The gospel is spreading in Mongolia as believers in the capital are partnering with mission agencies to reach the rest of the country.
Mongolia! The very name suggests a mixture of fascination and fear. Once a great world empire under the powerful Genghis Khan, it is now an almost forgotten land squeezed between Russia to the north and China to the south. Although officially a secular state, a large proportion of Mongolians adhere to a form of Buddhism, while many others are caught up in Shamanism and superstitious folk religion. Christian witness was virtually non-existent until about 30 years ago, when through the labours of faithful missionaries from other countries gospel seeds took root and began to grow.
As growth continues in the capital city, Ulaanbaatar, where almost half the total population lives, believers are burdened to reach the unreached nomadic peoples of the steppes and desert areas – a monumental challenge! Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) and two other partner mission agencies, Bible Mission and Trans World Radio (TWR), are making efforts to strengthen the existing churches and believers there, and expand gospel witness to reach the whole nation. How is this being attempted?
• TWR broadcasts. A variety of programmes including a gospel series – Do you Know? – financed by SGA(UK), provide teaching on the basics of the Christian faith, including introducing people to Jesus, of whom most Mongolians know nothing. Encouraging feedback has included thrilling reports of conversions among those in the population which seemed “unreachable”.
• Reaching out to children and families. SGA supports its Bible Mission friends in organising children’s summer camps. Help has also been given to translate the Children’s Bible into Mongolian and to support the “Joy of Christmas” project, which introduces children and their families to the story of Jesus. Mongolia’s church leaders know that spiritual reaping among the huge numbers of Mongolian young people is vital to the future growth and strength of gospel churches.
• Developing and training leaders. A School of Preachers has been initiated to train leaders Biblically and theologically for the vital task of strengthening existing churches and planting new ones. The broadening and deepening of believers’ spiritual lives is a priority. Currently, over 40 pastors and Christian workers are following a curriculum built around the disciplines of study, exegesis and exposition of the Scriptures. Nurturing and developing mature Christian leadership is essential for the churches, and ultimately for the whole cause of the gospel in Mongolia.
Every available avenue is being explored to increase and amplify gospel witness in this needy land. Pray for more doors to open in Mongolia for the increase and growth of Christ’s church.
