I still can hardly believe I am back. Back to the place I am most fond of in this little world. A tiny remote Mongolian town locked away in the dessert, with a great many problems and an underground church network. A town called Ulgii. That is the place that seems to of captured my heart on my journey around the world.
I have seen a lot of beautiful sights, and met a lot of unique people groups. But this one captures my heart like no other. I remember leaving this place last October and wondering if it was all just a dream! So much happened and I got to be a part of something that was so much bigger than me. I got to share in life with the underground church believers, and in many adventures with Jesus. It is also the place where I had my hardest month. I was a fresh new Team Leader faced with many challenges. It was also the place where a lot of my squads issues surfaced.
However this is also where I dreamed the most. Both in my sleep, but also in my spirit. This is the place where God used me to begin to inspire an underground persecuted church network to stand tall and rely on his promises. Now I am back for round two, and with reinforcements! Grace has been extended where there needed to be, and we have been able to continue to foster the relationships we began last year.
Ulgii was the place I was prophesied to come back to, and where I got to extend a first ever community wide prophetic word. This is the place where the vision I have for it is actually coming into FULL fruition. It is the only place in the world where I wake up from a good nights sleep with more knowledge and understanding than I went to bed with. Ulgii is the place where you are either abiding with the Father, or residing with the enemy. It is a spiritual battle ground like no other.
This is where a Shaman shepherd became Christian leader after a visitation from Jesus. Decades before Christians ever landed foot in their remote region (which I have had the honor of meeting and hearing this firsthand). This is the place where a Clorox bomb was thrown into an open christian’s homes. Where a openly professed Christian man was beat to death by two drunk men. Where known believers have been harassed, arrested, and threatened on dozen, if not hundreds of times.
This is where God has brought me to twice now and asked me to encourage them amid the dire circumstances. God is not saying, or promising it will end. But rather that he is with them, and to continue to persevere for his kingdom.
Despite the hardship they keep their eyes locked on the dreams of the Lord and continue looking forward to the continued growth! That’s right they are growing! But why? I think Like the early church it is because people see the freedom that Christ offers. Freedom? Yes I said freedom. It may not seem like much freedom when everywhere you go you are being persecuted, but let me shed some light on what freedom in Christ, and in Ulgii looks like.
They have freedom from sin.
Ulgii has a very large Alcoholic problem. People get drunk and remain drunk for weeks to months at a time! Many of the believers testimony involves freedom and healing from Alcohol abuse! Through Christ, and his church, many have gained freedom from this and other sins, ailments, and diseases.
They have community.
They get together multiple times a week for sports, fun, and picnics. They ensure that if they are suffering that they are doing it within their small church communities. They have people they can rely on during times of trouble, and people to celebrate with in time of peace. But whatever they do, they do in community.
They have a relationship with a living God.
Their relationship is so real with God that all the pain, harassment and suffering is worth it. I have never seen God move firsthand like he is in Ulgii. That is because they are pressing into Christ like no other, and he is moving in radical ways because of this.Thus they count the persecution as a blessing, and so it is! Just read Matthew 5:10 if you disagree. The more we die to self, the more we are alive in and through Christ Jesus. And they are VERY alive. More alive than I have ever been.
They have the freedom to choose.
They are free from having to be what their community says they are. Even though this choice costs them nearly everything they ALL agree it is worth it. Worth it for the relationship with a living God, worth it for the freedom from sin, addiction, worth it for the community they are a part of.
These are our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. They have counted the very real costs and have decided it is worth it. If you would like to get involved there are many ways you can get involved. You can contact me personally if you would like the details and information as I would rather not post specifics online for obvious reasons.
Financially: They have many plans moving forward which includes building a home they can use to help counsel people with addictions, and alcohol abuse. They only need another $4,000 to build this facility.This is just one way they wish to bring freedom to the community that is persecuting them! There is also multiple other building projects.
Prayerfully: They have many, many individual, and overall prayer requests. Every time we meet any believer we get a big lists of prayer requests. Because they KNOW prayer works.
They are so encouraged by just knowing that the body of Christ as a whole is behind them! This is already strengthening those who are standing in the face of persecution, and encouraging more to stand up for what they believe! Just our presence here is a testimony to Gods provision. As more stand God keeps sending more people from all around the world to encourage and edify them. During this next month I would like to invite you to stand with me in prayer for and intercession for Ulgii.
