We are restoring church gatherings – encouraging news from Mongolia

Benjamin Chan

October 28, 2020

“I am very happy to tell you that we are restoring Sunday worship service and fellowship at church after eight months of COVID restrictions. Sisters and brothers started coming back!” Pastor Nara of the Real Hope Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia shared her joy with me. “Since our country is neighboring China, our government has alerted us to wear masks and to observe other preventive instructions since January.” According to the National Center for Public Health in Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolia Government has started doing COVID tests since January, and the majority of the test kits are provided by the World Health Organization, including rapid tests. So far, Mongolia, a country of over 3.3 million people, has reported 320 cases, 312 patients recovered, and 0 death.

“Thank you, Ben, for the COVID relief grant from American Baptists. We received the money and your encouragement when we are in panic and when our church members are facing financial difficulty.”

Ms. Narangerel Baasankhuu, the later Pastor Nara, came to know Jesus through an American missionary in 1993. “I went to the countryside with the missionary to share the good news. We went from door to door to provide clothes and food to families and pray with them as our country was in a very difficult economic time.” Pastor Nara explained. “Since 2007, I started serving in a socially and economically deprived community in the city. We are providing spiritual care and practical assistance to the adults. We also run an after-school program for about 50 children. Pray for us as we are entering the winter time and many of our members cannot find jobs. We pray for you and your country as you are facing a difficult COVID situation.”

I welcome your support for Pastor Nara and the Real Hope Church. Contact me at ben.chan@internationalministries.org if you are interested in helping.

*A donation of $50 provides stationery and vitamin to the children in the after-school program.

*A donation of $100 provides a fellowship meal to the congregation of 40 families

*A donation of $300 subsidizes the food supply to a family for a month.

Pastor Nara (left) visited her member.

Church member in front of “ger”, her Mongolian style house.

Children in the after-school program.

The church provides meals to the children in the after-school program.