by Amanda Klassen
28 March 2011

Packing up my teaching supplies and eager to escape the desert heat rising in the ger—the tent-like dwellings of Mongolians—I could see one of my students lingering after class. "Can you help me with something?” 20-year-old Bayar asked. He pulled out a worn Gideon Bible which a short term worker had given him years earlier. He was trying to understand the meaning of Psalm 1. After that we met twice a week studying Bible passages to make sure the meaning was understood, for he was determined to know and follow God.

As our friendship developed, he began to share the vision God had given him for his own people. The Lord prompted him to learn to play the guitar and piano to teach others how to worship. Bayar had a passion for bike riding. Combining his evangelistic anointing with biking, he would ride from one province to the next, traveling more than 150 kilometers a day, visiting churches and preaching to nomads and unbelievers along the way. He had no money and ate only one meal a day, but he was full of God’s Spirit!

But Bayar’s life did not start with glory. As he shared his story with me, I fought hard to keep the tears from falling. Both of his parents were alcoholics; he suffered more than I could bear! His future held no hope and it was assumed he would never amount to anything. Against all odds God had taken that which was despised and weak and shamed the strong.

All across Mongolia there are young men and women like Bayar. Since the early 1990s the Gospel spread like wildfire primarily through Christian teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL). The fruit of that wildfire is seen today with people Bayar’s age and younger, pastoring congregations even when they have only been Christians for two years or less. God has gifted this zealous generation.

My relationship with Bayar taught me this important lesson: outside of community we wither, but through discipleship and mentoring we thrive and reach our God-given potential for HIS ultimate glory. Mongolia continues to be a gold mine of people longing to be mentored. The Mongolian Evangelical Association is looking for those who can walk along side and disciple these young believers. Do you have the heart of a mentor and a passion for discipleship?

Invitation for the Mongolia JCS Vision Casting Trip: 5-14 September 2011. COME, HEAR, SEE, FEEL & TASTE: To help you to understand the opportunities for mission in Mongolia, you are invited to meet JCS leadership and staff, visit project sites, interact with Mongolia partners and the Mongolia Church. Contact: CSEA office.

SIM has many current openings for workers in Mongolia. If you would like to explore how your gifts and calling can be used there, please visit our list of openings.

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