Partnership in mission is a concept and strategy which has proved to be effective and fruitful in reaching the lost and bringing the message into previously unevangelized regions.
Since 2016, Slavic Gospel Association and Trans World Radio have been in a partnership in Central Asia, supporting and sponsoring several Gospel radio programmes such as ‘Power in Persecution’ which is broadcast on multiple radio stations and apps. In 2021 SGA began supporting another radio programme, this time in the Kyrgyz language – ‘The Radio Bible Project’.
Another aspect of our partnership is SGA’s continuing support of the distribution of over two thousand media players/radios and pre-programmed SD cards throughout Central Asia.
Recently, both organizations discovered a common interest in bringing the Gospel to people in Mongolia, a large, sparsely-populated, landlocked country, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. The majority of its 3.3 million population are professedly Buddhist, many of them still influenced by the Brahmanism and folk religion which remains the religion of about 30% of the population. About 25% profess no religion at all.Â
It is estimated that 99% of Mongolians are unreached with the Gospel. Evangelical Christians are few in number, only 0.9% of the population. The challenge of reaching Mongolia with the Gospel is further complicated by the fact that over 30% of the population are nomadic or semi-nomadic, moving continually through the vast grasslands of the country.
Limited internet coverage and unreliable mobile phone communication led to TWR’s decision to broadcast by FM and SW, in order to most effectively reach both urban and rural populations.
When ‘listening in’ to live broadcasts is not possible, the supply of pre-programmed SD cards with Gospel material ensures that access to the Good News is possible even for those living a nomadic lifestyle.
We praise God for the opportunity to begin reaching Mongolia with the Gospel by radio last year, through the translation and broadcasting the programme ‘Do You Know?’. This is an SGA-sponsored programme which has been produced and broadcast in the Mongolian language on both SW and FM radio platforms.
It is encouraging that programmes are reaching listeners and that the Holy Spirit is touching lives through this recent development. We thank God that already there have been responses from listeners.