“Before Langham Preaching, we were preaching just what’s in our heads; we cannot do that with God’s Word. So, that’s why Langham Preaching training is really helpful to train our pastors, so they are deeply rooted in God’s Word and learn to preach well.”
Khaliun Gilyasid is the Pastor of Amen Grace Church in Nalaikh, Mongolia. After serving at a church in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar for over twenty years, Khaliun had a vision for a new church in 2016. She recalls, “I wanted to disciple new people and start a new church.” So, thanks to the faithfulness of God, Amen Grace Church was planted in July 2017.
Great need for good news
The Nalaikh district has around 34,000 people, and people from more rural areas are continually moving into the area. As the population grows, so does the unemployment rate. High unemployment brings many other challenges that are impacting the young and old.
Khaliun shares, “Since there is unemployment, alcoholism is a big problem here. There are many single mothers. And there are even more families where both the husband and wife are alcoholics.”
The area has about twenty churches, including Amen Grace Church, but only around three have their own buildings and resources. Most churches are very small and meet in houses or rent halls for their gatherings.
Suffering and poverty throughout Nalaikh are having an ongoing spiritual impact on the people there. Khaliun says, “The community is really spiritually dark; they need the good news and the good promise.”
Observation for faithful teaching
Khaliun originally trained for ministry at Union Bible Theological College in Ulaanbaatar. Her study taught her some theories and methods of preaching, but after doing the Langham Preaching training decades into her ministry, she was surprised by what she learnt.
She shares, “The Langham Preaching method was something significant and very different. Langham taught me how to observe the text more deeply. People, environment, place, and timing all play a part in the text. Observing the text really well has helped me to prepare good sermons faithful to God’s Word.”
Khaliun first started Langham Preaching training in 2017 when planting her church. A significant mentor in ministry and training through Langham has been Langham Scholar Bayar Garamtseren, who is heavily involved in Langham Preaching training in Mongolia.
She shares, “I have really appreciated Dr Bayar’s advice and suggestions. He gives solutions in a really wise way.”
Through Langham Preaching, Khaliun is also involved in preaching clubs. This is where a small group of pastors and lay-preachers who have done Langham training meet together. They critique each other’s sermons and work to support each other in their learning.
Khaliun shares, “These things really helped me to be equipped more in preparing good sermons. Through these preaching clubs, we make each other’s sermons more developed. It equips us, challenges us and sharpens us.”
After her experience, Khaliun sees the vision for Langham Preaching training changing the way the Bible is taught in all Mongolian churches. She says, “It’s really helping the Mongolian people. Before Langham Preaching, we were preaching just what’s in our heads; we cannot do that with God’s Word. So, that’s why Langham Preaching training is really helpful to train our pastors, so they are deeply rooted in God’s Word and learn to preach well.”
Please continue to pray for Khaliun, Bayer and for the spread of the Langham Preaching ministry throughout the churches in Mongolia.