The internet can very quickly bring together like-minded people from all over the world. If you desire it strongly enough, you can even become a Christian blogger and gain a target audience by offering people something useful and right.
Our School of Agape Love has become one of the channels of God’s blessings on the internet for those who desire to study the Heavenly science of Agape and gain friends. Thirsting souls from all over the world have been gathered beneath God’s wings. And we understand that behind every online participant stands a living person with his or her own distinctive qualities.
But online communication is unable to convey many beautiful feelings that can be expressed in a face-to-face meeting.
One day, a suggestion was voiced in our School as well: ‘Let’s meet!’ We began anticipating the advantages of such a turn of events and assessing the situation. Why not?
As a meeting place, Brother Arsen offered his small home in Yerevan. He said that the accommodations for guests were not very good, but anyone seeking an exotic experience could come in September 2022. Surprisingly, a great many people responded immediately, undeterred by the crowded conditions or other adventures. The meeting announcement had to be removed because even the number of those who had already responded proved to be very large.
We had to take a step of faith and begin thinking about organizational matters. Making a suggestion is one thing; actually gathering together is another. But things had been set in motion, and we did not want to change or cancel anything.
The Lord saw our problem and moved the hearts of some of Arsen’s acquaintances to let us use, free of charge for the duration of the meeting, a three-story house with every convenience.
Everything indicated that the meeting was meant to take place, and we began having interesting experiences in which the impossible became real. Those who were initially not allowed to leave home asked us to pray about their circumstances, that the Lord would change the course of events and intervene in the matter. To our joy, we saw answers to our prayers arrive, and every path opened even for those who had been unable to travel.
Then the next step was taken: tickets were purchased, suitcases were packed, and we were on our way. There it was—Armenia! The meeting place for friends from the School of Agape Love.
Our anticipation of this meeting contained an element of mystery, because no one imagined what it would be like, what we were really like, or what awaited us within one another’s personal space. But each of us decided to bring our own ‘good’ with us and share it with our online friends, who were now becoming real-life friends as well.
Upon arriving, we realized that we had entered Heaven—a little piece of the Heavenly Country about which we had dreamed for so long. Our cozy house became a branch of the Heavenly Kingdom in which the Lord placed all of us for the duration of our meeting.
I had never before seen so many happy people together within a single square meter.
Joy, delight, laughter, hospitality, and the desire to serve another person—all this became the customary atmosphere of our meeting. The desire to be happy and impart the same spirit to those around us became the norm and the unwritten law of our stay there.
‘I feel as though I am still dreaming!’ Statements like this could be heard quite often from many of those present. I myself also wanted to believe that it was not a dream. The reality was that here, beside one another, we were not merely doing well—we were doing exceedingly well.
‘Hug therapy’ became our morning greeting and a way to keep our spirits high throughout the day. Words of love, friendliness, joy, and delight became so customary and natural that we no longer wanted to grow unaccustomed to them.
We ate twice a day, but each meal was such a beautiful celebration for both body and soul, and nourished both so well, that we wanted it to continue forever. During our meals, we partook not only of the gifts of nature, but also of one another.
This is how it worked. We sat down to eat at one table, prayed for God’s blessing upon the food, and then chose the most delightful fresh friend and began to ‘partake’ of that person, savoring the taste of life within our hearts. One by one, we told each other what we liked about the chosen person, how wonderful that person was in Jesus, how many hidden treasures were within, and how joyful we were that this person was part of our lives. It was very interesting to observe those of whom we were ‘partaking.’ On the face of the listening ‘food item,’ one could see amazement, gratitude, and joy taking shape in response to the sincerity we gave while savoring our delightful friend.
We cannot describe in words all the joy that came from recognizing God’s blessing and His presence in our relationships. But we were experiencing it then, and throughout our lives we will carry the memory of how simply we can have paradise on this Earth by creating it with our own hands and with love for one another.
Although there was not enough room for everyone to sleep comfortably, for the sake of the joy of our meeting and fellowship with one another, we were prepared to endure anything, if only we could remain within this blessing and be a blessing to others.
We understand that this world has prepared various trials for us in order to deprive us of Heavenly joy. But at that moment, we were thinking about what other good thing we could do for a friend so that our fellowship would bring that person joy.
We also experienced some amusing moments. After coming out of the forest, we did not know how we would get home. Then we decided that all of us would ride into the city in Arsen’s car and walk from there. Fourteen people fit into a five-passenger car. What we experienced during that time is difficult to describe in words. It seemed as though Heaven had opened in order to gladden our hearts. Even in such extreme crowding, we managed to sing the beautiful song ‘The Mowers in the Meadow.’ Getting out of the car was also amusing as we watched the astonishment of onlookers. After all, it is not customary for fourteen people to ride through Yerevan in one car.
How good it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together—in unity, in love for one another, in the desire to serve, and in the joy of fellowship! Trials and hardships will someday enter every life, but at that moment we were within the atmosphere of Heaven, imagining that we would experience something similar there, where our Dear Jesus is waiting for us and preparing a place for our Eternal joy.
All our joy in one another poured out in prayers of thanksgiving to our dear Lord, in enthusiastic singing, in our embraces, and in words of love. Heaven became so close and desirable, and all the glory for this belongs to Jesus.
When I read about the satisfaction with which He shall see the travail of His soul, I can already imagine it in part as I observe my friends who decided to enroll in the School of Agape Love and learn what they were now sharing so actively with one another. Even one day spent in such an atmosphere leaves a deep impression upon the heart. You see that someone in this world needs you, that people are sincerely glad to see you and glad that you exist, that you have people whom you love, and that they love you in return.
This is where our education in the School has led us. To our mutual amazement, we came to love one another. But this was exactly what should have been expected, because it was what we had been learning from the very first lesson. It would be surprising to see cactus sprouts growing where love had been sown.
How I wish there were more and more of us, and that all God’s people would buy and come to know what the Faithful Witness so graciously invites us to buy.
Bible Verses for Reflection
Psalm 133:1; Acts 2:1, 44–47; 1 Peter 1:22; John 13:34–35; 15:12–13, 17–19; Psalm 105:42–45; Nehemiah 12:43; Proverbs 8:28–31; Isaiah 35:10; 61:10; Jeremiah 15:16.