Deans' weekly update

Great news! We moved to a new location and are enjoying the increased opportunities to minister. By God's grace this will be the last time that the church has to change locations for a while. Since we began meeting on Sundays seven years ago, the group that later became a church has met in five different locations including in homes. Sometimes it was financial pressures that caused the move; once we moved because we outgrew the space in which we were meeting. In moving to this new location we have taken measures to avoid both possibilities.

To prevent financial pressures from moving the church from this location, the building was constructed using funds that some of you provided. The church is bearing financial responsibility for the building; however, there should be no pressures that would force the church from the building: no sudden increases in rent, no selling of the property to a different owner that necessitates a move, or anything like that.

To guard against future growth forcing a move, the building was constructed in such a way as allows the addition of another floor in the future. The church could increase in attendance a significant amount before they would outgrow the current facility.

This meeting place is also much nicer than previous meeting places. It has more space, and the rooms were organized with the church in mind. There is a kitchen area which is the first time that the church here has been blessed with dedicated space for fellowships. There is also a room that was designed as a nursery. We have several families with babies and toddlers and two more families who are expecting to add to their families soon. Many churches in Mongolia have no nursery facilities which discourages families with young children from attending.

Now we just need to fill this space up. February we are focusing on the people whom we already have, encouraging them to be faithful in coming out. March is the month to focus on friends. In April, we plan to have a special emphasis for families. Additionally, Easter Sunday is in April this year, and we will encourage people to bring out unsaved family and friends on that day. In May, we plan to focus on attention in neighbors, both the neighbors of our church members and the new neighbors that we have because we are meeting in a new location.

Please pray for our church to grow both in the number of members, the number of people who attend our services, and in spiritual maturity. May we all work diligently and pray that God's grace and power would be upon us.

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

How many times have you sung the song, “I have decided to follow Jesus”? It has a calming tune that seems to pull us along. Many of us have probably heard the story of the Indian prince who gave up all to become a Christian and penned the song. Whether that story is true or not I cannot say. However, all too often we sing it without the heart-felt appreciation that the songs demands.

Take me for example, I have sung that song in English & Mongolian multiple times. There is one verse, “Though none go with me, still I will follow.” The Mongolian translation is literally, “Though all alone, I will follow Him.” We sing it, but few of us Americans will ever face a situation where we are literally without human companionship because we follow Jesus. In my case, my wife is a Christian and my dearest friend in the world. The God-given differences in personality that we have merely emphasize God’s wisdom in bringing us together. My parents and my parents-in-law are both supportive of us not only as Christians but also as missionaries. Our siblings support what we are doing. We have a church in Tigard, Oregon that has shown again and again that they will do whatever is in their power to assist us in our ministry.

Now consider some of these Mongolians. While we were singing on Sunday I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of Dashka singing fervently, “Though all alone, I will follow Him.” Here is a Christian who besides his Christian brothers and sisters is seemingly all alone in this world.

His mother is most sympathetic but really does not understand why he has become a Christian. His older sister recently became a shaman (more commonly known as a witchdoctor to those who live in the United States). His wife died last month. His parents-in-law have been openly hostile to the Gospel. His four children are not yet Christians. Yet, despite this spiritual isolation, he is singing heartily, “Though all alone, I will follow Him.” It gave me fresh insight into the meaning of the words and caused me to ask myself, “Would I still continue to follow the Savior if all earthly supports were removed?” Faced with such a reality, Job said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Can we say the same?

This is pioneer missions work: penetrating a culture with little or no Christian influence and introducing people to the Savior of the world. But when people turn from idols to the true God, they often become isolated from their families, network of friends, and even their culture because their society has chosen to forsake their Creator. The pressures and temptations that they face are compounded because their do not have the Christian sub-culture that many of us in the United States take for granted.

Early in our ministry in Mongolia, we were encouraging a new believer to read God's word. Usually, we encourage them to read the New Testament first, and then go back and read the entire Bible through. This believer, however, started in Genesis. There were at some point in the Pentateuch when they came to us with a question.

The Mongolian asked, "It keeps talking about the children of Israel did this and the children of Israel did that, what happened to all the adults?"

Quote of the week

"Many times have I been ready to shrink back, and to say, Lord, I pray thee, have me excused; but if God should honor us by permission to lay foundations, foundations of his church in Siam, ... we shall have reason to praise Him through all eternity, for having employed us in such a service. Over and over again have I been obliged to say to myself, that the only way of doing any thing to promote a great object is to try and try again, and when one plan fails, to resort to another; and if God spares my life, I am resolved to keep on trying till my work is done." — Eliza Jones

Misleading statistics

This week's update is going to be a more light-hearted entry than some. It is not that we do not have much to do. We are very busy: reaching out to save a marriage, teaching young believers to walk in the Spirit, dealing with planning for the spring, and surviving a long winter. Temperatures at night are still -20 (-30 C) or so. And we are still waiting for our first day of 2011 when the high temperature breaks the freezing point. It may not be until March. Please bring those things to the Father as you petition Him this week.

Now for a little light-heartedness. WE TRIPLED OUR ATTENDANCE THIS PAST SUNDAY! TRIPLE! But don't get too excited; the week before we only had eight Mongolians come out. That Sunday the Patterson family and my family outnumbered the Mongolians. This past Sunday the Mongolian Christians who should be out every Sunday came out. We had no first-time visitors, and yet we still tripled the previous week's attendance.

Ganpurev preached on Christian endurance, and I preached on true peace. Both sermons were well-received; now pray that the Mongolians would integrate the sermons into their lives.

Happy Valentine's Day

I was telling a church member yesterday that I was planning to take my wife out for Valentine's Day today. His response? "Is something wrong between you and Kristie?" I guess he figured I would only take my wife out to dinner if something needed to be patched up between us.

Quote of the week

"Quiet and sincere sympathy is often the most welcome and efficient consolation to the afflicted. Said a wise man to one in deep sorrow, 'I did not come to comfort you; God only can do that; but I did come to say how deeply and tenderly I feel for you in your affliction.'"

Deans' weekly update

We have just finished our Lunar New Year in Mongolia. We did not have as many visits this year as we have had in the past. We had a chance to meet some new people and talk about Jesus Christ with them. Pray for one man in particular that we met. Baysaa (pronounced Buy•saw') is the son of an acquaintance that we had the privilege of visiting. Because I am always on the lookout for men with initiative I noticed him immediately. He says that he is Buddhist; but God is interested in turning Buddhists from false idols to the true and living God. Please pray with me for more opportunities to witness to Baysaa. We told him that we would like his family to come to our house to visit.

Many of the Mongolian Christians are struggling. We have come to realize that many of them are stumbling because they do not realize that the Christian life is a race to be run daily. They make an effort to live for Christ for some weeks or even months. Then follows months of indecision and spiritual lethargy. I have decided to challenge each one personally during the month of February. I would like the Lord to bless me with wisdom, boldness, and authority as I "reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine". Pray also that God would give my hearers humility and enthusiasm to serve our Lord.

Tsagaan Sar visits

We've had several visits so far during Tsagaan Sar. Today we visited the home of an acquaintance we made at our local food market. Although we did not have the opportunity to share the Gospel in its entirety we planted some seeds (or salted some oats) and hope to have this family over to our home soon. A picture of our family with their family is above.

Deans' weekly update

Last week I asked you to pray as I worked to extend my residency permission. That task has been successfully completed, and I thank the Lord for His help. It was an easier task than I anticipated.

The Mongolian Lunar New Year begins this week. This is the best time of year to renew old acquaintances, visit church families, and preach Christ to Mongolians in their homes. Please pray that my family and the entire church family would use the opportunities to preach Christ during this season. As an example, the lady from whom we regularly buy eggs and cheese at our local market invited us to come to her house for her family's Lunar New Year celebration. We have given her tracts before, but this could be an excellent time to tell her that Jesus saves.