Have you ever been on a mission trip? Have you ever gone “two by two”, house by house, proclaiming the good news like the disciples did?
Apostle Paul learned that as a result of doing mission, everything he used to hold dear was worthless when he compared it to bringing the light of the Gospel to a people living in darkness.
Campaign Volunteers in Mission
Thanks to you, hundreds of our trained and mobilized church volunteers in Mongolia are experiencing what Paul did!
Your financial support and dedication in prayer provided this gift for them. Here are some of their inspiring stories:
Overcoming Fear
Amartuvshin is a volunteer director at the campaign call center.
Amartuvshin was nervous about doing this. Answering calls, emails, and posts of those piling in from the media campaign was something he had never done before. Here is some of what he experienced:
“The training that I received really helped. I was amazed at how many calls and messages came in. It was overwhelming. One thing that surprised me was how much this campaign would help people with disabilities. Some of the most memorable stories were messages from deaf people (one of our book’s ‘heroes’ has a hearing problem). Also, there were three calls from paralyzed people. They used a voice helper to help them to call and ask for a book.
Yesterday I had a very interesting conversation with a drunk old man who called in. As you know, our campaign books and ads all declare that “You can experience the power to change”. Well, this caller asked: “What are you going to change?”
He thought that it was another political campaign with empty promises. I told him that we weren’t looking to make political or global changes. Their goal is for people, like you, to change. He admitted to me that he wanted to change, so I shared some stories from the book. After that conversation, he asked for his own copy of the book. I arranged for him to get one right away!
I am so grateful for this project. I am honoured to be able to serve my own people and give them hope… because most of us in Mongolia have none.”
Never Too Old
Would you take a volunteer shift, answering calls from total strangers on your 60th birthday? Well… this volunteer did! Here is some of what she had to say:
“I could hardly wait to volunteer with this campaign. I answer calls and I go door-to-door, participating in the campaign book distribution.
This volunteer turned 60 on the day she was answering campaign calls.
I didn’t know very many other people volunteering from all these other churches. But we have become a family. When they heard that I was turning 60 on one of my shifts, they made sure I didn’t miss out on a birthday cake! We all celebrated together.
I spoke to one woman over the phone that I will never forget. She was drunk when she called, and she pleaded for a copy of the book. As soon as we hung up, she called in again and begged for a copy of the book. Even though I told her that she would be getting a copy, she kept calling in all evening. I don’t think she was safe to herself that night. I was happy to keep taking her call.
We brought her a book the very next day. She was overjoyed.
Distributing the campaign books door-to-door are the most moving moments for me. What I have found out through this is that everybody wants to change… but they don’t know how to change. This book shows them the stories of people who have been changed by Jesus, giving them hope for the future.
Many of the older people that I visit are extremely upset and crying about the trouble that their children are in. They are desperate to discover the power to change and share it with their children.”
Sometimes, you just need to open your mouth and speak…
Every day since the beginning of the campaign, Erdenbaat comes to the center at 5 pm, after work. Riding his bicycle, he helps deliver books to people who have requested one.
Erdenbaat (to the left) gave his life to Christ in 2018.
When we asked him why he decided to participate in the project, he said:
“I used to be a heavy drinker, however, in 2018 I met God, and God changed my life. When I heard about this book, I realized that it could bring help to other people… if God could change me, then He can change anybody! So, I decided to take part in the project.”
Every day Erdenbaat puts up posters about the project in different places and delivers the books to people who ordered them, including his brother who practices shamanism. It is said that if a member of a family does not become a shaman, grave suffering and tribulation would fall upon the family.
This can be contrasted with the words of Jesus: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes on Him would not perish but have everlasting life!” and “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost!” (Luke 19:10).
His prayer is that God touches the heart of his brother.
Book Carriers in the Ger District
Boloroo’s heart for reaching the “lost” of Mongolia is inspiring. As the national director of GCMM’s nationwide evangelism campaign in Mongolia, she worked alongside local pastors in selecting the life-changing stories shared in the campaign books and the media.
Two other women, of the many volunteers, are also book carriers in the center of the biggest district in Ulaanbaatar. Their names are Davaasuren and Dashaa. They each deliver 5-10 books every day.
“It can be intimidating sometimes,” they said. “We deliver books to the Ger district where there are a lot of drunk people, street dogs, and no light in the evening. It’s scary. But we keep going… because we want to bring God’s light and hope to the people in those districts.
One of the afternoons when we were picking up our books for delivery, a man walked right in. He had spent 25 years of his life in prison and was inspired by pastor Tsogtbayar’s story, which he had seen on a campaign poster. He wanted the book so that he could discover the power to change his own life.
Another story happened on the bus. The media campaign had rented ad space on the buses, and three teenagers who saw the advertisement began to mock it…
“These slogans were unreal and such stories are impossible in real life,” they had said.
We couldn’t resist the opportunity. We spoke together for the rest of the bus ride and found out that they were orphans, currently living in an orphanage. We gave them each a copy of the campaign book, arranged to go and visit them at the orphanage, hosted an event for them, and shared the campaign books with them all.”
Here is my gift to keep the Mongolia campaign going
A Visit with a Buddhist High Priest
Buddhism is traditionally the dominant religion in Mongolia. The local campaign team arranged a visit with the highest spiritual leader in the country. The high priest happened to own a significant number of the buses in the city’s transport department.
Campaign ads had been successfully placed on the buses with QR codes. By activating the QR code, passengers would see campaign videos with life-changing stories on their phones. With many passengers spending several hours a day on buses to and from work in the mornings and evenings, we had a captive audience.
While visiting the high priest, we were offered tea as we were chatting. (No recording was allowed.)
What is the purpose of the campaign?
Without warning, the high priest suddenly turned to Hannu and asked him as the only foreigner of the group: “What is the ultimate goal of this campaign?” Tension momentarily filled the air. A wrong answer could significantly damage our intended mission.
Hannu quickly prayed to God for wisdom, for the right words and immediately had the words to speak.
“In the Holy Book, the Bible, Doctor Luke in his Gospel tells the parable about the lost sheep and the lost silver coin. A shepherd had 100 sheep and one of them went astray in open country. He of course leaves the 99 and goes after the lost sheep until he finds it. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and invites his friends and neighbours on his return saying: Rejoice with me! I found my sheep which was lost. Jesus said this is the same way it is in heaven. There will be more rejoicing when the lost sheep is found than over the 99 who weren’t lost.
In another parable a woman had 10 silver coins and loses one. So she lights her lamp, sweeps the floor, and searches carefully until she finds it. And when she finds it, she too calls her friends and neighbours together and says: Rejoice with me! I found my lost coin. The same way, angels of God rejoice over one who has been lost and is found.”
“There are thousands and thousands of Mongolians, who have lost their way and don’t know how or have the strength to return to the normalcy of life. Alcohol, drugs, and crises in life have led them astray. Many have lost their desire to live, and with no hope, contemplate suicide. The campaign message invites them to return to the fullness of life that is worth living. This is the goal of this media mission.”
The Buddhist high priest had been listening intently without interruption and finally replied: “But this is exactly what our nation needs!” and moments later added: “We will continue your soon-expiring bus advertising contract into December!” The Holy Spirit was present and had spoken to the high priest. The media campaign was given an important extension and additional visibility in the capital city bus transit system.
Photo Caption from left to right:
A visiting pastor from Russia (to the right) came to ministry to these people. (left photo)
Families with children live on the grounds of the city dump.(middle photo)
Living accommodations for a family. (right photo)
No one helps these families because, in their religion, the most compassionate thing that you can do for these families is let them endure the suffering admirably, earning them a better life the next time around. How awful. How hopeless.
We learned from the local pastor that 300 people are living and working on this dump and that 80% of the adults suffering from alcoholism.
Imagine the pastor’s surprise when one of the campaign book’s ‘heroes’ was someone who grew up there, on the dump! That’s when this pastor knew that he had to join the campaign.
As a result of the campaign, two events were initiated.
The first one took place on October 31st. Churches came together to help support this pastor by distributing campaign books, food, hats, gloves, and warm jackets. The second event the campaign church teams organized was specifically for the children living on the dump. The Gospel was brought to these dear young ones as they had a bible day camp run, just for them.
Ministering to children who live with their families on the city garbage dump.
These children have had a hard life. When their parents are too sick to work, sorting garbage, the children take their place.
Thanks to your support, we were able to bring these children a completely different message than the one that they have heard their entire lives. We were able to bring them the message of Jesus’ love and God’s grace.
Where Buddhism says, “May you always get exactly what you deserve!”, Christianity says the exact opposite.
Grace says, “May you get exactly what you don’t deserve… the free gift of life… life to its fullest.”
Let this video of that blessed day warm your heart. You made this possible for these 45 children.
Here is my gift to keep the Mongolia campaign goingRead More Stories