A THREE YEAR PROPOSAL FOR
2009, 2010, 2011
Venturing into the unknown
Equipped only with the known
I. A HISTORY OF PREVIOUS WORK
In January 2007, on an international flight, a Christian businessman sat by a Mongolian woman coming to the States to find a college for her son. He convinced her to investigate Harding University, and put her in touch with his friend Charles Scott, an 85-year-old Energizer Bunny of a preacher, who has done extensive work in India, Nepal and South Asia. Charles and Ann invited Shagdar Battsetseg to stay with them for a week, took her to Harding, where she was so impressed, she enrolled her son. Charles shared this event with Jim Trotter, a former elder at Raytown, Missouri, and a fellow worker in the India missions, and expressed his desire for this lady to know the Gospel. Jim immediately responded that he knew someone interested in going to Mongolia and gave him my name. Jim told Charles that I had actually spent 1983-1984 as a grad student at Indiana University, studying Mongolian language in preparation of going there someday. Jim knew me because the Raytown church was a sponsor of the Prison Ministry for many years. One evening in early February, I answered the phone, and heard, “Are you still interested in going to Mongolia?” Those words from Charles Scott were my Macedonian Call. It turned out that Charles and I had met in 1984 at an India workshop at Raytown. I contacted Ms. Battsetseg immediately, and learned that she was the founder and director of a small English Language College in Zuunmod, Tov Province, Mongolia. She asked if I would come to Mongolia and teach English at her school. She had no problem with my Christianity, but rather, was impressed and extended a formal invitation to me to visit her country. Shagdar Battsetseg has since become my very good friend and host during my visits to Mongolia. This was the answer to my prayers concerning Mongolia, and the beginning of my work there.
A. My first trip to Mongolia began September 1st, 2007. My agenda for that trip:
1. Meet the people and learn their culture. (I have a background in their history.)
2. Learn what may be available avenues for preaching the gospel.
3. Confirm a location from which to work.
4. Pursue my primary purpose in teaching and preaching the gospel.
5. Pursue my secondary purpose in teaching English to Mongolian students. The duration of the trip was one month. I accomplished all the above. Total cost of the trip was $8,319.34. $2,000.00 of this amount was donated to the college.
B. The second trip to Mongolia began August 15th, 2008. My Agenda for the second trip:
1. The College proved to be a proper base from which to work. I continued to teach English there as a volunteer. It offered exposure to students and citizens alike.
2. Followed up on study with Sendenpurev Batbold, the Pastor of a little church in Zuunmod who was my driver and translator.
3. Prepared 20 fifteen-minute lessons to be recorded for presentation on Mongol TV. (Unfortunately, I was not able to find a TV Station that would broadcast these lessons.)
4. Followed up on contacts forwarded to me by World English Institute. These are students studying English via the Internet using the Bible.
5. Distributed 50 English NKJV New Testaments. The duration of the trip was one month with significant contacts and potential in follow-up work. Total cost $ 8,306.00. $2,000.00 of this amount was donated to the Zuunmod College.
C. Donations to Zuunmod English Language College. Zuunmod College serves me in a number of ways: the care of my person through food provided, social activities, introductions in various levels of Mongol society, Internet availability, trips to significant landmarks, and resource for translators and drivers. Ms. Battsetseg is my constant host, tour guide, and counselor in interacting with the people, the nomads on the Steppes, the common people inthe city, the professionals in business and government.
II. WHAT I LOOK FOR IN FUTURE TRIPS
In considering a three-year plan, I am including 2009, 2010, and 2011.
A. Agenda for 2009:
1. Lengthen my trip to two months.
2. Continue using the college as my central location.
3. Follow up contacts made last year.
4. Teach a Bible class on Wednesdays at the International Church of Christ, Ulaan Baatar. I discovered this congregation the last two weeks of my 2008 trip. Bayantur Purevdorj is the preacher. In fundamental principles of faith, repentance, confession, and baptism, they are sound. However regarding church identification and New Testament worship they need to know the way of our Lord more perfectly. (See Acts 18:25, 26) They have invited me to return and teach and I expect the whole congregation will participate in the studies.
5. Teach a Bible class on Sunday mornings at the Truth ChurchZuunmod. Sendenpurev is the Pastor. He and I have become very good friends. He often drives for me and translates my lessons.
6. Distribute additional New Testaments.
7. Follow up on new contacts received from World English Institute.
8. Teach English at the College five times each week.
B. Agenda for 2010:
1. In addition to the above agenda, I am seeking a team of workers to join me in Ulaan Baatar for more intense outreach.
2. Will consider lengthening my stay to three months.
C. Agenda for 2011:
1. Follow up and build upon the work previously established.
2. I expect by this year to see one or two congregations of the Lord's Church established with New Testament worship secured. May our Lord bless this hope.
III. THE LEAVENWORTH CHURCH OF CHRIST
The Elders of the Leavenworth congregation, Marvin Francisco, Marion Green and myself, have agreed to oversee this work in Mongolia. We have set up a separate account as Mongolian Mission. All contributions in support for the Mongolian Mission should be written
Leavenworth Church of Christ
Mongol Mission
P.O. Box 452
Leavenworth, KS. 66048
A Yearly financial statement will be available to all contributors to the work. All inquiries may be addressed to me -- William Crossman -- at the above P.O Box.
Respectfully,
William Crossman,
In His service
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