Mention Mongolia and most people think of Chinghis Khan, the thirteenth century chieftain who united the warring Mongolian tribes to form the largest land empire the world has ever seen. Today the empire is gone, but the people remain as fiercely proud of their heroic leader as ever.

Sitting between two giants, China to the south and Russia to the north, Mongolia is still a sizeable country. It is said to be the size of western Europe, with a population of nearly 3.3 million, half of whom live in the capital city, Ulaanbaatar.

Traditionally, Mongolians are nomads who dwell in round white tents called gers. With their cattle, they move with the seasons, living their lives on the vast Mongolian steppe. However, in recent years, many have abandoned their time-honoured nomadic ways to move to towns and cities for education and employment opportunities.

The birth of the church

Following the withdrawal of Russian communism just over thirty years ago, the country became a fledgling democracy that opened its borders to the world. Amongst the first to arrive were Christian mission workers, many of whom had spent long years interceding for the nation’s people.

Young Mongolians were hungry for a new reality and something to fill the void in their lives. They responded to the good news of the gospel and the church was born and grew rapidly, from what was reckoned to be four or five believers in 1989, to several thousand just ten years later.

“The church was born and grew rapidly, from what was reckoned to be four or five believers in 1989, to several thousand just ten years later.”

Standing behind the curtain

That first generation of Christians, mostly now in their forties, were passionate in their love for God, and eager to evangelise their own country and beyond. Today, the burdens of life threaten to dim their passion, and the re-strengthening of Buddhism and Shamanism has brought increased resistance. There is a real need for godly men and women to come alongside church leaders – or as the Mongolians say, to stand behind the curtain, and bring support to those serving God.

Mongolia is quickly becoming a different country. People still live in gers and herd animals, but Ulaanbaatar is becoming like any other city in the world. Many young people do not share their parents’ beliefs, particularly those whose parents are involved in Christian ministry. Many believe the gospel is irrelevant and brings constrains rather than freedom. Opportunities to share with the younger generation exist.

Pray that the Lord will send new workers to share the gospel afresh, so that the young, and old too, will know that God’s timeless truth is wholly relevant to their lives.

Please pray …

• for the first generation of Christians in Mongolia – now in their forties – that the burdens of life and the threat of growing resistance will not dim their passion
• for a generation moving away from the faith of their parents, including those with parents in Christian ministry
• that the Lord will send new workers to share the gospel afresh, and the need for godly men and women to come alongside Mongolian Christians leaders will be filled
• for many in Mongolia who do not know Christ, some of whom follow Buddhism and Shamanism