, and giving made that conviction tangible to us. You helped us go, and you stayed connected while we traveled.
Mission Companion helped us share the journey as it unfolded and keep track of giving and expenses while we were on the road. We learned together how valuable that connection and clarity can be. We are encouraged by the possibility of developing this tool to serve other missionaries and their partners, and we know there is more work ahead.
We are preparing a financial report for the journey. Once it is finalized, financial partners will be able to review it in the Financial tab of Mission Companion.
Our first season at home is a time for prayer, reflection, and preparation.
Alongside the ministry opportunities ahead, we also understand that this next season requires practical structure. Several friends have already asked us very direct questions: Will Akop return to regular work? Are we planning to establish our own ministry organization? How will we support ourselves financially while giving proper time to ministry and Mission Companion? These are important questions, and we are taking them seriously.
One of our next steps is to begin exploring the formation of a Florida nonprofit that could provide a clear structure for future ministry activity, missions, partner support, donations, and events. Before moving forward, we want to carefully consider the name, purpose, leadership, governance, and financial accountability so that whatever we build is healthy and sustainable from the beginning.
At the same time, we are working through our own financial plan for this new season. Our goal is not simply to avoid returning to old patterns of work, but to create a responsible and sustainable balance between household needs, income, ministry, Mission Companion, and the time required to develop what God has placed in front of us. We do not have every answer yet, but we want our partners to know that we are planning carefully, asking the right questions, and taking practical responsibility for the next season.
We invite you to continue partnering with us. Please pray for wisdom and focus. If you are able to continue supporting our ministry financially, your partnership will help us prepare and serve as the right opportunities become clear. We will keep sharing what we learn and where we are going.
Thank you for walking with us through RESET. We are grateful to God for you.
With love,
Akop & Svetlana