Pray for Mongolia

In Mongolia, there are more horses than people. Nomads care for these horses, along with sheep, yaks, and goats. Their lifestyle dates back to the Mongol Empire — living in traditional felt tents called gers and moving across the grasslands. Miles away, nearly half of the country’s population lives in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. Smothered by smog, the city’s apartments echo the Soviet occupation, while ornate Buddhist temples fill the street with incense. Families huddle in wooden homes and gers, trying to keep warm during the frigid winter months. Alongside traditional herding and agriculture, mining is a key driver of the economy.

As more people leave the countryside for the city, Ulaanbaatar’s infrastructure, sanitation, and job market are struggling to keep up with the rapidly growing population. Even though Mongolia is one of Asia’s stronger parliamentary democracies, systemic corruption still severely undercuts people’s trust in the government. Bribery and favoritism prevent ordinary people from having a fair voice in government. Moreover, many people are stuck in an endless cycle of alcoholism, with some parents spending more time at the bar than they do with their kids. Suicide rates are on the rise, especially among men and young adults. These compounding social pressures contribute to high rates of divorce and abandonment, leaving thousands of Mongolian children to grow up without fathers.

In 1989, Mongolia had only an estimated four Christians in the entire nation. Praise God that today there are over 80,000 Mongolian Christians! Even as the church grows quickly, discipleship often lags behind. This leaves many new believers without the training they need, and vast rural areas outside the capital still have very little access to the Gospel. Many churches rely heavily on foreign missionaries, who struggle to adapt to Mongolian culture and harsh living conditions. Pray that God would raise up mature Mongolian leaders to guide their congregations toward Christ and toward fruitful evangelism.