New $10,000 EMPOW Awards Encourage Faithful Content for a Digital Generation

The spiritual lives of young Armenians in the U.S. may be poised for a renewal-driven not by cathedrals or textbooks, but by digital creators armed with microphones, cameras, and inspiration. That’s the vision behind Khachkar Studios’ New $10,000 EMPOW Awards, a program that invites media makers to turn their talents into tools for spiritual revival. Beginning in June 2025, the EMPOW Awards will distribute $250,000 over the course of the year to media projects that reflect five essential traits:

Engaging, Motivational, Powerful, Originality, and Wisdom. From AI-enhanced video sermons to podcast episodes brimming with theological insight, eligible submissions must bring timeless truths into contemporary formats. Khachkar Studios, an affiliate of the Charles & Agnes Kazarian Foundation, is no stranger to ambitious initiatives. This award program is one component of a historically unprecedented $10+ million push to increase church participation through “Good News” messaging and innovative outreach strategies. Central to the EMPOW Awards’ strategy is a sharp focus on results. Success is measured by a Key Performance Indicator: the number of U.S. Armenians attending non-holiday Badarak services. Right now, that number is a mere 3%. The goal is to see it grow to 6%, driven in part by compelling, faith-filled content that resonates with everyday believers.

Unlike many award programs, EMPOW doesn’t just hand out accolades-it amplifies impact. Top submissions will be promoted across media platforms and incorporated into training videos for future Christian role models, ensuring that great content doesn’t just inspire-it multiplies. This investment marks a stark departure from historical philanthropic trends in the ArmenianAmerican community, where only a fraction of resources have gone toward religious efforts. Khachkar Studios is rewriting that script with a strategy grounded in both business logic and biblical inspiration. Guided by the parable of the talents-“to whom much is given, much is required”-Khachkar Studios views these awards as both stewardship and strategy. The New $10,000 EMPOW Awards are more than a nod to excellence. They are an open invitation to Armenian Christians across the U.S. to step into the arena of influence, speak their truth, and spark a movement of faith through media