The people of Armenia – the world’s oldest Christian nation – are anointed to be a light to the nations despite every attempt by Satan to wipe them out, said a South African-based missionary who wants to connect SA Christians with churches and ministries in the strategically-located West Asian country.
In a phone interview from Armenia this week, Brother Marko Kiroglu shared about a move of the Holy Spirit that he is witnessing among Evangelical churches in the only Christian country in the volatile region – surrounded by Muslim Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and the former Soviet republic of Georgia.
For over 10 years after God put Armenia on their hearts, Turkish-national Marko and his South African wife, Elzeth, prayed steadfastly for the nation. Then, in 2023, Marko visited Armenia for the first time, ministering in six packed churches during his 5-day visit. On his second visit in 2025 he was whisked from the airport to the pulpit without time to shower. “I started preaching at 5pm and they kept me busy ministering until 1am.” He said that 10-day visit was so fruitful in terms of preaching the Gospel and building relationships with churches that he and Elzeth decided to return to the country for a longer period with their three children.
The family moved to Armenia six months ago – not knowing how long they would stay or exactly what they would be doing, said Marko. He said God gave them “a little bit of His heart for the Armenian people” who have never denied Him despite going through hell – persecution, genocide, Soviet occupation, displacement – for over 200 years.“Their hearts are really open to Jesus. They are hungry for someone to come and speak to them about Jesus.”
He said that he has been ministering to churches and in villages almost daily since arriving in Armenia. Many nights I start ministering at about seven in the evening, and I’m back home only about one o’clock.” And Elzeth has been busy ministering to Armenian and Iranian women. “We have probably seen more fruits of the work in these six months than the last five years in South Africa,” he said.
As the only Christian nation in the region, Armenia is a temporary shelter for Christians from other nations, said Marko. Many Christians from Iran, where Christianity is spreading despite severe persecution, have made their way to Armenia. There are also many Russian-speaking people from nearby countries, as well as Ukrainians and people of other nationalities who come seeking work.
He said: “The Church in Armenia is more and more aligning herself to be able to evangelise whoever comes into their country. Sometimes they start a new church only for Indian-speaking people so that they can serve them in their language. So there are many different projects and each church has their own conviction about how they must serve.”
He said: “They probably are the most naturally-qualified people to evangelise Iranians, the Turks, the Middle East, all the Russian-speaking world. They fit in perfectly well and they are positioned here by God.”
He said he believes that the model of partnering with God’s people in a specific country for the sake of extending the Kingdom is the most feasible approach for this era. “It requires a high level of humility. It’s not about me making my mark, getting a medal to wear on my neck but about working together for the Kingdom of God.”
He said that he will be returning to South Africa with his family in mid-April and plans to tour the country in May and June to find people interested in becoming part of a South Africa-Armenia ministry partnership. “I will visit interested churches and inform them and if there are pastors who want to travel with me to Armenia on my next trip we can do that.”
“If anyone in South Africa tells me ‘I have a heart for Iranians, I have a heart for Muslims, I have a heart for Turks, I have a heart for Russians, I have a heart for Azeris,’ I say, okay, my brother, the gateway to all those people is Armenia,” said Marko.
Anybody interested in making contact with Marko now can email him at marko@countdowntochrist.com, visit his website at www.countdowntochrist.com or call him at +27 79 476 5335.
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