Episode 94: Rev. Father Andrew and Mrs. Nenwe Aziz

In the name of the glorious Trinity, Father and Son and Holy

Spirit, forever Amen. Glory be to the everlasting

mercies which sent you to us. O Christ, the light of the world

and the life of all. Give us wisdom by Your law and

enlighten our impulses by Your knowledge.

Sanctify our souls by Your truth and grant that we may be

obedient to Your words and may fulfill Your commandments at

every hour. O You who enlightens the

rationale with the knowledge of Your greatness, do enlight, O my

Lord, our thoughts, that we may meditate upon Your holy and

divine Scriptures at all times. O Lord of all, Father and Son

and Holy Spirit, forever. Amen.

A heartfelt thank you and gratitude to all our brothers

and sisters, our beloved listeners, for their expression

of joy and pleasure in the interview that was arranged and

conducted with our beloved patriarch.

He's holding a smart hour, the third Catholicos patriarch.

A great thank you to our producers who put that interview

together. And I know that many of you

liked it and you've shared it and you've loved it and many

comments. Great feedback and thank you and

God bless you. We like when we hear from you

and when we you know, we get your feedback so that we can

only better this program, these episodes and only for one reason

1 focal focal purpose, which is for the glory of God and the

salvation of our souls. Today we are blessed one more

time with the interview that we're going to conduct with our

two beloved brothers and sisters very well known within the youth

community of the same Church of the East North America, all the

diocese. The names will not be strange to

you. And we are recording currently

at the 36th Annual Youth Conference of the Ascent Church

of the East, North America. And we the producers saw that it

was a great opportunity to speak with these lovely people and to

get to know them, to get to hear their beautiful voices.

We've, we've done 35,000 sound checks.

So it's great and to ask them questions.

And I believe and I pray that I will ask the questions that are

on your minds, minds and on your heart.

My beloved newly ordained one week, one week ago.

Well, this will be Monday. So my one week or two weeks ago,

newly ordained priest, my beloved brother, Rabbi Kasha

Roman Father Andrew Aziz. Rabbi, welcome.

Rabbi Kasha, thank you very much for the kind and warm welcoming.

It's my honor and joy, and I'm very humbled to be on this

podcast for the second time. I believe it was last year at

the 35th Conference in Sacramento that I was also

blessed to be on the podcast with you as we discussed last

year's theme and the overall conference.

So it's it's my joy and pleasure to be with you again.

So you've been on the episode before?

I have. Oh.

So this is not new. No, no, no.

OK. Well, this changes the mood now.

Now. Yeah.

And also our beloved first lady, my sister Ninva Aziz.

Misses Ninve Aziz. Welcome, Khati.

I know the first time on episode.

We'll be. We'll be gentle with you.

We'll be kind with you. Thank you, Ravi.

Yeah, my first time on the podcast.

I heard you were very, very excited to be on the podcast.

Very excited. Yeah, a little nervous, but I'm

excited. Next, and I'll give you the $100

afterwards. OK, let's get straight into it.

Rabbi Kasha Aziza. Rabbi Kasha means teacher,

priest, beloved Rabbi Kasha, the 36th annual conference, the

youth conference hosted by the Diocese of Western USA and in

the city of Irvine in California.

You both are very much involved. Please give me a rundown of the

conference and the preparations and where we are at at the

moment. This is we're recording on

Saturday. Sunday.

Oh, this is Sunday, today is Sunday, today is Sunday.

I'm sorry. So yes, we had the Holy

Eucharist and the party's going on downstairs, right?

And we're here, we are talking to each other every conducting

interview. Steven, timing.

You got to look at timing. So yes, just a rundown on the

conference thus far, please. Yeah.

So I want to take it back to the first thing you just mentioned,

the 36th annual. This is something that is

really, really an amazing effort by the entire Church of the

East. That's something that we see the

fruits of the, the, the the conference had a do.

There was a today, there was an ordination of some of the youth

deacons that belong to one of our parishes in in the diocese

from Saint Mary's and two youth members were ordained to one was

elector, one was a sub Deacon. And as I was in the altar, I

looked down and there was about 14 other sub deacons from across

the across the other diocese. And that shows the fruitful acts

that we see from, from the, from the conference itself.

I think it has, it's played a, it's played a vital role in its

development and the nurturing, the spiritual nurturing that we

see from our, our young brothers, primarily those that

are receiving the, the ranks in the church.

And then also from, from those that aren't receiving ranks.

And then from, from our beloved sisters as well.

That, that we see their, their zeal, their, their passion for

their church, for their, for their Lord and, and for serving,

wanting to serve in the church and, and we see their constant,

you know, participation in all of the, in all of the

conferences and, and they're in the back in their parishes as

well. So we look back when we began

planning this conference about a year and a half ago, two years

ago, when, when we knew it was in the diocese.

Archdeacon, you at the at the moment, at the time he was core

Bishop and you know, he he elected, he selected me to be

the chairman of the conference and my wife and then why we've

we've worked well together in our parish with with the youth

community and you know, she was able to help me form a

subcommittee of conference planning and and for about a

year and a half, we've been all in constant communication.

One thing about our diocese is that we're spread across four

different states, California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas.

But thankfully for technology, we've been able to work together

and simultaneously really put our minds and efforts together

to bring this conference to fruition.

So today, like you mentioned this Sunday, we began our our

conferences obviously on the first day with with the

welcoming. But to take a step back, we're

looking at the theme, the theme of this year that was selected

by the NEC, the National Executive Committee.

On which rabbit Asha is the secretary?

Yes, yes, I, yes, I am. And the theme was Thy will be

done from our Lord's Prayer in Matthew chapter 6, how it was

Matthew 6 · chapter mention

like we say that will be done. And the lectures gave, I think,

amazing lectures on the Friday and Saturday of the conference.

And we've been receiving very, very positive feedback from all

680 attendees. That was also a record-breaking

number that we've had at this conference.

So just just the very basic structure that we that we are so

used to now with this conferences.

But it's always refreshing and, and such a beautiful sight to

see all of the new faces and, and the old faces that we see

them grow that every, you know, year by year that passes their

own spiritual development and, and we know the work, we see the

work that they do in their own parishes.

So it's something that's very positive and and very

encouraging to see everybody coming together and, and, and

enjoying the conference itself. So Friday, Saturday we had our

own programs. Friday we had the dinner with

with our patriarch, His Holiness Marawa the 3rd and Saturday we

had classes. We had a sports picnic that went

very very well. It was the best one.

It was the best one. Why?

No dancing, no music, no, it was the best.

But you know, His Grace Marpolis was complaining.

He said he was cut Jack music. I said no, Jesse, don't even go

there. They had fun and the the the

sports competition, the volleyball competition, AZ and

LA right. Yeah, it was getting heated

sometimes I was sort of walking away, but no, it was a great

okay, congratulations that I'll be AZ one.

Arizona one, we were very happy it was it was a.

Dice lucky I wasn't playing it was.

We would have lost the the diocese competition was supposed

to be the volleyball tournament between the diocese, but we had

so many of our members that that wanted to participate.

So we were able to open it to almost every parish was was able

to put together some teams. So we had a, we had eight teams

participating and, and that that tournament turned out to be very

successful. And that that adds, I think a

fellowship factor that, you know, although we have the

spiritual aspect of the conference, but you know, the

volleyball, the fellowship time, it builds those bonds that that

that last, those are memories that last forever for those for

those young. Men, we had some injuries as

well, right? I don't don't get me started.

I think we, we did have a few, but it was, thank God it was

okay. Everybody was fine.

The great thing about the conference is the new

friendships that are made and you know when they go back home,

they're constantly talking and keeping in contact with one

another until the following year.

Misses as misses. Robbie Pasha Aziz.

I know Robbie mentioned that you were by his side and helping

out. Did you guys ever not see eye to

eye on any points or was that all done behind the scenes?

Never publicly. But there you go.

Yeah. What was your involvement?

Just. Honestly, Robbie, everything

that Robbie Asha does, I always somehow end up getting involved

in it. Whether by default?

Yeah, by default, but whether he wants me or not, my opinions

come up and he accepts most of them.

So the process was, you know, we just jumped into it and as he

continued doing things, we did start planning about what was it

two years ago. About a year and a.

Half ago, a year and a half ago, at first, I wasn't as involved.

I was busy with my own things at the time.

And then as we got closer, I started to step in and help out

through the subcommittee's and all the director positions.

And I think, you know, for the most part, everything went

smoothly. We do pretty good as a team.

You've made it this far. There's always going to be

shortfalls and issues. I mean, hosting 680 young men

and women already away from their parents, from their homes,

in their hotels room. We always have issues.

But considering the great amount I, I'm, I'm hearing great

positive feedback and we'll wait till, I mean, we're going to

have that survey obviously and we'll wait till see after the

conclusion what is the final feedback that we're saying.

I'm sure it's going to be positive.

I'm sure it's going to be. God willing, God willing, we've

been hearing a lot of positivity.

Obviously, like you said, you can't fulfill everybody's needs

in the especially with such a large group.

But one thing about Nenua I wanted to add, she didn't

mention was with with regards to her involvement.

I'm not very tech savvy. So when when things get brought

up for me to do a design or any sort of, you know,

organizational thing on that's not my expertise.

So. When?

When she, when she, when she sees that I'm, you know, sort of

struggling or falling behind, she's done an amazing job at,

like you said, of, of, of being there for me and being there for

the church. She's not really there for me.

It's just I've been selected to be a chairperson or to kind of

lead this group. But her among many others that

were able to help. They did all of the work, as you

know, like you just mentioned to my ordination was a week ago.

And so I was very busy with, with regards to, you know, sort

of doing the transition between my, my, my job in the past, my

engineering job and then transitioning into preparations

for the priesthood and the, the ordination.

So really Ninoy and the rest of our directors were the ones

working on this conference day-to-day.

And I just kind of came in at the end and, you know, took.

All the credits. Yeah, that's it, That's it.

We say in a serum the workers work and those who are arrested

eat from the fruits. Talking about tech savvy, my, my

Indian support group, India support group is Steven and and

and Robert Gluella, elector Robert, sometimes I call him,

he's in Australia. Some of it's 3:00 in the

morning. I'll call him Robert.

Why can I not get into my so tech savvy man?

We don't need it. I'll be and next year's

conference is obviously was decided two years ago, oh, a

year ago. Let's talk about that, Canada.

Toronto, Canada. Yeah, for.

The first time we'll be. Hosting internationally for our

North American conference here. So I think it's gonna be a very

fruitful 1. Yeah, and they're very, very

excited. This is the second year that

Canada is involved. I believe this is the third

year, third year, third year that Canada is involved.

There's a great number of youth that have attended this year's.

You know, you have to, it's an international flight and they're

very excited and always, there's always going to be help and

we're always there to help them. And I'm very excited.

And I think the youth are very excited too.

So hopefully they'll host a great, a great conference and,

and the years will go on and on and on.

And one day we'll be one of those old people walk in and say

I was a part of this. The first Canadian conference

and. I wonder how the conference is

going to be in 2036 or 202045, Right.

Yeah, we'll be around, God willing, if not your children

and my grandchildren. So.

We'll be teaching them. I was one thing you, I I

mentioned the other day when one of our breakout sessions was

that my second conference, 2010, The slaps, the slaps.

You were you were one of the priests.

That was we everybody Father Gennard was notorious for.

For the slaps, yeah, yeah, No, it was a loving slap.

It was a loving slap just when we answered.

Yeah, when? We answered.

Correctly. And look where you are today.

It must have been the slap. OK, let's go into the not the

private life, but let's go and and ask a little bit about Rabbi

Asha Andrew. And Mrs. Rabbi Asha Andrew, tell

us a little bit about Father Andrew Aziz.

My name is Andrew Aziz. No, I am.

I'm 28 years old. I'll be soon to be 29.

I was. Recently, every single day I was

up until the final day of his birthday.

I was I was recently ordained to the priesthood where I will be

serving in the Diocese of Western United States primarily

with the Youth Association as well as being an assistant to

our parish priests in in Arizona which now we have 3 parishes.

Mario Sep Nani Sugar Gilbert, AZ with Reverend Hoshaba Schleman,

who is the parish priest, our cathedral in Glendale, AZ, Saint

Peter's Cathedral with Reverend Sargon Yarrow as the parish

priest. And we have a new mission parish

in Surprise, AZ with Reverend Ninos Isaac, who was ordained

with me as well. So I will be assisting those

three pair, those three parish priests and, and, and their, you

know, daily ecclesiastical life. And I and I look forward to it.

It's it's a calling from, from God.

It's a vocation that I felt the passion and I felt the calling

with so many years, so many, so many times throughout the years

where Reverend fathers like yourself have approached me with

regards to, you know, taking that leap of faith and, and,

and, and answering that calling. And I am blessed to have

somebody that is by my side as, as the person sitting next to me

is by allowing me to, to follow that vocation to, you know, as I

mentioned earlier, I was, I was an engineer, a mechanical

engineer for a semiconductor company.

But when the calling grew and I felt the calling and, you know,

I, one of the things that a lot of people were telling me was

that, oh, you're young, you should wait.

You know, Mukhmad, you said, why are you rushing into this?

You know you can. You have so many years ahead of

you. King David wasn't too old, was.

He he was young. He was the youngest.

One, he was the youngest one, yeah.

And, and for me, it wasn't really about my age.

I didn't feel like the age was really a factor into any of

this. It was more of, you know, the

calling is there and if I have somebody and then not just my

wife, but my entire family was some was the people that were

supporting me, but more so you need your wife's support in

this. So she was able and and willing

and, and just this passion, if not more so, to allow me to

follow this. And, you know, she said, if we

have the right circumstances and we have, you know, the, the

right environment where, you know, you have the support from

other priests and, and you have the support of the youth in the

community, you know, this is something that you're willing to

do. And, and, and if this is God's

calling, God's going to guide you through it.

God's going to guide us through it.

So, you know, I, I, I was, I, I spoke with Archdeacon Giudgis,

who is currently our patriarchal vicar in, in the diocese.

And, you know, we, we spoke at length about the responsibility

and, and what my role in the diocese is going to be.

And after further prayer and, and meditation on the subject,

I, I was, I was, you know, I, we were able to commit to it.

How long did you serve as a Deacon?

I was I was serving as a Deacon for 10 years, 2014 May of 2014 I

was ordained and June of 2024 I was ordained a priest.

And when did Madame Nineveh coming to play?

And the has to be in the conference, right.

Conference crush. Well, was it a conference crush?

It was parish. It was a parish.

Parish crush. Oh, OK, Yeah. 20 Would you want

to answer this? Or do you want?

To answer, I guess we can admit to it now.

Yeah, so 2014, we were serving in the committee together.

We were the. So myself, Nuet and I were very

good brother, dear brother Marcel, we were the three sort

of first committee members of our parishes youth group, OK and

Ninoy was our vice or she was our secretary slash treasurer.

Marcel was my vice president and.

No. Secretary slash Treasurer slash

parish crush, Yes. Yes, but so that that the

working in the in the parish developed our relationship, I I

noticed besides her, her beauty, but I noticed just her works and

her zeal and her passion and all of these things.

And I didn't look. Like this in 20?

14 so I don't know what he's talking.

About we we built a great friendship.

That's what it was first and and working together.

So that that was what allowed us.

We started going out, hanging out during those times and.

We would have committee meetings and we would tell Marcel that,

you know, we got it, don't worry about it.

We'll take care of. It I would invite her out to

coffee just for, you know, Starbucks.

Don't call us, we'll call you. Master.

Well, isn't it, you know, as it was speaking Bobby, God made Eve

in one of the the doctrinal hymns we say Adam is lamenting

because he was expelled from paradise in the garden of Edom

and he's laments and he says she who was made to be a helper.

Tane turned, turned and became a pusher and she brought

destruction to me and my children.

But you were in that Garden of Eden which is the church, and

thank God that Nineveh became that helper.

And little did you know back then, This is why God says my

ways are not your ways, Your thoughts are not my faults.

Or is it the other way around? Regardless, little did you know

back then was that she would be your helper for this day and for

the future. We don't know what God has

installed, you know, But it's great because while you're

focused on the Word of God, then God blesses you with this union

and you know the attraction and what have you.

None of it as a star being being with Ravi as a Shamasha.

You were still studying by then and your your field is.

Architecture graduated with my master's in architecture in

2022, the same year we got married.

I graduated 10 days before our wedding, actually.

Oh wow. Yeah, congratulate.

When did you get married? Sorry.

May 21st of 2022. I'm sorry I should have asked

that. I'll be if you remembered.

Yeah. I have it.

No, I have it in my notes. So it's been May 25th.

Oh, you have one Year 2? Years, OK.

OK, so back then, obviously Shamasha more available to go

out for coffee and what you're saying and you know, more time

to spend together then this curveball, if we may say lack of

a better term comes around and it the priesthood comes in then.

And you know, I'm sure you're you're very smart and clever to

know that. And being in the church, you

know that that responsibility requires a lot of sacrifice.

And, you know, being a priest, a married priest, actually being a

grandfather, the sacrifice, you know, people say, oh, you've

sacrificed your life for Christ. I mean, but I believe the

sacrifice is greater on the partner or the wife.

What was your first initial reaction thought when Shamasha

Andrew back then came and said, honey, darling, whatever you

call this is God is calling me to this.

Honestly, Robbie, a lot of people, especially in the last

few weeks have asked me about how I feel about all of this and

what my initial reaction was and all that.

And a lot of times it was hard for me to I, I always go, I

don't know, like I still can't answer that.

But initially when it was brought up, of course I'm human.

I had the, I had the initial reaction of starting to worry

and started to think about all the factors that were to come in

the future. And at first I was very hesitant

about it. And then, but I didn't reflect

that on Shamasha at the time. I wouldn't, I wasn't very

negative to him because I knew deep down that this is, this was

always his calling and he's very passionate about it.

And I know very well what it, what it's like to be passionate

about something and how I feel living that as my career

day-to-day and applying it to everything that I do.

And I knew that was his passion. Engineering was never his

passion. I think he did it just because

he's, he, anything he puts his mind to, he kind of gets it

done. So I knew that's what he wanted

to do internally. I would think about it a lot.

I'd, I'd kind of, you know, go back and forth.

But at the end of the day, I also always had a very strong

passion for serving the church. And I remember being very young

and thinking to myself, in what ways can I serve when I'm older?

I want to serve, I want to serve.

And very recently I told Shamasha at the time, you know,

look, God's made it happen. I used to have these thoughts as

a kid, like serving the church, and not just the church, but

also the Assyrian community in different ways.

And, and now I feel like we have that opportunity and we have

that platform and we have that, you know, through Christ to be

able to do all of that. So, you know, I just went for it

and supported him in everything that he wanted to do and.

Let me take a step back. Blessings and kudos to your

parents obviously, because they instill the passion big time.

They lit that light and Christ illuminated it and, and let it

glow. And now here you are today.

And I'm sure when your parents are praying both of you, I'm

sure they thank God and they thank him for the blessings that

you have received because it is their blessings as well.

So you know, then you're ready to go.

You're, you've made-up your mind obviously through prayer and,

and you know, fasting and consultation, obviously.

But I know not going too much into details that you mentioned

engineering, obviously Ravi Raja, and that didn't come

overnight. A lot of studies and what have

you, but again, another sacrifice on both of your behalf

where you left that field, that profession, you sacrificed a lot

and you've obviously we, you know, we say mental ill and

Allah, God doesn't own us, owe us anything for us, you know,

but you sacrificed a lot. How difficult or was it easy for

you to come, both of you together collectively, say, you

know what, no, I'm ready to sacrifice and to serve the Lord.

I can take this one and then you can add anything if you'd like

for, for me again, Robbie, like, like Nuno said, engineering was

something that I studied obviously in, in school and I

received my bachelor's degree in that and, and I've been working

in the semiconductor field for about, it's about a little past

three years. But when the calling came and it

got more serious and I really began devoting my time to, to my

own studies for, for the, for priesthood and pastoral studies,

my, my profession and my role in the engineering field to me took

second, third, fourth priority. And you know, I still gave it my

all in, in my work. And I had, you know, I can have,

I have my, my boss's, I guess, approvals for, for that.

But I, I always really prioritized my pastoral studies.

So when the time came, and again, this is, you know, this

is just, I think the nature of it with regards to the major

thing is finance. That's the major thing that we

look at because of the country we're living in, the needs, the

basic necessities. But thankfully, and thank, you

know, thank our Archdeacon Uetikus and, and you know, the

supporting committees and, and our parish and our diocese, you

know, and he told me that the basic necessities will be, you

will be, you'll be OK, you'll have received and, you know, as

soon as long as I was confident and knowing that that was OK, I

didn't need anything more than that.

And I'm lucky to have a wife again to that she has her

profession, she's passionate about the architecture field

that she's, that she's in and we're blessed in in that aspect.

So to me, I didn't need anything more than my basic necessities

to be covered. And after I was, you know, after

that was verified and I, I knew we were going to be OK, I fully

trusted in, in God calling us to this and God guiding us through

this. So it wasn't something that I

was like questioning about, you know, how are we going to get

through this? How are we going to make, you

know, basic payments and think it wasn't, that was not, I don't

think that was a question that I even brought up.

I just I, I, we pursued it together full head on, you know,

and it was, it was something that today I'm, I'm very

grateful that we've, that we're able to, to take that step and

go forward in. That so you move the motion and

says she's seconded, Yeah. Exactly.

Anyway, for those brothers and sisters of those sisters who are

dating or have been engaged to or are married to an acolyte

being a Deacon, what would your advice be pre warning about

something like this happening? How should they be preparing

themselves for God's calling? Not everyone's going to be

called to this position, but God will call.

Many are chosen or few are elected.

What would your advice be for those who God will elect?

In the most simplest way is trust in God, right?

He has a will for all of us and we have to trust that.

Going back to this Gears conference theme, thy will be

done just trusting in God and not worrying, believing in him

and every single thing that he has to provide for all of us

that he's, you know, going to give it to us in our lifetime.

So it it's just as simple as that.

If I sat here and worried about, you know, how am I going to

financially be stable? How am I going to do this?

A lot of questions got asked me about, oh, how are you going to

live a normal life? Can you go on vacations?

Can you do this? Can you do that?

If I sat here and worried about all of that, I'd panic.

I wouldn't be able to do this right.

So the advice to everyone is just to to trust in his will and

trust in God and go from that. Have a strong relationship.

You know that relationship that you have together, that

communication, that's, that's really it.

Saint Paul commands parents that they are.

What's the word? They are not entitled.

What's that word? They are incumbent to place and

to prepare for their children good deeds and what have you

good examples. And I think this is what you're

doing for your children. This will be a sacrifice or a

commitment or an answer or reply to calling from God where one

day they will refer back to this and say, well, our parents did

this, so we must be doing this. And again, going back to your

parents, they obvious obviously sacrifice in a different manner.

And the chain keeps going. It's growing and, and the, the,

the effect and the fruits continue until the Lord returns.

You know, any plans, you know, future plans and what you have

in mind as far as working together together for the

church, because really this is a unit where a husband and a wife

are both engaged in working for the, for the Lord.

And it's, it's a, it's amazing because the priest or the clergy

is not alone in decision making. What do you have planned?

Do you have any plans as as far as what you want to do in your

parish And for the youth, obviously.

Yeah. I think one of the blessings in

disguise that we're that we're looking at here Robbie, is that

I wasn't assigned a specific parish, whereas I was more of

assistant and then the youth overseeing the youth group in

Arizona. And then also I've been sort of

given some responsibility across the diocese.

So working with them at a local level at our parish, at, in, in

Gilbert, at Mario Sapkanen issue and, and also more recently

working closely with the Saint Peter's youth group in Glendale.

I see the fire. I see the zeal that, that, that,

that, that they have. And it's encouraging to me that

I, I look at, OK, I took this on, I took on this

responsibility through God's guidance and, and Providence.

And I have his guidance and I have his strength.

And then I see the, the, the youth members that I'm going to

be working with and it's something very, very

encouraging. So I've talked with some, with

some committee members, some just, you know, youth members

of, of both parishes, some across the diocese as well.

Speaking with Nina, she has she's full of ideas and and you

know that are are. Close.

That's where you get it from I. Let's tell the truth.

So I, I, I look, I, I really look forward to working with

them, some of the projects or I guess activities that we want to

do mainly in Arizona, because that's our, that's where, that's

where we live. And that's, you know, where I'll

be spending most of my time is I really want to unify, build a,

build a stronger bridge between the two parishes, the two the

two youth groups, because this year alone, they brought near

nearly 100 youth members just from Arizona.

And looking at the future, looking at our children's

ministries are both parishes. And that that bridge that the

children's ministries is going to funnel into the youth group.

And then the youth members that you have between that age of

like 18 to 21 and, and they're so they're so passionate about

their youth, are so passionate about their church and serving.

It's almost going to make my job so very easy.

And I don't want to call it a job, but my responsibility is

going to be very easy because I have people around me that are

willing to work. And now that they see one of

their own youth members, I think receiving these ranks, it's,

it's encouraging them to come and, you know, want to serve and

want to help me out so that we can both serve together.

It's not like I'm their, you know, their boss or their

leader. I'm I'm leading them and we're

all working together to serve, to serve the church and, and all

for his glory. For those who are not familiar

with the demographics, driving distance from Gilbert to

Glendale. Glendale and.

Surprise. Surprise.

What are we looking at? So looking at Mariosa Parish,

which is in Gilbert all the way to Saint Peter's Parish in

Glendale, it's about 50 minutes and then surprise, about another

20 minutes from their city from Glendale to surprise.

OK, so. OK.

You know, as you were speaking lobby that you want to unify a

little bit about the Central Valley parishes, Modesto, Ceres,

CA. We have what we call a Central

Valley youth group. Joey Hermes, who's one of the

members of the NEC national National Youth Executive.

We've got to call NYC National Youth Executive Committee and

Kristen, our sister as well. We have the Central Valley youth

group where the three parishes come together.

They have a a monthly worship night.

They arrange a lot of activities and events.

And for example, when the conference is being hosted by

the Central Valley parishes, they all come together.

It's, it's a great unity. It's.

Yeah, there are issues. There's always issues because,

you know, yeah. But I what we've seen, and I

think my sister Kristen or, or Joey Orgizzo can vouch for this,

that the unity that becomes very tight and they're bound together

and it then makes it easier to work together.

And obviously we're not, I mean, I think from Turlock to Modesto,

25 minutes, but I think that's a great idea.

And I'll be because you have numbers, you have more power and

you work together and and then it doesn't become the burden is

not upon one parish. And so I'll vouch for that.

Yeah, yeah, I'll definitely need your need your help.

No, no, I was just telling you what it's no.

No, no, no. You mentioned it.

I have to get the help. It's.

On the list of things to do for. Yeah, always there for you.

Always. We are one church.

We are one body wherever we may be, we are one body.

We are one church and we are that great, amazing and I love

saying that that great amazing Assyrian Church of the East,

rich history. Let's go too much into that and

we're not Tooting any horns, but we're just stating the facts and

the truth and something amazing that I'll be you've seen this

when the youth from the 13 year olds to the 25 year olds when

they learn something different about their church and what this

church has given for Christianity.

I mean, it's a blessing again, they that's when they are more

prone to be drawn to serve within the diaconate or the

priesthood. And I said, when was it?

I was talking to one of my brother priests and during the

sessions, my session, some of the answers that were being

given and and to in my heart in my mind, I was saying to myself,

you know this church has future and 680 if not even 80 if twenty

of those young men decide to take on the orders of the

church, that is a great blessing from the Lord.

That's a great success story to tell Last comments, closing

comments that have you the mic's mic is yours and.

OK, the one thing I do want to mention, Robbie, I think one of

the things that's very important for I think our youth and all of

our audience and every listener to, to know is that one thing

that we also looked at and I, I think Nunua wanted to mention

this or was, was thinking about this too.

Something that we discussed was with regards to this earthly,

because everybody asks questions that regard to temporal earthly

passion and desires. And you know, one of the things

Nunua mentioned was like vacations and all these things.

And I, you know, nobody, I think you'd be out of your mind to not

enjoy a vacation. But you know, those things are

temporal and those things are earthly and those things.

But when, when we're taking on not even just the priesthood,

just any rank, anytime we're serving in the church and then

we're serving Christ and his faithful, it's something that

we're looking to do. And, and you mentioned this

today on the car ride back home was, was gaining souls.

The, the, the young men and women that we're serving, you're

doing something that's going to be lasting in eternity when

we're working and we're making an impact on, on their souls

and, and the way they view Christ and the way they view

their own spiritual lives and the way they view, you know, how

to take when to make a right decision on following a good

path versus a bad path in their lives and.

Discerning God's voice. Exactly, And and so that that,

you know, is, is a greater calling and is a greater

purpose. And for sure, as you know, as

we're living in these countries and, and we're living in the

West and we know what, what, what is to come.

And, you know, we, we, we are blessed to have the

opportunities to to go out and to, you know, enjoy the world,

enjoy our time. But I think time best spent is

serving our Lord and, and one of the main things that we see in

this, this passion that, you know, he's given us and, and

we're grateful for it and we want to reciprocate that to

everybody that we can is, is the ability to, to serve, the

ability to draw people closer by the way we live our lives.

And, and we need to be a beacon of, you know, if I'm speaking

something, if I'm teaching something, I ought to be living

it myself. And so that's one of the

beautiful things about this, this calling.

And I'm, you know, a one weekend, but I'm, I feel

especially I'm very blessed that it was, it happened.

My ordination was just 2-3 days before the youth conference.

I think coming here in the priesthood was, was definitely a

blessing, was definitely a humbling experience.

And, and seeing all of the youth sort of gravitate towards the,

the, the priesthood, I feel like that that makes my impact on

them so much more greater. And I'm blessed to, to have that

opportunity. Amen.

Thank you, Robbie. Thank you, dearest.

Final statements I, I hope that a lot of our ACOE youth members

and you know, just in general, everyone in the ACOE can kind of

take a look at the two of us. And I pray that we can be the

role models that I've been hearing people say that we are.

But I pray that we continue on that path.

And, you know, I want them to know that we are there for them

and in this new generation, being in the, you know, 27 and

28, almost 29, and serving in the church in the way that we

are right now. It's for us, it's very humbling

and I hope that our brothers and sisters can also look at that

and you know, anytime they have questions or need us, both of

us, they can come to us in in any ways and you know, kind of

carry that, carry that cross as well.

I mean, I mean that they may see your good deeds and glorious

glorify your Father in heaven. You know, I always say it, I'll

be that if Christ hadn't come down on earth and had died for

you and I and the entire world, we would not be sitting here and

we would not have these blessings.

It is only but from yes, the church or the East knows grace.

We know grace. We have two words for it.

I always say shove up at the plate with we know grace.

It's by the grace of God. But then again, Christ is

commanded that they know our good deeds and that they may

through the deeds, glorify our home, not just the faith.

You know Christ didn't say so that they can see how strong

your faith is and how many verses you can quote.

No, no, He said so that they may know, see your good deeds and

they may glorify your God in heaven.

And we always keep in mind that we are those unworthy servants,

those rusty tools in the shed where God takes out in His

amazing, glorious, powerful, almighty sovereign hands.

And he, he uses those rusty tools to gravitate people around

us, to see your priesthood, to, to come to you and to grow and

be encouraged to draw even closer to God.

And for my sister Nimba to be an example for those sisters who

are, as I said, engaged in a relationship with a with a

someone who's an acolyte who has a lot of other orders.

At the end of the day, Rabi, you said it and we we're beginning a

liturgical with this is that the church and those who serve are

there to glorify God, first and foremost, to glorify God and to

save souls. And that is done through God's

mysterious ways and power and grace and and mercy.

Praise me to his name. Thank you so much for

reluctantly. No, no, no, I know I know you.

You're very happy to be to be a part of the podcast.

There's such a plug, plug the double double edged sword

podcast ministry. It's too late.

It's late, but that's OK. The double edged sword No

honestly, Robbie, thank you again for the opportunity.

Double edged sword from I have heard personal testimonials of

some of our own youth members in Arizona of how, how you've

impacted them to for some, for some of our youth members in

Arizona, those that may have not been as close to Christ, not as

close to the church. But after hearing your podcast,

some of them are now currently working in our children's

ministries and, and actively zealous in the youth and, and,

and working and serving. And, and so you've, you know,

through the podcast and it's just glory to God for, for the,

for the use of technology for good.

That's, that's what you've been doing you and your team in

California and, and, and God bless you guys always.

Kudos to the the producers, but it's not my podcast, it's not

Stevens or Adrina's, it's no one's podcast.

It's only again a tool and a mean by through life through

which God is using to draw people to His.

Glory. Glory to God, I just ask that

you keep the podcast and all those out there who are

preaching the the truth of the Gospels and Jesus Christ that

the Lord will increase and with the Lord will will raise

laborers in the vineyard so that we can work for this amazing

ministry which is preaching the gospel of Christ.

Robbie, will you bless us with a closing prayer and, and thank

you so much to both of you, Robbie, Robbie, Asha Robbie and

Missus Andrew Aziz. I think that would be the right

title. Reverend Father and Missus

Andrew Aziz, God bless you all. Thank you so much and we'll look

forward to speaking to you more on the podcast.

Please close with the prayer for us.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen. Dear Lord, we thank you for this

opportunity to join with our Reverend Father Gennard, my wife

Nene, the blessed producers, thank you for always giving us

the opportunities and the grace and the blessings from your

heavenly hand. May the glorious Trinity always

bless and strengthen and guide our youth and our church in the

future. You are everlasting and strong,

and may you always bless and protect and guide this Church.

You are our guide, and by you we are strengthened by the name of

your glorious Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I.

Mean thank you, thank you for your for listening.

And we'll be back with a new episode Monday.

God willing, God bless you. Thank you, Robbie, thank you.

Push him back to work now. The We hope you enjoyed this

week's message. Please don't forget to rate and

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For any future topics, suggestions, or to give us

detailed feedback, please visit our link in the show notes

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Until next time, God bless you all.