Christian Adjemian was born in Gardanne, France, to parents of Armenian and Italian backgrounds. Coming to New York City with his family while a young child, he graduated from Spring Valley, N.Y., High School in 1965 and from Colorado State University in 1970. An excellent skier, he became a member of the National Ski Patrol while in Colorado. Moving to Seattle, he obtained M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in romance linguistics at the University of Washington, receiving several fellowships and awards during his graduate career.

In 1977, he became a faculty member in linguistics at the University of Ottawa, where he taught courses, supervised student research, and published articles on French syntax and language acquisition. During his linguistics career he lectured in Canada, the U.S., and Europe.

In early 1981, Christian asked his students for someone to stay for a few days with his daughter Tamika so that he and Laura could attend a linguistics conference. The student who volunteered, Shelley Ayer, took Tamika to church with her. It was through Shelley and Tamika that Christian made the acquaintance of the Almonte, Ont., Reformed Presbyterian Church and its new church plant in Ottawa. Rich Ganz, the young pastor called to the work in Ottawa, and his wife, Nancy, extended friendship to Christian and Laura.

In fall 1983, Christian was on sabbatical at the University of Ottawa and seeking counseling for some life issues. Remembering that Rich Ganz had training and experience as a psychologist, Christian contacted him. Rich and Nancy invited Christian and Laura and their children to visit them on their farm in Ontario. Although Christian had had no intention of seeking Christian counseling, the Lord used that visit to bring Christian to the Ottawa RPC, to a course at the recently opened Ottawa Theological Hall (OTH), and, within a few weeks, to faith in Christ.

Christian was 36 when he was converted, and his knowledge of the Scriptures was scant. Immediately, and for the next several years, he poured himself into understanding the Bible–learning from sermons, from courses at OTH, and through his own reading. Eventually, it became his settled conviction that God was calling him to give up his faculty position and to give his life to pastoral ministry. In 1987 he was licensed for a gospel call by the St. Lawrence Presbytery of the RPCNA. The following year, he gave up his faculty position and became pastor of the Perth (later Smiths Falls) RPC in Ontario, and he ministered there with great vigor and faithfulness until 1999. Through much of his ministry in Smiths Falls and his subsequent ministry in Cambridge, Mass., Laura was seriously ill with chronic fatigue syndrome; but with characteristic dedication, self-discipline, and hard work, Christian nurtured and cared for his wife, his children and his congregations with much love and with great effectiveness.

Christian’s ministry in the Cambridge RPC (2000-2009) was blessed, and the congregation grew considerably through his ministry. He was a man with a rare combination of intellect and humility, which made him a very effective preacher. His sermons evidenced a deep piety and a godly determination to bring forth the riches of the Scriptures for his congregation. He was always warm pastorally and had a wonderful ability to minister to a wide range of people, willingly sacrificing himself for people’s needs; indeed, he exemplified kindness.

During his ministry in Cambridge, four men interned under him, profiting much from his careful personal instruction with diligent attention to their particular needs. Two of these men served as church planting pastors in the two church plants that were initiated during his ministry. Both of these church plants continue today, and one of them is now a thriving RP congregation.

Christian served the RPCNA in a variety of capacities: as the 1994 moderator of Synod, as president of the Board of Education & Publication, and, later, as chair of the academic affairs committee of the Board of Trustees of the RP Seminary. He chaired Synod’s committee on the doctrine of worship throughout its five-year study, and was overseeing presbyter for students of theology for Atlantic Presbytery. Christian also had overseas ministry trips in which he taught in Japan (at Kobe Theological Hall), Northern Ireland (at Reformed Theological College) and France (at the Colloque Biblique Francophone); his teaching was much appreciated in each place.

As a native French speaker, Christian had a deep and abiding concern for the spread of the gospel among the French-speaking peoples of the world. In June 2009, he left Cambridge to become dean and professor of biblical studies at the Institut Farel in Montreal, Quebec, a seminary of the Eglise Reformee du Quebec. But in God’s mysterious providence, his ministry there was to be brief, as he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in November 2009. He immediately accepted the hand of God and, without complaint, gave himself, as his body weakened, to a ministry of prayer, thanking God continually for His goodness and grace. On the morning of August 26, 2011, he witnessed the marriage of his daughter Anna in his hospital room; and that afternoon, his work on earth completed, he was taken into the immediate presence of God.

The elders of the Cambridge congregation give praise, thanks and glory to God for the ministry of His servant, our pastor, Christian Adjemian. The words of King David to his servants upon the death of righteous Abner express how we feel as we reflect upon his life and ministry: “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?” (2 Sam. 3:38).

We pray for God’s comfort for Laura, for Christian’s mother Seraphine, his sister Nicole, his children Tamika, Maro, Jonathan, Anna, Rachel and Stephanie, his grandchildren, and all his family circle.
—Session of the First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Cambridge, Mass.