Our Pastor

Rev. Gregory V. Haroutunian

Badveli Greg and his wife, Sossi, have two children: Mark (born in 2001) and Ani (2003).

Before being installed as the 16th Pastor of First Armenian Church, he served as an associate pastor at First Armenian Presbyterian Church in Fresno and at Dinuba Presbyterian Church, and as the Interim Pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Church of Chicago.

A native of California, he graduated with honors from Stanford University in 1982 in Political Science. After working on Capitol Hill for several years as a Legislative Assistant, Greg moved to the Chicago area where he earned his Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1989. He is also a graduate of the Arrow Leadership International’s class of 2004.

Badveli Greg met Sossi in 1997 when he was on a one-year sabbatical, teaching world history and studying Armenian at Haigazian University in Beirut. Sossi was teaching kindergarten in Ainjar and helping lead their church’s youth ministry. They were married in Ainjar in July of 1999.

Greg has a passion to see Armenians experience an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ, grounded in God’s word and empowered by His Holy Spirit. He’s also committed to seeing the Armenian Evangelical church strongly connected to their legacy: the Armenian community and the Evangelical community, worldwide.

He presently serves on the Board of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, chairing the Evangelism Committee, as well as serving on the John Stott Ministries Board of Directors.

Badveli loves to run & exercise so he can keep up with Mark & Ani. He also enjoys playing guitar, most all sports, travel, reading, current affairs and keeping attuned to the needs of the persecuted church around the world. He appreciates most the all too infrequent quiet time with Sossi.