New Life at the New Life SDA Church in Darkhan, Mongolia

For two weeks in September 2006, I conducted evangelistic meetings in Darkhan, Mongolia, in conjunction with ShareHim and The Quiet Hour’s outreach to the large, but sparsely populated country.

In 2006 Mongolia celebrated its 800th birthday, and Genghis Khan’s memory was vividly honored throughout this large landlocked country situated between China and Russia, in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. Mongolia nomads still live in gers, a highly mobile circular tent like structure, and gers communities form suburbs to Ulaan Bataar (“UB”), the capital city and Darkhan, the second largest city, located to the north of UB and about sixty miles from the Russian border.

The December 2005 Adventist Frontiers’ article about Mongolia details the beginning of the New Life Church in Darkhan. Pastor Bold Batsukh, was one of the early converts when the work began in Mongolia in 1990. In 1998, as an ordained Adventist minister, he moved three hours north from UB to Darkhan, a university town. There he taught English at a local college and invited students for bible studies in his apartment. From those attending the bible studies, the New Life SDA Church was established. The seventy or so members meet in a former wedding chapel, which sits on a hill overlooking old Darkhan.

PICTURE 1: Attendees at the 2nd Sabbath services

Just prior to my arrival for the meetings, the church’s pastor resigned. But the work in Mongolia has spread most successfully through the young people. Deegii, the 19 year old first elder, and his girlfriend, Oogii, formed the backbone of the young people who managed the church’s responsibilities for the campaign with the skill and maturity lacking among many much older lay leaders. (Pictures 2: Deegii and Oogii)



My translator, who I gave the English name Oscar, was a 26 year old young man, who when he joined the church 10 years ago, suffered persecution from his family. It was a thrill for him to see his father attend the meetings, walking on the same cane which the father broke trying to hit Oscar ten years ago. (PICTURE 3: Oscar translating at the last service.)


From the youths’ diligently passing out invitations, over 150 adults and children attended the meetings, including many non-churched, non-Christian and /or Buddhist people. Under Oogii’s gift of child evangelism, the children's program grew from four children to about 50 at the conclusion of the meetings. (Picture 4 composite of children's program)





These young people are fulfilling Ellen White’s prediction that “The Lord has appointed the youth to be His helping hand. Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 64. {ChS 30.1}.
(Picture 5: young people (holding up hands in the back) who were the evangelistic meeting committee)





The special gift to those who attended a good number of the meetings was a Mongolian bible, which is not commonly owned by Mongolians. Those who do own bibles, usually have only the New Testament. (Picture 6: new bible owners)


Another special gift was a cross which could be added to a key ring. When a volunteer mediator who serves in my courtroom learned of my annual mission trips, he began making crosses for me to take and give as gifts. On the second Tuesday night of the meetings, about 45 crosses were shared. (Picture 7: Crosses received)



The health talks were an important component of the meetings, since diet, smoking, and alcoholism present special challenges to Mongolians. Their diet consists of both clean and unclean meats, including the fat, and starchy veggie as staples. Fresh fruit is usually imported, although readily available. I shared some walnuts, almonds and pecans with the people. (PICTURE 7: taste testing nuts) The NewStart formula was well received by those in attendance.



One deaf man attended the meetings and like the Samaritan woman in John 4, he went and told other deaf people about the meetings. (Picture 8: first deaf man to attend)

By the last service about nine deaf persons had attended the meetings. Since they are able to read, they were able to read the many text slides in the Powerpoint sermons presentation. The bibles given to them were seeds from which the church should expect a rich harvest.

A special feature of the meetings were the two Wednesday night special anointing services for prayer requests placed in a sealed box, which was burned at the conclusion of the meetings. (Picture 9: anointing service BE SURE TO DELETE THE DATE ON PIC)



Sixteen persons confirmed their new birth by baptism. Included in the group was a twelve year old girl, who had not told her parents about her decision to completely follow Christ. Converts to the Gospel of Jesus Christ face stiff challenges from family and friends, who see conversions to Christianity as grounds to disown and disinherit family members. So while the Gospel spreads comparatively easier to the Mongolian young people, many of whom do not tell their parents of their new found faith or baptism.

Also baptized were older people, who confirm that the Holy Spirit is breaking down resistance to the Gospel. Four of the older people had some Christian church exposure, but apparently the teachings were limited to the New Testament. (Picture 10: Composite picture of older couple being baptized.)




Each night, the sermon ended with the picture of the two groups of people alive when Jesus returns. One will be running and crying for the rocks to fall on them; the other chose to love Jesus and keep His commandments.
(PICTURE 11: We ended the last service with commitments to hug each other in heaven, since the sermon taught that we would be recognize each other in heaven.)


What a wonderful way to take my vacation time! I get the best results for my R & R - - encouraging souls to decide for Christ and seeing the world!