Christian faith has experienced spectacular growth in Mongolia since the fall of communism in 1990. At that time, according to Asian Outreach, there were only two known Mongolian Christians; now there are an estimated 45,000 believers. Olobayar ('Olnoo') Jantsansambuu and Badamkhatan ('Badmaa') Tsogoo recently visited Canadian churches. These are their testimonies:

Badmaa

I had been seeking for hope for my life, and thought Buddhism could provide it. So I involved myself in studying it, to gain spiritual power. I became a strong advocate of those beliefs, and tried to get my friends to become Buddhists.

My understanding of Christianity was very limited. To me it was a Russian or Western religion, with people believing in the statue of a cross with a dead man on it.

In 1996, one of my best friends shared his Christian faith. I refused to believe, and we had a heated argument. I bought a Bible; I prepared myself with it, to challenge him. However, I was amazed by his responses; but I still refused to give in.

Two months later, I had a dream. I was running from a battle, and was overcome with fear of what would happen after death. Suddenly, I remembered something my friend said: "If you believe in Jesus, you can go to paradise after your death." In my dream, I was seeking for this 'paradise.'

The next day, still haunted by the dream, I went to church with another friend. I wanted to know more about Jesus. It was my first time at a church.

The people seemed strange - laughing and crying while they sang. But once I opened my mouth to sing, a tremendous power of love flooded my heart.

I had been proud of my upbringing, and considered myself a good man. But at that moment, I felt utterly filthy, full of selfishness and sin.

The words of the song said: "Jesus died on the cross for your sins, because he loved you so much."

I had heard these words many times before; but now I realized it was my sin which caused his suffering. I cried uncontrollably, filled with the presence of his immense love - and I asked for his forgiveness.

After the service, a deep sense of peace filled my heart. From then on, I gave my life to Jesus - and was able to see life through totally new eyes.

Olnoo

I was 10th of 13 children in my family - who were nomadic hunters. It was difficult for my parents to support their children in time of economic crisis, following communism's collapse. So after I finished high school at the age of 19, I had to support myself. But I ended up forming a gang with my friends. We were drinking heavily, partying, robbing, breaking into houses, fighting and stabbing people.

One day a 19 year old girl was preaching the gospel on the street. Our gang leader, Bayaraa, began to make fun of her. She asked him what it would take for him to believe. She asked: "What if God healed the ugly warts on your hands?"

He had these warts since he was very young, and could not get rid of them. He went to see doctors, monks and witch doctors - but nobody could help him. He was always so embarrassed by the warts that he wore gloves everywhere.

The girl prayed for him. He woke up a couple of days later - and all his warts were lying in his bed. He put them in a small plastic bag, and took them to show the rest of the gang. They all believed, and became Christians. They went back, found the girl and asked her to explain the gospel more clearly to them. That caused all 30 gang members to turn to Jesus.

I graduated from Bible college last year, and am now in full time ministry with Asian Outreach Mongolia. - DFD

Mission Fields Spring 2007