This afternoon I took a couple of the ladies in the office for lunch at one of my favorite Mexican eateries, El Rancho in Westport. Having been there a number of times I am immediately recognized and greeted in Spanish as I come through the door. “’¡Hola! ¿Qué le parecen las decoraciones? ¡Estamos listos!” “Hi! What do you think of the decorations? We’re ready!”

It didn’t take me long to take in the brightly colored decorations that announced the coming of the Cinco de Mayo. I complimented the young woman that beamed a smile at me from behind the counter as she waited for our order. (By the way, the two ladies, Emily [Costa Rican] and Idalia [Mexican] became quick converts to the food at El Rancho. They both had the torta al pastor).

Actually, May 5^th that celebrates the victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862 is only a regional holiday in Mexico and not even a designated national holiday. Many in this country think it is the day that celebrates Mexican independence like our Fourth of July. That would be September 16^th, which is indeed a big holiday in Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is a great marketing campaign by Mexican restaurants in the United States and has become somewhat of a celebration of Mexican heritage for Mexican Americans. This is not unlike Saint Patrick’s Day when everyone in the United States becomes Irish for a day, yet is no big deal in Ireland.

March 17^th, May 5^th, September 16^th and July 4^th – significant dates all. Some cultures such as Latin America often commemorate significant dates by naming streets after them. It is quite common to drive down a boulevard or avenue that bears a date for a name. Significant dates played an important role in ancient Israel. As you read through the books of Moses, Genesis through Deuteronomy, notice that the feast days of Israel are tied to specific dates, and Moses is quite particular to tag events to dates.

I received an email today that profoundly moved me and made me aware of a specific date that I hope I never forget – April 24^th. A friend of mine, Edgar Sureniam, forwarded me a copy of a brief article entitled “The Saddest April 24^th in history.” Edgar is an Armenian/Argentine pastor and mission leader on an international scale. I’m happy to say that he and wife Sonia will be with us Kansas City for the first few days of June, and he will be speaking to our Spanish ministries. But why is this date so sad?

Armenia is one of the most ancient of all civilizations and people. Genesis says that Noah’s ark came to rest on Mount Ararat. Mount Ararat was once included in Armenia that at its height stretched from the Caspian to the Mediterranean Sea. Noah’s son Japheth had a grandson named Togarmah. Tradition says that Togarmah’s son Hayk established himself in the highest parts of the Ararat range and became the founder of the Armenian people. The ancient historian Herodotus, however, argues that the Armenians were Europeans who roamed Asia Minor until settling in Uratu (Armenia). Whatever the case, the Armenians figure prominently in all ancient history and were people of great influence.

It’s a long story, but a missionary named Gregory (Gregory the Illuminator or Enlightener) endured persecution and eventually won and baptized Trdat, King of Armenia. Gregory founded the Holy Apostolic Armenian Church and Armenia, not Rome, became the first nation to declare Christianity as its official religion.

Fast forwarding through the following centuries of Armenia suffering to various degrees under a succession of foreign rulers, Armenian problems intensified in the 1800’s under the Ottoman Turks. In response to a nationalistic movement, between 1884 and 1886 the Turks massacred over 300,000 Armenians, many of whom were burned alive in churches where they sought refuge. Despite worldwide outrage, the problem persisted. In 1909 30,000 more Armenians were assassinated in the area of Adana. But it was on the 24^th of April, 1915 that the beginning of a calculated plan to exterminate the Armenians was put into play by a group of progressives known as the Young Turks who had also just assassinated the Ottoman Sultan a few years earlier. One and half million Armenians lost their lives in the first genocide of the Twentieth Century. To this day Turkey denies that this took place. Just today the new Armenian President vowed to continue efforts to gain recognition of the genocide.

The evidence of the genocide is the wave of survivors who fled and immigrated to places around the world. My favorite and most brilliant college teacher was an Armenian history professor. Many Armenians found refuge in the southern countries of South American where a network of evangelical Armenian churches flourishes to this day, including my friend Edgar.

Dates have power to evoke many emotions. Mention March 17^th and you may be offered green beer; Cinco de Mayo may get you a Margarita. Mention April 24^th to an Armenian and you will probably get anger and/or tears.

Could dates also be powerful prayer reminders? On May 5^th would you pause and pray for the evangelization of Mexico? Much progress has been made in the past several decades, but there are still many areas of this fabulous country that need the Gospel. Pray for the many Mexican pastors who continue to be bi-vocational and struggle to find time to pastor, improve their training and education and raise their families. Pray for KCBT’s ministry of Que Dice la Biblia that helps to train hundreds of Mexican pastors and leaders.

On March 17^th, pray for the evangelization of Ireland. Ireland has experienced great economic development in the past decade or two, but needs equal spiritual development. Pray for pastors and missionaries who tirelessly work to take good news back to this nation that at one time was a great sending nation of missionaries.

Use April 24^th to pray for the Armenian people – those who remain in the Middle East and those who have been scattered around the world. Pray for these strong Armenian churches to reach not only their own people, but for some who have even organized efforts to reach the Turks with the Gospel!

Aside from birthdays and anniversaries, what are some significant dates in your life and why? How can they be positive reminders in your life? Have you ever thought about that?

Stay tuned tomorrow and I’ll see if I can tell you the amazing testimony of my Armenian friend Edgar.