Land of the eternal blue sky
by Jon Konnerup
Mongolia, a landlocked republic located between Russia and China in the heart of eastern Asia, is one of the oldest countries in the world. Ranked 19th in terms of its landmass, Mongolia, with its population of 2.7 million people, is the most sparsely populated country on the globe. Arable land is difficult to find as much of its northern and western regions are mountainous and the Gobi Desert is located in its southern realm. Average temperatures range from 65°F in the summer to -20°F in the winter. It has been known to drop as low as -40°F during the long, cold winter.
While 95 percent of the population speaks Mongolian, the official language of the country, Russian, is the most commonly spoken foreign language, followed by English. English is gradually replacing Russian as the second language.
Because of its connections with China, Mongolia has experienced a turbulent history since ancient times. During the rule of the warrior emperors Genghis and Kublai Khan, the empire stretched from Poland in the west to Korea in the east; and from Siberia in the north to Vietnam and India to the south. In its earlier years, it was recognized as the largest empire the world had ever known and boasted 25 percent of the world’s population. Voyagers and explorers, such as Marco Polo, took full advantage of the country’s open commerce.
Genghis Khan became one of the central figures of the nation’s identity. Mongolians look upon him positively for his role in uniting warring tribes. The country came under strong Russian influence, resulting in the proclamation of the Mongolian People’s Republic as a Soviet satellite state in 1924. After the breakdown of communist regimes in Europe in late 1989, Mongolia experienced its own democratic revolution and peacefully transitioned from communism to democracy in 1990.
Ulaanbaatar, the largest city in Mongolia, is the coldest capital in the world. This main urban center, with its plazas, markets, museums, and temples, is home to about half the nation’s population. An 80-foot-tall statue of Buddha and many prayer wheels are housed in one of its Buddhist monasteries.
A round, felt tent known as a ger is the traditional Mongolian dwelling. Over 45 percent of the people live in gers, not only in remote areas but also in communities surrounding the capital city. Of the people who live in buildings, only 42 percent have indoor plumbing.
Approximately 30 percent of the population is nomadic or semi-nomadic. Twenty percent of the population lives on less than $1.25 USD per day. About 59 percent of the total population is under age 30, of which 27 percent are under age 14.
The Mongols are a very religious people. Genghis Khan once said, “We Mongols believe that there is but one God by whom we live and by whom we die.” Kublai Khan requested religious teachers from Europe and Tibet to teach Mongolians the Christian and Buddhist faiths. Europeans greatly feared the Mongols and for many years Christian missionaries were hesitant to go to Mongolia. During that time, Tibetan teachers eagerly began to infiltrate the country, and the Buddhist religion was integrated into their culture as the main religion.
Buddhism began to decline in the 20th century as Russian atheism and materialism grew, and their profound effects began to influence Mongolia. During the 1990s, a mood of tolerance towards the West and a desire for education and progress among the younger generation began to spread as Mongolia became more open to foreign development and commerce.
The fall of communism in 1991 restored public religious practice, and the end of religious repression allowed other religions to spread. Prior to 1990, there was no permanent missionary work in the country. In 1990, only four believers were known to exist in Mongolia. Shortly after, however, the country began to open up, and by 1993 there were as many as 1,500 believers. The government passed measures that required all churches to be registered. Today, the Christian population has reached nearly 20,000, with most of the church members being younger.
Since 2007, the BBFI has had one family ministering in Mongolia, and another family will join them when they finish deputation. Three families from the Korean BBF have ministries in this country. Our missionaries have a deep desire to reach the Mongolian people with the gospel and have started three churches in Mongolia. In June 2013, the Korean BBFI celebrated 20 years of ministry with these churches in Mongolia.
The country is technically open to mission work, but the requirements are so difficult that many are unable to obtain religious visas — much less permanent visas. Most people are able to obtain work visas or launch a non-profit business in order to gain entrance to the country. Limitations apply to certain aspects of mission work, yet many opportunities will be open wide once we are more established and have more assistance.
One of the leading educational institutions in the country was started years ago by a group of Koreans (one of which was a missionary of the Korean BBF) and is now a full-fledged university with over 3,000 students and offering several degrees. It is a bright light of the gospel in this region of the world. We are in current need of people with a Master’s degree or a minimum of a TESOL certificate to teach English in this university. You could take this great opportunity to commit to a summer or even one to two years to reach out to students!
We have a tremendous need for trained teachers to teach in the Bible college and others who can help with sports camps, agricultural training, or teaching English at various camps or MANNA centers. Perhaps your church would help with a summer or even a winter camp to reach young Mongolians who are eager to know the truth.
Of course, there is always a need for more full-time missionaries. The BBFI missionaries who have been in Mongolia for the past six years are overwhelmed with the number of possible ministry opportunities. They are constantly working to secure the means that will allow them to remain in the country doing the Lord’s work. They can hardly wait for our other missionary family to arrive and are desperate for even more help. God is still calling people to go. Who will answer the call?
The hearts of the Mongolian people readily respond to the gospel message as they begin to see how the love and forgiveness of Jesus can transform their lives. We need Christians with a passion to live and work in Mongolia to come alongside these servants of Christ and assist with discipleship and in training church leaders. We also want to partner with Mongolians to reach out beyond their borders to other parts of Asia with the gospel message.
Mongolia is known as the land of the eternal blue sky — but in reality, it is the land with great need of knowing the One who gives eternal life to those who repent and believe.