Transformed Lives: Operation Christmas Child and The Great Adventure Impact Children in Mongolia

A new generation is coming to faith in Jesus Christ through Operation Christmas Child and its follow-up program, The Great Adventure.

Light, sky, earth and water came out of nowhere. Then came vegetation, animals and man. God did all these things just by saying: “What exists…” (Genesis 1). Although the creation story sounds familiar, it is a totally new concept for children in Mongolia.

At Living Stone Church in Nalaikh, an hour from the capital Ulaanbaatar, children hear this wonderful story and others through The Great Adventure, Samaritan’s Purse’s discipleship program offered to recipients of Operation Christmas Child gift boxes. . Each of the 12 lessons proclaim the Good News that confronts secular and animist worldviews in Mongolia. The first class on creation is particularly revolutionary.

“I’m always excited to teach the first lesson because it’s a different idea about creating the world,” said Buyankhishig, a leader. “Mongolia is a communist country, and Darwin’s theory is taught, saying that we came from the monkey.”

Buyankhishig and other church leaders teach participants in The Great Adventure the principle from Genesis 1:27: “And God created the human being in his image, he created him in the image of God. Male and female he created them.”

This truth from God’s Word is burned into the minds of the children in the program. It is so different from what they have learned that it piques their interest in the discipleship course and makes them want to keep coming.

Saved, now share your faith

Munkhbold,11, y Enkhriilen, 9, were among the children who received Christ into their lives during The Great Adventure at Living Stone Church. Each said on their graduation day that Genesis 1:27 had been their favorite verse of the course.

Munkhbold He attended church for seven years before participating in the discipleship course, but the 12 stories were a tool God used to change his life.

Children celebrate after graduation from The Big Adventure at Living Stone Church.

“I know that I am a sinner. I have done many bad things, but God saved me and I believed in Jesus during The Great Adventure,” he said.

“God saved me and I believed in Jesus during The Great Adventure.”

Now Munkhbold brings his four little sisters to Sunday school. He also tells his classmates, friends, and neighbors about Jesus. “I shared what I learned with my best friend, Dulguun, and the next day he came to church with me,” Munkhbold said.

Dulguun also participated in The Great Adventure and today he is following Christ!

For Enkhriilenall the lessons in The Great Adventure set the stage for the dramatic finale (or rather, helped her start something new).

Enkhriilen prayed to accept Christ into his heart during The Great Adventure.

“I learned what God did and other stories from the Bible,” he said. “I met people like Adam and Eve. Also, I learned about the birth of Jesus and how he was born.”

As each story was listened to, the path was paved for a transformative decision. She said: “When the teacher told us about Jesus’ death on the cross, I was sad. When she spoke of the resurrection, she was so happy that she wanted to follow Jesus and invited him into my heart.

This sentence opened a new world for Enkhriilen. He began to enjoy an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ and learned that he can ask God for whatever is on his heart. One of her first prayers was that her mom would visit her.

Her parents live in the province in eastern Mongolia, and she lives with her grandmother, brother, sister, and nephew.

“Although I am far from my parents, every afternoon I call them and we talk about what I have learned in The Great Adventure,” he said.

Her mom plans to go with her to church when she visits, and Enkhiilen hopes that she will also give her life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The children enjoy their New Testaments, which they receive at their graduation from The Great Adventure.

Start with a gift box

The Big Adventure program begins with distributions of Operation Christmas Child gift boxes and evangelistic events.

“Every year our church receives between 50 and 100 boxes, which means we can reach 50 to 100 children and their families,” Buyankhishig said. “Boxes help open people’s hearts.”

He has seen firsthand how they make a strong impression on children. Many decide to follow Jesus as a result of boxes or The Big Adventure. Even those who do not have a positive impression of Christianity are more likely to go to church in the future.

“What they do is very important,” Buyankhishig said. “It may seem very simple to pack a box, but it is very important for the kingdom of God. Your reward will be great in heaven.”

Pack a box of gifts! The national collection week is from November 13 to 20, 2023.

Children of all ages learn how God created the world through The Great Adventure course.

SUPPORT

The Great Adventure Jesus reminds us that the Kingdom of God is full of people who have childlike faith. “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like them” (Matthew 19:14). We praise God that more than five million children have decided for Christ through “The Great Adventure.” At graduation we give them a New Testament in their own language so they can continue their growth in faith and share Jesus with their friends and family. Your donation of $6 per child will allow us to train local volunteer teachers and provide them with the necessary materials for the 12 lessons of the course, including the graduation Bibles.

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Suggested donation: $6 or $6,000 for 1,000 children

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