Fuel a new era of communications on Giving Tuesday:

Give to power a new era of Christ-centered communication around the world and transform lives. You can DOUBLE your impact and help us reach our $10,000 goal! All gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000 through 12/3

Celebrating 20 years of mission in Mongolia


Key points:

  • The Mongolia mission was initiated by the Korean United Methodist Church in 2003. The first United Methodist missionary had arrived the year before, sent by the Board of Global Ministries.
  • The first two local elders in the country were ordained during the Mongolian Mission Initiative’s annual meeting.
  • There are now 12 United Methodist churches, two mission centers and various outreach ministries serving the Mongolian community.
  • The Grace Hospice Home & Center, one of only five hospices in Mongolia, was dedicated during the meeting.

The 20th anniversary of United Methodist mission work in Mongolia and the ordination of the first two local elders in the country were celebrated during the Mongolian Mission Initiative’s annual meeting.

The gathering was held at Gerelt United Methodist Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Oct. 3. The following day, church members dedicated the mission’s new 24-hour hospice center.

The Mongolia mission was initiated by the Korean United Methodist Church in 2003 when the Korean United Methodist Church in America celebrated its centennial anniversary — and also the centennial anniversary of Korean immigration to the U.S.

The Korean United Methodist Church decided to build a “Centennial Church” overseas to give thanks to God and celebrate its 100th anniversary meaningfully and significantly. Mongolia was chosen because there was no United Methodist church there.

The Korean United Methodist Church opened a door for the Mongolia mission, fully supporting the development and building of “The Centennial Church” and seven other churches in Mongolia over the past 20 years.

Bishop Jeremiah Park (center) lays hands on the Rev. Urjinkhand, one of the first two local elders ordained during the Mongolian Mission Initiative’s annual meeting at Gerelt United Methodist Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Oct. 3. The gathering celebrated the 20th anniversary of United Methodist mission work in Mongolia. Photo courtesy of the Asia Regional Office, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. 
Bishop Jeremiah Park (center) lays hands on the Rev. Urjinkhand, one of the first two local elders ordained during the Mongolian Mission Initiative’s annual meeting at Gerelt United Methodist Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Oct. 3. The gathering celebrated the 20th anniversary of United Methodist mission work in Mongolia. Photo courtesy of the Asia Regional Office, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries had sent the first United Methodist missionary to Mongolia in 2002. In 2012, the board adopted the Mongolia mission as its official mission initiative, and asked the Council of Bishops to assign a presiding bishop. Since then, Bishop Jeremiah Park has presided over the Mongolia Mission Initiative.

Park presided over the meeting and officiated the ordination service in October. Even though he retired Nov. 2 during the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference, Park will continue to serve as Presiding Bishop. 

At the service, Park recognized seven lay ministers who are trained to lead congregations. As part of a ministry team under the supervision of the Mongolian Mission Initiative, they lead worship, preach the Word of God, and guide the program ministry and mission of congregations in Mongolia.

Three mission pastors also were recognized and the country’s first two United Methodist local elders were ordained.

Bishop Jeremiah Park (in front) introduces the Revs. Urjinkhand (purple robe) and Munkhnaran (white robe), the first local elders of the United Methodist Mongolian Mission Initiative, after he ordained them during the mission’s annual meeting at Gerelt United Methodist Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Oct. 3. Photo courtesy of the Asia Regional Office, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. 
Bishop Jeremiah Park (in front) introduces the Revs. Urjinkhand (purple robe) and Munkhnaran (white robe), the first local elders of the United Methodist Mongolian Mission Initiative, after he ordained them during the mission’s annual meeting at Gerelt United Methodist Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Oct. 3. Photo courtesy of the Asia Regional Office, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

Mission pastors are allowed to administer sacraments within the bounds of the United Methodist Mongolia Mission. One of the requirements to be a mission pastor is the completion of courses in pastoral practices for a minimum of two years at a recognized seminary.

One of the requirements to be ordained as a local elder is two years of full-time service as a mission pastor. Pastors also have to get a Masters of Divinity at a recognized seminary.

“The first ordination of two local elders was truly historic. Mongolian Mission now has outstanding indigenous leadership in place and is at the threshold of moving forward to the next chapter of a future vision of local ownership,” said Park. “We hope it was a first step to grow further to become a self-sustaining provisional conference or an independent Mongolian Methodist Church.”

On Oct. 4, the dedication service of Grace Hospice Home & Center — which was completed on Nov. 29, 2021 — was held. Grace Hospice Home & Center has a new name, “Энэрэнгүй харц LLC,” meaning “Compassionate Sight LLC” and is certified for medical services.

The dedication of the facility symbolizes the mission’s commitment to serving the Mongol community 20 years after the mission began.

Hospice staff sing during the Mongolian Mission Initiative’s annual meeting at Gerelt United Methodist Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Oct. 3. Church members dedicated the mission’s new 24-hour hospice center the following day. Photo courtesy of the Asia Regional Office, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. 
Hospice staff sing during the Mongolian Mission Initiative’s annual meeting at Gerelt United Methodist Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Oct. 3. Church members dedicated the mission’s new 24-hour hospice center the following day. Photo courtesy of the Asia Regional Office, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

James Cho, a Global Ministries missionary to Mongolia, explained the services and staff of the center.

“Grace Hospice Home & Center was established in 2005 and is one of the five hospices in Mongolia, and has provided care for more than 2,500 advanced-stage cancer patients,” Cho said. “The hospice has three doctors, two nurses, one spiritual care counselor, one bereavement counselor, one driver and three trained volunteers.”

He said that staff covers the entire city of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Cho asked for prayers for the facilities and for an upcoming license because it is waiting for permission to care for 15 patients in the facilities.

Korean United Methodist churches took a significant role in building the hospice facilities and procuring equipment.

“The Korean churches have raised about $250,000 for the hospice center and its equipment,” said Park. “It signified and demonstrated the partnership and commitment of the Korean United Methodist Church community to the Mongolian Mission Initiative.”

Despite the accomplishment of the Mongolia mission over the past 20 years, the missional environment in Mongolia is not easy. The Christian population in Mongolia is less than 2%.

More than half of the population lives in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. The number of people migrating to cities is rapidly increasing, and people are facing various social problems as they undergo rapid urbanization and industrialization, which are large changes from traditional nomadic life.

However, in this challenging situation, missional opportunities are increasing.

There are now 12 United Methodist churches, two mission centers (Grace Hospice and Kairos Community Center) and various outreach ministries to serve the Mongolian communities.

“We cannot really count the number of lives touched, blessed and transformed by the Mongolian Mission Initiative over the last 20 years,” Park said. “I am confident that God will continue to do great things in and through the Mongolian Mission Initiative for many years to come.”

He quoted the biblical passage from 1 Thessalonians 3:9 at the ordination service as he summarized the 20 years of the Mongolia mission: “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joys we have in the presence of our God because of you?”

Kim is director of Korean and Asian news at United Methodist Communications. Contact him at 615-742-5470 or [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests.

 

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Faith Stories
Evangelist Norest Munetsi Nyakudanga died Oct. 22 while preaching at Chisipiti United Methodist Church in Harare, Zimbabwe. He was bestowed with a posthumous honorary ordination at his burial. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Zimbabwean gets posthumous honorary ordination

The Rev. Norest M. Nyakudanga became the first lay member in Zimbabwe to be honored with a posthumous ordination for decades of preaching in The United Methodist Church.
Global Health
Pierre Kenga (not pictured) traveled more than 80 kilometers from the village of Dikwadjondo in Sankuru province to the United Methodist-affiliated Tunda General Hospital in Tunda, Congo, with his wife (seated) and his sister (lying down). The hospital is attracting more patients from distant regions. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

Hospital provides beacon of hope in Eastern Congo

Thanks to new buildings and equipment, Tunda General Hospital attracts patients from far and wide, bringing care to a remote region.
Church Leadership
The Rev. Dr. Javier A. Viera. Photo courtesy of Garrett Seminary.

To revitalize the church, we must invest in deacons

The United Methodist Church cannot continue to treat deacons as a second class within the ordination hierarchy.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2024 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved