GlocalNet

I just returned from Mongolia – where, if you follow me on twitter, @bobrobertsjr, you saw and heard some of the conversations between me and many of the Mongolian people.  It was one of the most incredible trips I’ve been on in my life.  There is not, to my knowledge, another place in all the world like it.  First, they are about to celebrate 20 years of Christianity.  I was told by them that 19 years ago, there were no believers, then 6, and now today 150,000 spread out in over 600 various forms of the church.  So it is a place where the gospel is growing very fast – you could legitimately call it a movement. Second, it is also a place where there is religious freedom.  Mongolia was the first country to be absorbed into the former Soviet Union.  When the Soviet Union fell, Mongolia opened.  Third, the church works in unity and harmony there – despite the fact that several denominations, missions, and other organizations have all gone there.  There is a sense that there is a stronger commitment to one another than there is to the “foreign” missions and organizations that came.  I like that and believe it’s very helpful. 

There is a huge desire and searching for what it means to be the “Mongolian” church.  There is gratitude from those in the West who helped, but also a powerful sense of creating a Mongol Church – not a Mongolian version of the Western church.  It is both confusing for them, frustrating, and exciting.  It is an opportunity and a responsibility.  They realize well that what they do will be a blessing or a curse to the next generation so they don’t want to mess it up.  My heart goes out to them. 

The thing that stood out to me most – is their unquestioned commitment and passion to fulfill the Great Commission.  They believe that they are going to be key players in that – more than most nations.  They want to get “church” right there so they can get it right as they go global.  These are not thoughtless & uneducated people.  In the short time they’ve been in leadership, they have engaged their cities, multiplied the church, and are having deep conversations about the theology and the future of the global church.  This is a place for anyone in the West to go and be silent.  If something is shared – it MUST BE DONE SO CAREFULLY – as to not disturb what God is doing.  I did all I could to avoid methodology and to focus more on principles and global issues that confront us all.  How they apply them – MUST BE LEFT TO THEM.  It’s been a long, long time, since there has been the emergence of a national church in a nation that is first generation.  WE IN THE WEST MUST BE THE LEARNERS!!!!  Instead of us taking what we know here and applying it there – we need to see how God is working there – and apply it here. 

What makes the Mongolians unique?  According to them:

1. We are first generation Christians & Churches.
2. Strong unity among the church nationally.
3. Our leaders are all young.
4. Unique global perspective we bring to the Great Commission.
5. We are nomadic and mobile unlike any other people
6. Aggressive – but very warm.  (This is true – I’ve never met East Asians like this – all the rules about Chinese, Vietnamese, etc., you can throw out the window.
7. Adaptability.  The history, land, climate, nomadic culture – all make us incredible able to handle and endure anything.
8. We are doers.
9. We are very gifted at languages.
10. We conserve resources very good. 

Most of the churches are small and in communities scattered out across the few cities and among the nomadic tribes.  There is a huge sense of love and commitment to each other.  I was impressed with all of them.  I was blown away by their global understanding – far surpassed what I see here in the States – and their intellectual curiosity and acumen from global affairs, to the church, to sociology, etc.  These are sharp sharp people.  If you follow me on twitter, you can see some of my followers from Mongolia and follow them and learn.