Transforming the lives of children in Mongolia.
The two feeding centres in Mongolia which our partners founded were born out of a social and economic need, created by the split with the Soviet Union in 1992. The country was in chaos. Family life began to break down as poverty became a normal part of the lives of lots of Mongolians. Work was hard to find, and resulted in increased cases of divorce, and family breakdown. Children were left to fend for themselves on the streets of the cities while others made their way to land fill sites on the city boundaries where they could scavenge for food.
One Mongolian pastor and his wife saw a need for the church to become involved in providing meals for these children. They began by cooking food and dividing it up into small plastic bags which after Sunday worship, along with their children, they would deliver to the children. They would take a guitar and sing to the kids as they ate, sharing the gospel with them and telling them bible stories.
Wintertime made the feeding programme difficult and by 2006 the pastor recognised that there was a need for a building to which children could be invited to receive food and share a little warmth and shelter. The first feeding centre was built right next door to the landfill and fed around 13 children. Now, there are two feeding centres which feed between them over 100 children daily. God has expanded this ministry and they have seen lives changed and transformed by the love of God.
Baatar was a member of a street gang. On one occasion he was being chased by a rival gang who were trying to beat him up. The feeding centre which was close by the church was open and some children who had come along for food were sitting around listening to a gospel message. He ran in the open door and sat down in the circle with the children trying to blend in. However, the gang followed him in and they too sat down opposite him. Both parties tried to blend in while keeping an eye on one another. The leader gave them all some food oblivious to ongoing showdown. Baatar tried to eat as slowly as possible and rival gang eventually left after two hours.
Baatar became a regular visitor at the feeding centre and came to know Jesus as his Saviour. He befriended the gang who were trying to beat him up and they too became Christians and began to attend church. Today, years later, Baatar is the leader and a preacher in the feeding centre, and other gang members are now working to serve the Lord as a team. Now they chase souls for Jesus, and Baatar disciples and cares for children who are just like he was that day he found refuge in the feeding centre.
PRAY WITH US
· Pray for the feeding centre that as the numbers of needy children grow that God will provide.
· Pray for the leaders who share the gospel with these children that they would see young people won for Christ.
· Pray for the young pastors who are teaching and leading their churches, for wisdom and discernment as they shepherd their flock.