Christians among Unreached People Groups in Mongolia Reconcile
After Years of Cultural Strife

AIMS News: Posted 7/1/2004

Last year, "Alima's" life completely changed. Growing up in the province of Hovd in Western Mongolia, she had little opportunity to hear about Christ. Only ten known Christians live among the 29,000 people in her cultural group. However, Alima had one advantage. Her brother, "Baatar," was one of them. Baatar told Alima about Jesus Christ, and she believed.

Thirty days later, in September, 2003, Alima decided to attend a missions conference with Baatar. They joined several key leaders and other believers of the Mongolian Evangelical Alliance (MEA) who gathered at a camp in Ulaanbaatar to receive training from Dr. Howard Foltz, founder and president of AIMS.

Alima's heart broke for her people. After the conference, she returned to Hovd and planted a church. Since then, she continued to touch her own people with the Gospel as well as other cultural groups around her in Western Mongolia.

In May, 2004, "Titus" (AIMS International Director) traveled to Mongolia to further the training Dr. Foltz began last September. Alima and Baatar both returned. Alima expressed her thanks personally to "Pastor Samuel," an AIMS Associate who joined Dr. Foltz in September and Titus in May, for the change it meant in her life last year.

A Church Still in its Infancy

In 1989, according to Operation World, only four known Christians lived in Mongolia (1). Today, more than 20,000 Mongolians in 200 churches profess faith in Jesus Christ. Several key leaders of the MEA were among the 30 people who attended the first trans-denominational missions conference in Mongolian history last September.

"I have never met a group so young in the Lord that has a burning heart for missions, is adaptable to cross-cultural ministry, and possesses such linguistic ability," said Dr. Howard Foltz. After the training in September, he reported that the Mongolian leaders believed that the territory once claimed by Genghis Khan would be conquered for the King of Kings. Foltz continued, "I believe Christians in Mongolia can reach Inner-Mongolia, Siberia, and the entire length of the former Silk Road."

In May, 100 believers gathered for training. Titus and Pastor Samuel taught two tracks of Equipping for the Harvest. Twenty-five of the thirty leaders who attended last year returned for a second track of training. Seventy-five participated in the level one track, a repeat of the training from last September.

"What a strategic opportunity to impart the little bit of wisdom God has given to us to those reaching out into these priority people groups," said Titus. "These churches one day may serve as a bridge from Mongolia/China to the Muslim world."

Time for Spiritual Reconciliation

The most exciting aspect of the conference occurred on the last day of training. When the time came to form partnerships to reach the unreached people groups in the nation, our convener began to name the 26 unreached groups in Mongolia. He asked the believers belonging to those groups to step forward. Out of the 100 participants at the conference sixteen unreached people groups outside the Mongolians were represented. As each representative of an unreached people group stepped forward, applause resounded throughout the room.

Although the Mongolia church is growing rapidly, less than 2% of the population is considered Christian and therefore considered unreached. However, very few of the 26 other unreached people groups in Mongolia have any known church in their language and culture.

Mongolian leaders stepped forward to pray for each representative. Their hearts broke for each unreached people group represented and several groups spontaneously began to seek racial reconciliation with other groups.

"They were hugging each other and asking for forgiveness for past atrocities," remembers Pastor Samuel. "It broke our hearts. The Holy Spirit was there, working in ways we were not aware."

The leaders of the Mongolian church asked AIMS to return next year for a third training with three levels including a training of trainers. By that time, they hope to have representatives from all 26 unreached people groups in Mongolia present.

"It was powerful," said Titus. "These leaders have committed to pray and many are going to go to these ethnic groups who have no representation of the Gospel in their language."

(1) Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk, Operation World: When We Pray, God Works, 21st Century Edition. (Waynesboro, GA: Paternoster USA) 2001, p.452.

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