A country whose history is inseparably linked with the warlike Genghis Khan who, in the early 13th c. united the region’s warring tribes and factions, and established by cruel force one of the greatest empires in world history. The Mongol Empire covered much of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, China and beyond.
Today, it has shrunk to a comparatively small, almost forgotten nation. Spiritually it is a land steeped in darkness, superstition, and religious confusion. Mongolia is officially a secular state, but over half the population adhere to a form of Buddhism while many of the remainder are caught up in Shamanism and superstitious folk religion. The physical barrenness of much of the country reflects its desperate spiritual condition.
Until around thirty years ago there was not a single Christian church in Mongolia, but through the efforts of faithful missionaries, initially Russian believers, the Gospel has since taken root and begun to advance.
Most missionary efforts have been concentrated in Ulaanbaatar the capital city, where almost half the total population lives. There are vast areas unreached, and the challenge of taking the Gospel to those living in such isolation, is further complicated by the fact that the people of the steppes and desert areas, are nomadic or semi-nomadic.
SGA has recently entered into partnership with Bibel Mission and Trans World Radio (TWR), to address the daunting challenge of taking the message of Jesus to the isolated regions. In 2015 Bibel Mission began to support believers from Siberia in their attempts to do this, and SGA is now helping to promote and sustain this advance of our Slavic friends into new territory.
Already SGA has helped to fund the provision of Christian summer camps, supported the translation of the Children’s Bible into the Mongolian language, and helped make it possible to bring the ‘Joy of Christmas’ project to many children and young people.
SGA is also partnering Bibel Mission in its provision of Hope Centres. Two have been completed and were opened in October 2022. Each of them will be regularly caring for 30-50 children. They are an invaluable means of ministering materially and spiritually to the needy and vulnerable.
The vital radio ministry of TWR is well known and appreciated by SGA supporters, and it is with glad hearts that SGA partners with them in several regions of Central Asia, and now in the country of Mongolia. In a recent report Mariette Oosterhoff, Partnership Director of TWR, underlined the vastness of the country, the sparseness of its population and the consequent isolation of many nomadic groups. There are also critical social problems – addiction, violence, and domestic abuse.
How can we bring hope and share God’s Word with them? It is important that we speak the language and know the culture. So, when we produce programmes, it should be really close to their culture.
In these spiritually inhospitable circumstances, God is using TWR broadcasts which share and explain the message of salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ, to penetrate hearts and homes.
SGA is financing a series of Gospel broadcasts entitled ‘Do You Know?’ Much of the material is simple, basic Bible teaching, introducing people to Jesus. An estimated 98% of Mongolians know nothing of Him! What a privilege – to bring the message of Jesus to ears that have never before heard the salvation story!
Fruit is already being produced and TWR friends have been thrilled by responses received, and accounts of God’s remarkable work in the lives of people who seemed unreachable. Take, for example, the story of Jagaa and his wife. They are traditional sheep herders who live a life of extreme nomadic seclusion on the steppes of Mongolia. There are no churches there and most people have never heard of Jesus. By God’s grace Jagaa and his family met one of the only Christians in their area, heard the Gospel, and believed.
Now they need to grow in Christ and learn more about God’s Word, but how? There is no church and no other believers. The answer is through radio. Programmes like ‘Do You Know’ are designed specially to reach and teach such people. Jagaa’s wife explains:
Our nomadic life is a huge challenge when it comes to being part of a church family. Due to the sheer distance from any urban area, we could hardly visit and join a church on a regular basis. Radio has become our lifeline; it feeds our faith with solid Biblical teaching and lifts our spirits leading us in worship. Jagaa often takes the radio with him when he is out on the steppes with the sheep.
Jagaa says:
The radio feeds my soul as it keeps company with the lonely shepherd I am. The Word of God inspires and comforts me. My fellow herders now call me “Jesus’ Jagaa”, of which I’m very proud… I feel privileged and responsible to be a good testimony to the Lord’s name. I’m forever grateful to Jesus that He has found me. Amen!
