Gregory Baghramian (94) went home to be with the Lord on October 30, 2002 of a brain aneurysm. An ethnic Armenian, Gregory was raised in Persia (Iran) and spoke 4 languages fluently. While working in the Iranian oil fields in 1932 as a young man in his 20s he found the Lord through several tracts sent to him by his godly, praying mother. He began breaking bread in simple Assembly fashion with a few others who were likeminded while still in Iran. He immigrated with his young family to the United States in the early 1950s and was for a number of years in fellowship in the West Chicago Blvd Gospel Hall in Detroit, MI (now Stark Road Gospel Hall, Livonia) before moving his family to Los Angeles, where he worked in the Aerospace industry. He was in fellowship in various Los Angeles assemblies, including Long Beach and Culver City.

All that knew him can attest to his fervent love for the Lord, the Lord's people, and the Assembly gathering. He is known to have spent hours in prayer each day. He was never away from his tracts, which he passed out wherever he went, easily distributing over a million tracts in his lifetime. Throughout his retirement years he rose early every morning to engage in this work, and spent the Lord's Day morning "coffee time" in the same way.

Gregory was active in all meetings of the assembly and communicated regularly with many of the Lord's servants. Articles of his have been published in Assembly magazines. He published his testimony as a tract and sent it to all U.S. presidents in his lifetime, the Queen of England and many other well-known figures.

The funeral was held on November 3rd with several hundred in attendance. Two saved grandchildren spoke of his godly character. His son Martin gave a forceful, clear, passionate presentation of the Gospel which appeared to deeply affect a number in the extended family that are not yet saved. Tom Baker served as MC and spoke at the graveside. All attending received his testimony tract, and his remains were laid to rest with that tract in his hand.

Mr. Baghramian leaves his dear wife Sarah, his 5 children (including his son, Martin, an elder in the Culver City assembly), 9 grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren, most sheltered under the blood, some in Assembly fellowship.