From Opposition to Celebration
Naraa was among the first few hundred Christian believers in Mongolia after the fall of communism in the early 90’s. She was attracted to preaching she heard on the street and went to meetings to learn more.
At the time, she was a university student, studying to work in the aviation industry but felt called to ministry. When she decided to leave the university to go to the Bible school, her family was angry that she was giving up a good career to pursue a foreign religion and beat her. She went anyway.
She graduated with a two-year pastoral degree and served the church for over 30 years. She is a church planter and missionary. She is also passionate about developing the next generation of youth and young adult leaders.
A few years ago, Naraa returned to the same Bible college to work toward a master’s of organizational leadership. Naraa’s tuition was paid for by Amplified Leaders, a Global Partners initiative to help fund the ordination of Wesleyan pastors around the world. If you give toward this cause, thank you for helping make this possible.
With this new degree, Naraa is excited to invest more intentionally in young leaders and help cast vision for the future.
When Naraa graduated this past April, her family stood with her in celebration. Her parents, most of her siblings, and several extended family members are now believers too, in large part because of her faithful witness and influence. Her family has been transformed by the love of God.
After her graduation, Naraa expressed deep gratitude to those who had supported her journey: “To my beloved parents, brothers and sisters and pastors, to my beloved friends: thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without your prayers, dedication, help, support and encouragement, I would not have been able to continue my family, work, ministry and school for the past three years! I was able to graduate with your love, encouragement and prayer support. Glory to God!”
With this new degree, Naraa is excited to invest more intentionally in young leaders and help cast vision for the future. She learned a lot about strategic planning, an approach that can feel countercultural in a place historically shaped by nomadic traditions and a focus on present needs.
Sometimes she talks about retiring, but in the same breath she’ll talk about new vision God has given her to disciple, plant churches and invest in the next generation.
She has persevered through many difficult seasons. I do not know if the Mongolian Wesleyan Church would exist as a denomination in Mongolia without her dedication and perseverance. Her commitment to the church and the Gospel has been costly for her. It has been an honor to support her and come alongside to encourage her in her leadership and her studies.
Naraa’s obedience as a young woman cost her deeply—she was beaten, her earning potential plummeted, her relationships were damaged. And she will tell you that she has been deeply blessed by God as she has seen families and communities transformed by the hope and holiness of Jesus Christ