The importance of Hope Centres in Central Asia as a means of spreading the Gospel, particularly among children, is without dispute. For many years SGA (UK) has recognised the significant role they play within the Muslim world, when other more traditional methods of Christian witness are severely restricted.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has until recently been a very difficult country in which to openly share the Gospel, but there are encouraging signs that the newly appointed Government is less hostile to evangelical believers, and with this new openness more Gospel opportunities are arising.
SGA (UK) has been pleased to partner with Bibel Mission in supporting 4 new Hope Centres in Uzbekistan. The renovation of one of these Hope Centres was completed and the dedication took place in September 2023. Much effort has been invested and many have sacrificed their time to help in preparing this Centre for use. Many guests attended the service, including friends and neighbours. The whole congregation thanked God for the wonderful opportunity to launch this ministry.
Following the service, everyone was invited to a love feast where there was an opportunity to get to know visitors. Testimonies were shared alongside praise and worship to the Lord. A group of believers from Zaravshan had hired a minibus, but the driver who brought visitors refused to come into the service. However, he agreed to join the lunch following the service where he listened attentively, and afterwards asked believers to pray for him and his family.
Thank you for your invaluable contribution to the building of this Hope Centre. We pray that it will serve as a home where local children can receive necessary help and it will be filled with the prayers of many children of God.
For others within Central Asia, Hope Centres provide a place of safety where children can receive hot meals, warm clothes, support, and education. Most importantly, they are a place where children can hear the Gospel.
In an exciting new development, SGA (UK) is supporting Hope Centre ministry in Mongolia. For the children of the indigenous nations in Central Asia, it is much more common to come and gather in a Yurt-Tent rather than in an official building. Local churches are using these for ministry among children and families. The big advantage is that yurts are practical for life in the deserts, no matter if it is extremely hot or extremely cold. In these remote and isolated areas, children will hear, many for the first time, that God loves them and will never abandon them, that He sent His Son to die for them. In this way, they will find a means of true hope and a future knowing God’s love.
