We just returned from Mongolia where we visited with our partners, Mickey and Trina Cofer. During our time in the country the international news was dominated by the passing of Queen Elizabeth. My mind was drawn to this passage in Isaiah 6 where the prophet’s eyes were lifted up from a finite king and kingdom to the vision of an eternal one. That’s how we felt as we journeyed through Mongolia. We met many dear brothers and sisters in Christ, redeemed by the blood of our Lord whose kingdom has no end. Here’s a not-so-brief summary.
Soon after we arrived on the evening of September 7th, our partners Mickey and Trina Cofer, introduced us to Tungaa. This dear sister labored for seven years to translate all 312 lessons in the Visualized Bible Series into Mongolian. God used this translation process as a means for Trina to disciple Tungaa too.
The following day we met Togsoo, the man who operates the Cofer’s press in Ulaanbaatar (UB). He shared his own testimony of working in UB at a Chinese restaurant that was in the same building where a church met. As Togsoo began attending the services, God used both the preaching and one-on-one meetings with the pastor to open his heart to the Gospel. In addition to operating the press, Togsoo now serves as the national pastor of this same church.
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Togsoo, pastor and pressman |
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Accompanied by Togsoo we then met with members of the Mongolian Evangelical Alliance and distributed several sets of the BVI Bible lesson curriculum. This proved a vital contact as the MEA knows more about the name and location of Mongolian churches than anyone in the country. They willingly offered to help coordinate our effort to supply the 600+ churches in the country. Following the visit to their office, we stopped by the Mongolian Union Bible Society. Their exhibit on the history of Bible translation in Mongolia served as a reminder that each language has a story of saints shedding blood, sweat and tears to bring the Word to the people. Those efforts continue in Mongolian as witnessed by recent projects to provide braille and sign language versions. |
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First distribution at MEA |
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An 1880 Mongolian translation of the Bible |
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The following day we enjoyed lunch with two pastors of Bible Baptist Fellowship churches in UB. This network of churches has its origins in the early evangelistic efforts made by South Koreans following the fall of the Soviet empire and Mongolia’s move toward democracy. Once again it was moving to hear the testimony of these first-generation believers.
One brother, Tegshe, had been studying in the US and noticed christian families voluntarily attending church each Sunday. His Buddhist tradition taught him that people only come to a temple when there are problems in their lives. He thought, “these people must have a lot of problems” or that there was something else drawing them to worship. Back in Mongolia, he began attending a christian church and found the answer in Christ.
Pastor Chingis shared about his violent background and how the quest for peace led him to seek to know about Jesus. He asked a young lady in a christian church to teach him the Bible. That disciple-maker is now his wife and he is her pastor!
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Delivering BVI materials to Pastor Chingis |
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We spent our Saturday visiting some of the cultural sites in and around Ulaanbaatar. No visit is complete without ascending the stairs inside the 130 foot high statue of Chinghis (Genghis) Khan. Our visit to a replica 13th century village gave us our first taste of Mongolia’s four-lane highway, meaning there are at least four paths to pick from as you bump your way over the landscape. |
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130 foot statue of Genghis Khan |
The Gravleys as part of the Mongol horde |
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Mongolian four lane highway |
Betsy’s golden eagle friend |
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One of the clear highlights of our visit came Sunday as we attended Togsoo’s church, Straight Paths Baptist Church. His church gathers in a total of four gers (or yerts). One ger is used for the main preaching, one for the teens, one for food prep and infants and one for the children. We spent a lot of time in the children’s ger where their Bible teacher, Eebee shared from BVI’s visualized Bible curriculum. Many of the children in attendance do not have parents at the church. Rather, they are “bus” children gathered from the surrounding villages. The story of this first-generation church continues. |
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Preaching ger at Straight Paths Baptist Church |
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Eebee sharing a BVI lesson |
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Sunday afternoon we visited Amazing Grace Church pastored by Pastor Ganbat. This brother was the first Biblically trained ordained pastor in Mongolia following the end of the Soviet era. We presented his church with a set of the BVI curriculum and enjoyed some of Mongolia’s famous milk tea. Verdict? . . . Not too bad. Salty. One cup is fine.
In the evening we travelled back to Straight Paths Baptist Church as they gathered for a 20 year anniversary celebration. Missionary Jason Muller and his son had travelled from the US to be there too. What a joy to see a pioneer mission work become a church now under national leadership and reaching out to the surrounding community with the Gospel.
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20th anniversary gathering |
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The next week we began our long trek out to Mickey and Trina’s home in Khatgal. In our quest to try all Mongolia’s forms of transportation, we opted for an overnight train ride from Ulaanbaatar to Erdenet, a coal mining city to the north. It proved much more comfortable than the bumpy roads and would have been quite restful except for the infrequent stops and jerky starts in the middle of the night. As morning dawned, we gained glimpses of the beautiful countryside. |
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Our sleeper cabin for the ride to Erdenet |
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In Erdenet we enjoyed a breakfast meeting with children’s ministry leaders from several churches in that region. With the help of an interpreter I outlined the purpose and structure of the BVI Bible curriculum and shared some practical tips for teaching the lessons.
I also profiled our Family Worship Series which is in production and meant to provide families with a simple structure for family devotions. As several ladies shared their testimonies, it occurred to me that few, if any, Mongolian families have seen family worship modeled in any way. In fact, several shared hard to hear stories of abusive home lives growing up. Thank God that the Gospel not only transforms hearts but families. Pray that BVI might be able to see our Family Worship Series books translated and printed in Mongolian.
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Our next mode of transportation felt more like home as we hopped in the Cofer’s grey Honda Odyssey similar to the one parked in our garage back in Pennsylvania. The roads were surprisingly good for the eight hour drive to Khatgal and Mickey expertly navigated us through more than one herd of goats and cows in our path. As nightfall approached we reached Khatgal, located at the southern tip of Lake Khovsgol. There, the Cofers live in a studio apartment in what was once part of a Soviet-era wool factory complex. This site now serves as a ministry center for various activities including a full-fledged summer camp that draws young people from all over the country. When we arrived the complex was in the midst of hosting a free community medical clinic operated by a team from Medical Missions Outreach. |
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Views on our ride to Khatgal |
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Overlooking the edge of Lake Khovsgol |
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We settled into one of the cabin homes on the site and, after some good rest, got a tour of the entire property. Two of the buildings have already been renovated into a dining common and a multipurpose building that includes a gym, lodging, meeting rooms and the Cofer’s pottery studio. Pottery has been one means the Lord has allowed the Cofers to connect with the community and even to mentor some of the young men who serve with their ministry. The largest of the buildings is still needing full renovation but already serves as their second print shop, warehouse and pottery studio. It was encouraging to hear the Cofers plans for this site and to see how the Lord has already blessed the work of their hands. |
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A Soviet-era wool factory transformed into a ministry center |
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More opportunities for community engagement as renovation continues |
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Part of the pottery ministry |
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One of the ways God has recently blessed their future plans is by leading the Cofer’s youngest son, Jaaziniah,to serve alongside his folks in Mongolia. Jaaziniah currently lives in North Carolina with his wife and baby daughter, but he made a short solo trip to Khatgal which overlapped with our time there. Having grown up in Mongolia, Jaaz has both a proficiency in the language and an understanding of the culture that uniquely prepares him for ministry.
Betsy brought a couple video cameras with her, so we spent a few days helping the Cofers prepare for their November furlough by working on an update video they can show in churches. One afternoon we drove outside the village to a mountain on the opposite of the lake. The vistas well matched the far-reaching vision of reaching this country with the Gospel. Afterwards we navigated a bumpy path through the woods to drop off groceries at the homes of a few shut-ins from the Cofer’s church. Two elderly christian ladies make the mile-long trek across the frozen lake in the winter to attend Khatgal Baptist Church. We enjoyed the warm hospitality and slices of bread.
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Visit with a church shut-in |
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We rounded out our time in Khatgal with two special gatherings. First, the Cofers hosted a pastors gathering at the ministry complex on Saturday evening. Several pastors and church members came from the provincial (aimag) capital of Murun. After touring the facilities and enjoying a meal, the guests gathered in the chapel for a time of worship. Once again I had opportunity to share about the BVI Bible lesson curriculum and to emphasize the importance of making the Word of God central to the life of the church. My translator for the evening was a young man named Jason. Jason recently moved out from Ulaanbaatar to work with the Cofers. I was so encouraged by his sincere desire to translate everything clearly. At the end of the evening, each church represented received a free box of the BVI curriculum.
The second special gathering came the next day at Khatgal Baptist Church. During the Sunday School time the children gathered at the ministry center for a lesson from the BVI series. Then, the entire church gathered for the main service at their site in town. Their national pastor, Migaa, led the worship, but I was honored to share the message from Exodus 10. Jason, again, served as my translator and we both felt like newbies—he, translating a sermon, and me, preaching through a translator.
Afterwards the church gathered for a special celebration as they dedicated a second floor church library. Since many of the children are studying English, I gifted two family format stories, on behalf of Bible Visuals International.
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Distribution to churches in Murun |
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BVI lesson time w/children at Khatgal Baptist |
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Pastor Migaa leading worship |
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Jason serving as translator |
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After an afternoon of rest and farewells, we explored one final mode of Mongolian transportation for our ride back to UB—the bus. Through the course of the night we observed the navigation prowess of the driver as he picked the most suitable path for the bus. We also gained an awareness, if not an appreciation, of Mongolian pop music as it droned over the speakers throughout the fourteen hour ride. All this served to heighten our anticipation for home which is exactly where we are now after a few long flights and a drive from the airport. |
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In the same passage where Isaiah sees the heavenly throne, he hears a choir of seraphims proclaim, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” God is glorifying Himself through the nation of Mongolia. We will not soon forget the many dear brothers and sisters we met during the course of our travels.
Please pray with us that this first generation of believers will faithfully proclaim the works of God to the next. Pray that the BVI materials will be quickly distributed to the rest of the churches in Mongolia and that they will prove a strong support to teachers. Pray that through them a multitude of children would be pointed to Christ and that they would set their hope in the Lord.
Tom Luttmann—Executive Director
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