Released: July 20, 2004

Christians in Mongolia Reconcile After Years of Cultural Strife

MONGOLIA: After centuries of inter-tribal rivalry in Mongolia, dozens of new believers have begun to seek forgiveness and heal the rifts among their tribes. In May, 2004, one hundred Mongolians gathered for a missions conference led by Accelerating International Mission Strategies (AIMS). They had no idea that believers from other cultural groups in Mongolia sat among them.

At the end of the training, the Mongolian leader of the conference explained that 26 distinct cultural groups in Mongolia had little or no access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sixteen of these 26 cultural groups were represented at the conference. Applause resounded throughout the room as a representative from each group stepped forward. Mongolian leaders were the first to arise and pray for each representative. Their hearts broke for each unreached cultural group present. Several began to seek reconciliation for the years of cultural strife between their tribes.

"They were hugging each other and asking for forgiveness for past atrocities," said Pastor Dan Goff, an AIMS Associate and pastor of Calvary Assembly of God in Virginia Beach, VA. "The Holy Spirit was there, working in ways we were not aware."

Just twelve years ago, the church in Mongolia did not exist. Since the fall of Communism, the Christian church began to grow and thrive in the spiritually barren land. Today, more than 20,000 Mongolians in 200 churches profess faith in Jesus Christ. In September 2003, AIMS held the very first trans-denominational missions conference in Mongolian history. Thirty top leaders of the MEA attended that first training.

"I have never met a group so young in the Lord that has a burning heart for missions," said Dr. Howard Foltz, founder and president of AIMS. "I believe that Christians in Mongolia can reach Inner Mongolia, Siberia, and the entire length of the former Silk Road."

One young woman has already accepted the challenge. Alima* attended the first conference in September, one month after she had accepted Jesus Christ. 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. But ìAlimaî had one advantage: her brother was a believer. Alima's* heart broke for the thousands of people in her cultural group who did not know Jesus Christ. She returned to Hovd and planted a church among them. She continues to spread the Gospel among her tribe and neighboring tribes.

The leaders of the Mongolian church have asked AIMS to return for a third training next year. By that time, they hope that believers from all 26 unreached cultural groups in Mongolia will attend. "These leaders have committed to pray," said AIMS' International Director. "Many of them are going to go to these ethnic groups who have no representation of the Gospel in their language."

AIMS exists to challenge the Church to take the Gospel where it has never been proclaimed. For more information about how AIMS is training leaders around the world, visit our website at www.aims.org or call our home office at (757) 495-5850.

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* Note: Some names have been omitted or changed to protect the identity of people working in areas that are hostile to the Gospel. Photos of region are available upon request.

Previously published by GlobalMissiology.Org (July Online Edition)

For reprint information, please call the AIMS publication office at (757) 495-5850 or email the editor at aims@aims.org.

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