The Happiest People on Earth

161 Pages·2008·2.2 MB·English

by  Demos Shakarian

Scripture quotations in this volume are from the Kings James Version of the
Bible and from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted ©
1946, 1952, 1971 and 1973.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Shakarian, Demos, 1913-

The happiest people on earth.

1. Shakarian, Demos, 1913- 2. Full Gospel Business Men's

Fellowship International. I. Sherrill, John. II. Sherrill, Elizabeth. III. Title.

BX 8764.Z8S474
289.9 [B]
75-33902

ISBN 0-912376-14-7

Copyright © 1975 by

Demos Shakarian and John and Elizabeth Sherrill

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

For our parents

ISAAC AND ZAROUHI SHAKARIAN

SIRAKAN AND TIROON GABRIELIAN

who gave us a heritage among . . .

the happiest people on earth

The Shakarian Story

Through four generations and almost 150 years of the

Shakarian family story, we see the direct guidance of the Heavenly
Father by the prophetic word.

From Demos, Sr., believing God and leaving his homeland of

Armenia, in order to follow the prophetic word, to Isaac, his son,
finding favor and in the time of great depression, blessed from rags
to riches, was given great favor in high government circles and with
the great business leaders. To Demos anointed to "call men back to
God," and release the Holy Spirit through independent meetings—in
neutral locations, thereby igniting the great charismatic renewal.
Through a vision Demos founded the Full Gospel Business Men's
Fellowship International. To Richard, whose great love of the Lord
has guided his life. Truly a world person. Equally at ease sharing his
faith with presidents, or in the House of Lords, or with the U.S.
Congress. Leading the Fellowship to its vision...every
nation...helping men to fulfill their destiny...releasing The Glory.

About My Dad

I remember the wonderful times together on the dairy

surrounded by the cows, the hay, and all those visitors who heard
that God was about to use men who loved Him for His glory.

My dad was my closest friend. We shared many wonderful

dreams and visions together. He was the most humble, most kind,
and most gentle person I have ever known.

My father intensely touched my life. We talked of the gentle

love that conquers sin, strife and all the works of Satan. We talked
at length about the work yet to be done. The millions of men to be
unlocked to God's forgiveness, and of the millions of businessmen
sitting on the sidelines not knowing how to release the gifts and
talents that God has entrusted to every man. Dad and I talked
together of things yet to come. I see a day when millions of
businessmen around the world will rise, not in the power of their
business, or brilliance of mind, but they shall rise to do the work of
the great harvest with the power of the Holy Spirit in a new
dimension. This glory will not fall upon the proud or those who
strive. It will confound the world because it will fall upon the
humble of heart, meek of spirit, forgiving in nature. God uses
humble men, and that which cannot be accomplished by the mind of
men will be fulfilled by the Spirit of God through the humble.

Richard Shakarian

Demos and Rose Shakarian

Richard and Vangie Shakarian

Led by the Spirit of God, the Shakarian family escaped the

Holocaust in Armenia and made their home in Downey, California,
where Isaac Shakarian, Richard's grandfather, started a dairy with
three cows which later grew to be the largest in the world. It was on
this dairy that Richard grew up.

As a young boy of seven, his grandfather would have

businessmen at his home. They would sit in the living room in front
of the big fireplace, talking about business. Grandfather Isaac would
say, "Richard, stand here in the center and tell these men about
Jesus." In his father and grandfather's home, Richard was privileged
to associate with the great business and political leaders and almost
all of the greatest ministers and evangelists of this era. In the years
to come Richard was active in business with his grandfather, Isaac,
and father, Demos.

Richard and Evangeline (Vangie) fell in love and were married

in 1955. Through the strength of their love and relationship and
because of God's faithfulness, they have been able to accomplish
great things for God. They have four beautiful daughters: Denice,
Cynthia, Brenda, and Suzanne, and three darling grandchildren,
Brianna Elizabeth, Rachel Evangeline, and their first grandson,
Blakeland Richard. Vangie's mother, Elizabeth, was a missionary
from Norway to China in 1924. Later her father and mother, Oscar
and Elizabeth Klingsheim, pastored in the United States for many
years.

Before Richard Shakarian became President of FGBMFI,

succeeding his father, Demos, he had already traveled to 70 nations
of the world. The Lord spoke years ago that Richard and Vangie
would be meeting with kings, presidents, and world leaders to
impact nations. Today they are seeing this come to pass with great
events in Russia, Nicaragua, Hungary, Honduras and the United
States. They were honored to meet Pope John Paul II. Richard has
since received a special apostolic blessing from the Pope presented
by Archbishop Luigi Accogli.

In 1987 Richard received a vision showing the future and God's

coming glory. Today, we are seeing this vision come to pass, as
Catholics, Protestants, and people of all faiths join together in unity
to reach nations for God.

Under his leadership the Fellowship has entered an exciting

new era. This is a modern-day story of men sensitive and obedient to
the voice of God. By the millions they are receiving Christ and
releasing their God-given talents.

Three generations of Shakarians work together in God's business as

well as the dairy business. From left to right: Isaac, Richard and

Demos go over plans for the expansion of the Reliance Dairy in

California.

Demos and Richard Shakarian

Demos Shakarian

Richard Shakarian

Contents

1 The Message From Over the Mountain.................................15

2 Union Pacific Avenue...........................................................31

3 Time Bomb............................................................................45

4 The Man Who Changed His Mind........................................55

5 Handhold in Heaven..............................................................65

6 Hollywood Bowl...................................................................77

7 The Testing Time..................................................................87

8 Clifton's Cafeteria................................................................101

9 Foot on the Table................................................................119

10 The World Begins to Turn.................................................131

11 The Golden Chain.............................................................139

The Demos Shakarian, Sr. family, with son, Isaac, and six daughters.

This is the original family group, following prophecy leaving

Armenia, escaping the Armenian Holocaust, and came as immigrants

to America. God placed them within one mile and one year of the

outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Azusa Street.

Three generations: Isaac, Demos, Richard. Standing in the living

room where the vision was given, 1952.

1

1 The Message From Over the
Mountain

The other night Rose and I were driving through Los Angeles on

our way home, when suddenly I got a yearning to get off the freeway
and drive past the house where my grandfather Demos lived when
he first came to America.

After forty-two years of marriage Rose is used to these sudden

impulses, so although it was one o'clock in the morning she said not
a word as I turned down a ramp into the area that used to be called
the Los Angeles Flats. The square stucco house was no longer
standing at 919 Boston Street. We sat for a moment in the car,
looking round us at the new federal housing which has replaced the
rundown old neighborhood. Then I turned the car around and
headed back to the highway.

But with me, through the warm California night, traveled

memories of Grandfather. I knew why I had needed to make this
detour tonight: It was because of a prophecy Rose and I had heard
earlier in the evening. We'd been at a Full Gospel Business Men's
meeting in Beverly Hills where someone had made the prediction,
claiming to be voicing God's own words, that a great persecution of
Christians was soon to take place in many parts of the world,
including the United States of America.

What were we to make of a statement like that? What had my

family made of a similar message a century ago? For there had been
such a prophecy then, too, and everything that had happened since

15