Levon Kardashian: A Journey of Faith, Heritage, and Leadership
About Me
I am Levon Kardashian, a man whose life has been deeply shaped by both my Armenian heritage and my unwavering faith. Born in Beirut, I hail from a family with a profound connection to the Armenian Genocide. My paternal grandfather, who escaped those tragic events, found refuge in Beirut. There, he met my grandmother, an orphan of the same dark period. Their love story became the foundation of my family’s history.
My father, the eldest of four children, was born in Lebanon. He followed in the footsteps of his trade, working initially for the German Airline in Lebanon before establishing his own printing business, a legacy I eventually took over. My mother, one of five siblings, was born in Aleppo, Syria, to maternal grandparents who were also refugees from Western Armenia.
Faith and Education
I was baptized in the Armenian Evangelical Church in Ashrafieh, Beirut, and received my early education at the Armenian Evangelical Central High School. After high school, I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, with a parallel study in Computer Sciences. Recognizing the importance of business acumen, I also delved into Business Administration.
My professional journey led me into the printing industry, where I honed my skills as a printer and graphic designer. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of crafting numerous corporate identities, websites, and publications. Typography and calligraphy have also become passions of mine.
Ministry and Leadership
My path took an unexpected turn when I embraced theology and earned my Master of Divinity (M.Div) from the Near East School of Theology. This academic pursuit eventually led me to Australia, where I delved into cross-cultural leadership, earning a Bachelor of Theology with Honours (B.Th) from Charles Sturt University.
In the realm of faith, I transitioned into congregational ministry, a role that has enriched my understanding of diverse congregations and their unique spiritual journeys.
Diverse Passions and Ministry Initiatives
Currently, I find solace in bookbinding and woodworking, trades passed down from my grandfathers, serving as stress-relief and a connection to my heritage.
As the former Multicultural Project Officer and now in congregational ministry, I’ve been privileged to serve communities from various backgrounds. Additionally, I prepare and deliver workshops on domestic abuse awareness as part of the Joint Churches Domestic Violence Prevention Project (JCDVPP), a commission of Queensland Churches Together (QCT). These initiatives exemplify my commitment to promoting understanding and harmony among diverse communities.
Levon’s Works
Books:
- “Leadership and Culture: Re-imagining Cross-Cultural Leadership in the Uniting Church in Australia” (LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2014)
Designs:
Explore my design portfolio to discover a visual world crafted with passion and precision.
Thank you for joining me on this journey of faith, heritage, and leadership. I invite you to explore the pages of my blog and portfolio to learn more about the diverse facets of my life and work.
In faith, creativity, and service,
Levon Kardashian