Mongolia is a landlocked republic between Russia and China, in the heart of eastern Asia. Its history has been turbulently linked with China since ancient times. During the rule of the warlike emperors Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan, the Empire stretched from Eastern Europe in the west to Korea in the east.

Kublai Khan requested religious teachers from Europe and Tibet to teach Mongolians the Christian and Buddhist faiths. The Mongols were greatly feared in Europe, and there was a considerable delay before any Christian missionaries were sent. In the meantime Tibetan teachers had responded, and the Buddhist religion was by that time firmly entrenched.

For most of the 20th century, Russian atheism and materialism had a profound effect on Mongolia, which resulted in a decline in the people's commitment to Buddhism. During the 1990s, Mongolia became more open to foreign development and investment, a move accompanied by a climate of tolerance towards the West and a desire for education and progress among the younger generation.

Christian radio programmes originally opened the "Mongolian Door" to Christianity, but the churches that have subsequently been established are thoroughly Mongolian. The Lord has blessed mightily and an estimated 20,000 believers now live and witness for Christ throughout the country.

SIM acknowledges a great need for Christians with marketable skills to live and work in Mongolia, in order to assist in the development and training of the churches and their leaders.

Please pray for:

1. Christians everywhere to be concerned for the unreached millions in Mongolia who have never heard the name of Jesus.
2. The Lord of the harvest to send out Christians to Mongolia to see for themselves the spiritually needy peoples and to return to their home churches with a new zeal to pray.
3. Teams of Christians to visit Mongolia to meet and encourage Mongolian believers, to experience Mongolian culture, and to engage in a ministry of prayer on location.
4. Effective use of the Jesus film in the Mongolian language.
5. Effective discipling of the many new believers and nurturing of the many new churches.
6. Completion of an understandable, acceptable Bible translation and an adequate supply of printed copies.
7. Christians with marketable skills to be prepared to give up their lucrative employment and to live and work in Mongolia, allowing Christ to be seen in their lives.