Mongolia Day One

It is nearly 2:00am in Ulaanbaatar Mongolia as I write these words. The team of five people, counting myself, that has come from Crossroads is resting from the long journey here. Only having been in the country less than a day and the needs of the people of this place are beginning to stick out to those of us who have an eye to look. One might look upon this impoverished nation, where the national average yearly income is hovering close to $700.00, and see the need as humanitarian in nature. You might see the old men wandering the street in such a state of drunkenness as to fall down, and see the need as humanitarian in nature. You might see children who aren’t dressed nice, or old ladies whose health isn’t so good, or ragged buildings and rough streets, and see the need as humanitarian. However I see a need that is so profoundly spiritual that the humanitarian aspect fades away. We think to ourselves often times, “What these people need is a little piece of the American dream,” but that statement is so far from the truth.

Talking with Bernie and Renee Anderson, we quickly find that in the past, and even currently, missionaries from many different groups have appealed to the Mongolians with a health and wealth type of Gospel. The false Gospel of the Western World has penetrated Mongolia, and the focus has been on getting people to “ask Jesus into their heart” never once pointing out the deadly disease of sin that has caused this terrible rift between the receiver and God. Can men, Mongolian men and women, truly be reconciled to God without coming to a keen awareness of their own lostness? I think our methods of presenting the Gospel are somewhat important, but more than the methods, whether we do it through feeding programs, street evangelism, job training, or whatever other method we can contrive – yes more than the methods, the importance rests upon the authenticity, and biblical accuracy of the message we present. The keenest need in Mongolia right now is not for the people of Mongolia, but it is for God to raise up faithful, trustworthy, God honoring laborers who will present the fullness of the Gospel. Who will not only speak of the grace of our Lord, but who will speak of his wrath and judgment as well. As we try to search out the felt needs of the people here we must always keep in mind that God himself, through the mouth of Jesus, told us the greatest need is for true and faithful witnesses!

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Luke 10:1-2