Deans' prayer letter

“The LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called” (Isaiah 54:5). We serve the God of the whole earth. It is easy for Christians who have grown up in America to think that we are the only ones, that we are the ones who must go to the ends of the earth to bring the Gospel to those who do not know.  If we Americans do not go, who will?

The reality is that God is working through many people in many countries. I have to tell you this story because it reveals one amazing thread among the millions who make up God’s tapestry.

One of my friends in Mongolia is Bolderdene. I have known him ever since language school. For the entire time that I have known him, I have been aware that he was a Christian. For some years, he tutored me in my language studies and helped me translate various Bible study tools and other items into Mongolian. Along with Ganpurev, he has been my cultural advisor, particularly on topics relating to biblical application to Mongolian society.

Bolderdene was saved by Jesus Christ. The man who baptized him and mentored him is Jurgen Kuhlman. I met his wife, Rita, on several occasions. She is the famous linguist who wrote the grammar book on the Mongolian language. I think I remember meeting Jurgen on one occasion. I have heard Bolderdene talk about Jurgen many times, especially about Jurgen’s role in discipling him and teaching him the Bible.

While at Baptist World Mission’s Annual Meeting, I met Russ Fredrick. He was a missionary in Germany for 41 years. Now retired, he was back for the annual meeting. He told me that he had baptized and discipled a German fellow, who later went to Outer Mongolia as a missionary. He told me the man’s name was Jurgen.

I had heard so much about Jurgen from Bolderdene that I had to ask, “You mean Jurgen Kuhlman?”

“Yes,” he replied, and asked if I knew him. I responded that I met him only once, but knew much about him from my friend Bolderdene.

So the Word of God goes out from the United States to Germany. God moves in the German’s heart to go to Mongolia, where he plants a church and disciples believers. One of those believers is Bolderdene, who has been a help to me over the years. The thread of Russ’s ministry is woven over the string of Jurgen’s ministry. The line of his ministry is running past the thread of Bolderdene’s life. After being impacted by Bolderdene’s friendship, I trace the line all the way back to Russ, revealing just a small measure of God’s wisdom and sovereignty in His work around the world.