Reaping a Bountiful Harvest…In His Time
Reporting on Mongolian Evangelism
The germination time for a seed can vary anywhere from one day to one year. Some seeds even have periods of dormancy that can last for several years before successful germination and growth can be achieved. Who would have thought that the seeds of the Spirit, sown in a period of privation and adversity, in a barren land, over twenty-two years ago, would blossom and bear such beautiful fruit?
Half a lifetime ago, a dewy-eyed, idealistic young girl, fresh out of college and on fire for the Lord stepped onto the frozen tarmac of Ulaanbaatar's Buyant Ukhaa Airport . She was ill-prepared for the cold, the isolation, and the sheer indifference of the Mongolian people, but she had a heart full of love and a passionate zeal to share the Gospel message. Planting the seeds of Christianity in the un-receptive soil of traditionally Buddhist, post-communist hearts was painstakingly difficult; but she labored away, watering the hardened soil with her tears. There were many times when Satan's attacks were so fierce that she wanted to declare defeat and just give up, but she stuck it out for nearly five years.
That young girl was me, and upon returning to Mongolia for the UB-14 Mission to the Cities evangelistic meetings, and being able to witness first-hand the changes that time and God's Spirit have wrought, I have realized anew that everything works according to God's plan and in His time. There are some things that simply cannot be rushed and the germination period for the seed of God's Word to bear fruit is the perfect example of such. I remember how frustrated and heart-broken I was at every setback, wondering what I was doing wrong. But it wasn't me, and it wasn't my work. The Lord was preparing those hearts to receive the Word and He was carefully tending those seeds until they were ready to germinate and bear fruit.
And today? What a glorious harvest! Those seedlings have grown into pastors, elders, deacons, Bible workers, missionaries, evangelists, teachers, and the list goes on and on--a Mongolian church over 2000 members strong and growing steadily. What an honor it was for me to be a pioneer missionary all those years ago, to be a tool in the hands of the Master Gardener! And it was another privilege to participate in the meetings earlier this month and once again share the message with my Mongolian brothers and sisters. But UB-14 was more than just a series of evangelistic meetings for me--it was a time of homecoming and spiritual vindication, to be reminded once more that the victory has already been won: " Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Romans 8:37)
Joanne Kim (née Park) is a former editor of the English Church Compass. She is the principal of Guam Adventist Academy, a wife of a USAF officer, and mother of four. The “J” Kim family (Jon, Joanne, Joelle, Janelle, Jordan, & Jaira) currently resides in Guam.