During the Mongolia Mission (MM) Lay Congress, held March 22 to 25, 2017, two young women were awarded educational scholarships from the General Conference (GC) women’s ministries department. As part of the Sabbath services, Otgon Bayarzul and Gansukh Otgonbolor were presented the award letters by Lisa Clouzet, Nilde Lust, and Ouyntuya Batsukh, directors from the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) and MM women’s ministries.
Otgon (Zula) Bayarzul is in her third year of university studies. She is majoring in English and hopes to one day influence others for Jesus through the teaching skills and talents the Lord has given her. Zula grew up in the church and was especially influenced by her grandmother and aunts in how to be a strong and faithful church member. She also credits two of her pastors and a Pathfinder director as mentors and examples of how to walk with Jesus. Zula is active in the Ulaanbaatar Central Church, where she is a worship singing group member and a Pathfinder club counselor. Those who know her well report that Zula is competent, courageous, respectful, responsible, and hardworking, and that she works well with others.
Gansukh (Boloro) Otgonbolor is studying to be a psychologist at Mongolia National University. She has won several first-place scholastic awards as well as awards for her acting and singing talents. In 2015, she was invited to the Gray House to receive a best student award from the president of Mongolia. Boloro credits her aunt and the Bible as the biggest influences in her life toward following Jesus. She is very active in her church Pathfinder club, where she teaches honor classes. She is also the Sabbath School superintendent at the Bayan Khair Church. Boloro was recommended for the GC women’s ministries scholarship because she is responsible, kind, dedicated to God’s service, and a hard worker. She also communicates well, seeks to understand others, and enjoys working with people.
The GC women’s ministries scholarship program was established to give financial help to women who are committed to serving the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church who would otherwise be unable to afford a Christian education. Prior to 2004, all scholarships were funded by profits from the women’s ministries’ daily devotional books for women. The first devotional book was printed in 1993; since then, more than 23 books have been published.
In 2004, a new program, “Scholarshipping Our Sisters” (SOS), was developed to raise funds that would allow more women to receive help. This program is managed by the GC women’s ministries department. Funds for SOS are solicited from businesses, retirees, women’s organizations, and other interested groups and individuals. The women’s ministries scholarship program has given more than 2,375 scholarships in over 132 countries amounting to more than $1 million dollars.
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, financial need, community outreach, and the recipient’s determination to improve herself. She must be committed to the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and to serving the Lord in whatever way He directs. Specific amounts of scholarship awards vary from year to year and are dependent on the amount of funds available in each division. Scholarships may only be obtained through one’s home division. For more information, to download an application, or to donate toward the scholarship fund, please visit the GC women’s ministries website: adventistwomensministries.org.
Article by Lisa Clouzet, NSD WM Director