The Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) Leadership Training Center had its first trainees after undergoing construction for nine months since September 2013. There were 31 trainees from Mongolia including Cleidi Kuhn, the wife of the Mongolian Mission (MM) director, MM treasurer, Mr. Deblois, and his wife, twenty-two Mongolian pastors and their wives, and six Pioneer Mission Movement couples working in Mongolia.
Although the center was not yet fully operational, the trainees earnestly applied themselves to all training programs. “I hope that through this spiritual training, each of your hearts will be filled with spiritual revival and a desire for soul-winning. Also, may it be a good opportunity for you to be strengthened by the lectures and to reconfirm your mission through fasting and personal prayer,” said Pastor Hong KwangEui, Mission Training Center director.
During the first few days, the trainees had some difficulty adjusting to the unfamiliar food and environment, but they left their suffering at the Cross while they fully focused on prayer. The attitude toward the training totally shifted in a positive way.
During manual work time in the afternoons, the trainees repaired prayer rooms and removed weeds. They also made a beautiful stone path. Through their effort, the campus showed great improvement.
On Friday afternoon, they went to see the beautiful sea of Jeju Island. It was the first-ever experience for some of them who had never seen the sea because there is no sea in Mongolia. We surely believe that Mongolian pastors who successfully finished their first training will accomplish the mission Christ has given to them in their homeland.
Generous Contribution of a LayPerson
This training for Mongolian pastors was possible through the dedication of one person. The contributor donated ten million won to the center for Mongolian and Chinese pastors. The NSD Leadership Training Center will be used as a training facility for church leaders in NSD territories. China and Mongolia have a shortage of formal theology educational facilities. Some areas also have difficulty in public theology education due to the political situation of the country. Taking full advantage of the natural environment and the no-visa entry of Jeju Island, various training programs, including spirituality of church leaders, will be continuously implemented.
Requesting Church Members’ Support
Some of the lodging, private residences, a restaurant, and a seminar room have been constructed during the past nine months. However, a church with 200 seats, two lodging buildings and three private residence buildings still need to be built, and more prayer roomsare needed for spiritual training. We eagerly hope that the NSD Leadership Training Center can be completed through the dedication of church members. In addition, we request prayers of support by our church members so that the center can be an outpost for mission, both in Asia and throughout the world.
Personal Testimony by Cleidi Kuhn
I experienced something very special during the training. I am a missionary from Brazil, and there are many training programs in the Division where my mother country belongs to, but I’ve never experienced such a training course. Although South America is embedded with Catholic culture, there are no similar programs to this one. At first, I was worried, but I can tell you that I had a very special experience, which was spiritually necessary and precious. I also learned how to hear God’s voice through the silence training while I was free from the media and the internet.
Another precious experience was deeply meditating on the book The Desire of Ages and on the Cross of Jesus. My life has always been busy, and I did not communicate enough with God through prayer. However, the Lord led me to true repentance through the words of The Desire of Ages,and He let me see how wretched I am by opening my mind. Even though I knew I was a sinner, I did not always recognize sin and sometimes I hesitated to throw it away.
During this week, I had a deep spiritual experience. God helped me discard my selfishness and forgive those who have hurt me. When I earnestly prayed to God and asked for His will to be done, He personally taught me through The Desire of Ages.
The other experience was to see the presence of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of my colleagues. I was little bit concerned about my Mongolian colleagues during the training, so I prayed for them. Some of them are new believers, and some of them do not have a strong faith, but I saw changes in them as they listened to lectures and read The Desire of Ages and prayed in their own rooms. I thought it was a great blessing for the MM to attend the program as the first trainees. I believe that God will do miracles in Mongolia through us and our experiences.
If the MM could have such a program and a center, it would be a big help to train Mongolian members and leaders for spiritual revival. Sometimes, we are tired in spiritual battles, but we can do everything depending on Him.
Personal Testimony by Nyamaa Otgonbayar
Eight years have passed since I came to believe in Jesus. During the training, I realized how far I am from Jesus and how sinful I am even though I thought I trusted in God. At first, I thought I had been born-again by myself, but I realized that Jesus was crucified because of my sins, and I repented.
In the prayer room, I deeply meditated on the presence of the Holy Spirit, the words in The Desire of Ages, and God’s laws. I had never thought about or experienced God’s love in the same way although I had attended many seminars and trainings. I was also able to communicate with God during silence training and fasting.
God carried me on His back to this place. When I decided to attend, Satan hindered me in many ways. I tried to get to Jeju via China, so I crossed the Chinese border on May 30. Then, I could not cross the border because my name was misspelled in my passport, so I left Eren alone for four days until I got a new passport. God prepared a place for me to stay in the strange land.
I want to share God and His love,which I experienced here in Korea, with other Mongolians. I thank God for being close by during the training. I pray that more people can be drawn closer to God and be filled with His love. I strongly recommend that everyone attend the training. May God bless you.
Personal Testimony by Nyamdavaa Amgalan
Dear heavenly Father, Hello. I thank you for choosing me before I was conceived and for the privilege of calling the name of the Lord. I thank you for your grace which forgives my sins and protects me.Father, I remember the moment I met you for the first time. I had never realized the passionate love of the Lord before.I cannot express how great your love is and how wonderful and amazingthe hope is that we have through you.
Father, I realize how what a big, selfish, hopeless sinner I am when I kneel down before you. I thank you for giving me a new spirit and a new heart. Whenever I pray to you, tears run down my face. I thank you for your boundless love. Father God, please forgive my past, present, and future sins, and hold me close with your mercy and grace. I want to be your daughter. I really thank you for your guidance to this place. I am really happy and grateful for this peaceful, forgiving, and grace-filled place.
“This is the one who came by water and blood–Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth” (1 John 5:6). Yes, I thank you for the greatest love. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.