News > Asia

by David K.

Report on Pastor Ron Ward’s visit to the West Ulaanbaatar UBF chapter in Mongolia

On October 23rd, P. Ron & Dervilla W., M. David (myself) & M. Joy K. visited the West Ulaanbaatar UBF in Mongolia. In the morning, we went to the National University of Mongolia campus. The National University of Mongolia is the first university in Mongolia, established in 1942, and has about 25,000 students. They toured the main building of the campus and the Second Building where the College of Foreign Languages is located. P. Ron greeted Mongolian students in the classroom and shared the word of the love of Jesus. And he prayed for the pioneering of the National University of Mongolia. We pray that God may raise up many spiritual leaders at the National University of Mongolia who can feed Mongolia and the world with the word of God.

In the evening, they had the Baptism and a Communion service. A total of 37 people were baptized! P. Ron delivered a message about the meaning of baptism based on Romans 6. The Baptism was heart-moving. Our old self died on the cross with Jesus and was born as a new person through Jesus' resurrection, we now have new life within us given by Jesus. Many people were moved to tears and gave thanks to the Lord because they are united with Jesus now and are able to live a new life because of the life Jesus gave them. After the baptism, we had Communion. Through Communion, they accepted that Jesus tore His body and shed His blood on the cross for their sake, and took the time to thank Jesus for His grace. Romans 6:1 asks us: "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" The baptism ceremony served as an opportunity for those who still hesitate to give up their desires due to the pleasures and small benefits of sin to make a clear decision to live a new life united with Jesus. We pray that the 37 people who were baptized may live a new life with the power of the new life the Lord has given them.

On October 24th, the Pastor led a Bible study on Philippians 3. Paul was a man who had much knowledge, accomplished a lot, and had a lot to boast about. But he considered everything a loss and garbage. The reason is because the knowledge of Christ Jesus was the most noble. The purpose of his life was to know and gain Christ. He wanted to know not only the love and power of Jesus but also the power of resurrection.

We want to gain from Jesus the knowledge, wisdom, and abilities that can help us to live in this world. However, this only seeks to know a part of Jesus. What is truly important from Jesus, that is, the person of Jesus and the power of resurrection, must be learned through suffering. We can learn what is truly important, the character and power of resurrection only through suffering. We received much grace as we realized how happy, joyful, and powerful it is to learn about Jesus, to get to know Jesus through suffering, and to live a life filled with Jesus rather than struggling to collect things of this world that will perish soon.

During the Bible study, those who attended shared their own testimonies about why knowing Jesus is the most precious thing to them. The Bible study was gracious, and heart-moving, and opened many people's hearts to Jesus. One brother testified that the doubts deep in his heart, that he could not get rid of no matter how much he studied the Bible and went to church, disappeared through this Bible study. Through studying the Bible in Philippians, we have come to know Jesus and have the desire to run the race toward the prize of God's calling from above.

On October 25th, P. Ron & Dervilla W., M. David & M. Joy K. finished our 5-day, 4-night visit in Mongolia and left for their next destination, India.
Many brothers and sisters came out to the airport to see us off. As P. Ron left Mongolia, he gave the brothers and sisters a key verse; John 21:17, “Feed my sheep.” The words “Feed my sheep” became the direction of life for those who were baptized and decided to live as people who learn and know Jesus. We pray that we may live a life of feeding Jesus’ sheep until the day Jesus comes. P. Ron's two-day visit to the West Ulaanbaatar chapter brought great comfort and strength to the missionaries and native brothers and sisters. They were encouraged to challenge campus gospel and disciple-making ministry once again. We pray that Mongolian UBF may continue to work harder to learn from Jesus, testify to him, and raise many disciples with the gospel.