Why are Sheeps in Bathtubs? (And Other Questions)
Bernie Anderson
(This is the text of an email I wrote to some friends who read "There's a Sheep in my Bathtub: Birth of a Mongolian Church planting movement". I think this is an important book for those of us who are called to to work in Mongolia. But I also think it highlights some of the issues that Mongolia still faces today. This is kind of a long post, and I know there may be many of our RememberMongolia readers who will not find this of interest. However, for what it's worth, I am going to post it anyway.)
I finished Brian Hogan's book "There is a Sheep in My Bathtub" about two months ago or so. I am just getting around now to writing up some of my thoughts about the book. I really should have written this while it was still fresh on my mind - so I hope I am not working from a dim memory. In any case, I really appreciate your sending the book to me - and I have enjoyed reading some of the recent history of the field here. I have met folks who know the Hogans and the Leatherwoods, and I have met Mongolian believers who were at one point a part of their ministry, as well. I must say that I greatly appreciate the sacrifice and the work of these pioneers, and I am particularly impressed with the way God worked in the Hogan family while they were in the process of burying their son. My hat is off to them for this.
I also appreciate the church planting emphasis, particularly in a place where the church had not been planted before. His use of Church Planting Movement (CPM) principles was right - and Biblical. This is an excellent case study of classic missiological principles such as indigenous church planting, contextualization, and staying away from unhealthy dependency by quickly turning the work over to national believers, and making a departure. This is good stuff.
However, there are a few Mongolia specific missiological issues this book brings up that I would like to either clarify or, if need be, take issue with.
1. The City of Ulaanbaatar. I take issue with Hogan's comments regarding the city. I may be wrong, but I detected a tone of "get me out of Ulaanbaatar and out where the 'real' lost people are". Particularly on page 56 where he says, "Getting out of Ulaanbaatar was as vital to our success as making sure we didn't end up living in the Sansar Missionary Ghetto". I hear comments like this frequently. I have heard friends and coworkers from both our organization and from other organizations working in country make these kinds of statements. I get the impression sometimes that working in the city is only for 'city-slickers' who can't really handle the difficult lifestyle and lack of conveniences that is true of rural areas of Mongolia. I heard one person make the statement of "why would I stay in UB where there are some churches and opportunities to hear the Gospel when I can go to the countryside where there are no churches and no opportunities". The Korean Missionary Association has ceased church planting efforts in UB because they have declared it as "saturated". There is this romantic view of the Mongolian countryside among both Mongolian people and many missionaries. I hear talk from a lot of Christian workers who have the idea that UB is just a 'stopover', and the real missionary work is going to be done in the rural 'unreached' areas of Mongolia. I want to qualify what I am about to say. a. I believe calling to a place is important. So if a person is called to Western Mongolia, or the West side of Chicago - obedience is key issue. b. I love the Mongolian countryside, as well! It's beautiful. I think the nomadic culture of the people there is also beautiful and of high interest. c. Without compromise, the unreached people of of rural mongolia must be reached. This is a non-negotiable fact.
However, in order to reach this country, we must effectively reach the capital city - and this city is far from what would be considered "reached" by any reasonable standard. The entire country is coming to the city. If a student wants to be educated, he or she must usually come to UB. This past September, 250,000 + students came to the city from all over the country in order to attend University. That number grows every year. The city itself is growing exponentially, because people come with hope for jobs and a better life. Many of these people end up living in ger districts all around the outskirts of town, where water and power and basic services are lacking, and in some cases non-existent. UB is the political, cultural, educational, social, technological, spiritual (etc., etc.,) epicenter of the nation. It's not a pretty place. It's not really even a fun place to live (trust me, there are days when the quiet clean air, and majestic yet pastoral landscapes of rural Mongolia look really nice, when compared to the smoke, traffic, pollution and noise of the city). However, it is critical that we make city disciples who are willing to give their lives away for the sake of their countrymen. It is critical that we disciple students who will be able to effectively reach their friends and family back in their notak (their home province). It is critical that we raise up a church that will seek ways to address the issues of city life in Ulaanbaatar in a Biblical, Christ-like, God-honoring manner. I know there will be some called specifically to rural and unreached places - however, I firmly believe that as an organization we must not abandon the city under some misconceived idea that it's 'reached'. It's under-reached, at best. The christians here are few and far between and the church is weak across the board - and that's putting it graciously.
2. Evangelism in Mongolia. I want to address some misconceptions that I think this book has fostered somewhat. I believe that this is an accurate history of what happened in Mongolia during the 1990's when the country first opened to the Gospel. There was an unprecedented openness to the Gospel. We can rejoice that took place. There were many new genuine believers who came to Christ during that era, and who are still following as disciples of Jesus today. Many churches were started. Some of those still exist today, as well. In fact there are statistics now that say there are about 40,000 Christians in Mongolia. Now while that's still only about 1.3% of the population, that would seem a good start. Some would say the work here is finished. I have heard and read people say (mostly people who have never been here) "Things are happening in Mongolia, there are church planting movements (CPM) going on there". I want to dispel that rumor. There were some significant CPM's happening here at one point. However, right now more churches are disappearing than they are appearing. I have read some recent statistics that the actual number of believers in Mongolia is not increasing, but is actually decreasing. I don't have actual research to back up why this is happening - but I speculate that it has much to do with the fact that church was merely planted, but not nurtured and established to the point where she can actually sustain herself (more on that in a minute). Evangelism here is typically not taking place by Mongolians reaching other Mongolians. Most of the evangelism that I have seen takes place with a foreigner (or when a team comes), and is usually done with total strangers. I believe that the church needs to be retooled with culturally appropriate ways to share their faith. The church will not become sustainable until that really takes place. It's very strange to me to see a church that is new - and yet, so ingrown. I am suspicious that westerners and Koreans have imported some bad habits. One of the things that really needs to happen here (I believe) is the development of a spirituality that is truly Mongolian - and not Western/Korean imports.
It is not unusual to meet someone who was a Christian 5 years ago. This is the person who saw the American and Korean Christians come in and saw Christianity as a meal ticket (or a plane ticket). Now they have returned to Buddhism, Shamanism, atheism or a combination of the three. However, they are still part of the 40,000 count.
Now in defense of Brian Hogan and his work - There were several incidents stated in his book where he and his team worked to do just that. The name of God issue being one of them (page 105-106). "In new mission fields people tend to reject the message when it's presented in alien cultural forms". True, right and good. I would take that statement a step further and say that people will not understand or embrace for the long term a Christian Spirituality that is also in alien cultural form. I believe this is something that those of us who are working here need to study, understand and walk with Mongolian brothers and sister in this process of discovery. In other words, this contextualization principle needs to continue beyond mere Gospel presentation, to all areas of Christian living. This takes time - blood, sweat and tears.
3. When is the church really planted? Which really leads to one of my major issues with a lot of contemporary missiology. There is a sense in which I applaud the efforts of folks like Hogan who have a vision of getting in, planting the church and getting out. This is a good contradiction to those who have the old imperialistic view of mission and establish the local church in such a way that the foreigner always maintains control. My criticism here is not directed at Brian Hogan, because I believe that they did as they were directed of God - and that they walked in obedience to that. However, there are more and more people that are saying that long term Missions is a thing of the past and I believe there is a danger in moving cross-cultural ministry into a minimalist short-term (2-3 years) work, rather than long term work of truly understanding and embracing language and culture, making disciples within the context of that language and culture, and establishing a church that will be able to sustain itself until Christ returns. While I think it's good to quickly transition national believers into leadership roles, I also think that it's terribly short-sighted to believe that a church will become deeply rooted, impactful and sustainable in such a short period of time, without further assistance. The church in Mongolia grew wide quickly. However, the depth of the church never went very deep at all. The church planting movement (CPM) that is recorded in this book started well. There were 800 some people involved with that particular CPM when they left the field. Today that church in Erdenet still exists. However, I have been told that it has about 150 people involved today. This is no disrespect to the Hogans - I am just making the point that the CPM's that began in the 90's are not continuing today. But it does seem that the best picture of the church in Mongolia is that of a revolving door.
I am also seeing that church planting and evangelism is not enough. While these things are pieces (and an important, must not be neglected pieces) of the Great Commission, it is not the sum total of our task. We are to make disciples - and I believe that means make disciples who are able to make more disciples. This means the church needs leaders who are trained to work and think in theologically astute ways. My personal vision is that the church in Mongolia will one day have pastors, leaders, writers, missionaries, theologians, artists and songwriters who are able to accurately and effectively communicate the Gospel in a way that is uniquely Mongolian. Right now, we're a long way from that. So while I appreciate the frontier missions movement, and it's emphasis on the unreached peoples of the world - I think we need to be careful to not see the unreached peoples as a grocery list that gets checked off, and when it's checked we're finished. Making disciples is bigger than checking off everyone on the Joshua Project list (as big a job as this is!). This will still require those who are called to do so to invest a large amount of time and energy (and life) to cross culture and live the Christian life in the middle of that culture in order to train a church for sustainable strength for years to come. I won't take any more time than I've taken in this email, but I believe that careful exposition of the work and methodology of Paul will show that he did more than hit and run church planting.
This approach also grossly underestimates the deep roots of Shamanism and the deceptive nature of Buddhism. It ignores that fact that Mongolians lived in a God-less vacuum for 70 years under the former USSR. It is going to take more than a couple of years of Sunday School lessons to see long-term change happen.
Again, I want to emphasize that I am not criticizing Brian Hogan or the work he and his team has done in Mongolia. Nor am I in any way minimizing the sacrifice they made in their time in Mongolia. There is a place and a need for mission pioneers like the Hogans. However, as someone living and working here now - I want to say that not only is the job not finished, yet. It's not even close.
Reader Comments (16)
Thanks for this post. I haven't had the opportunity to read this book yet, but your review was encouraging to me.
Having lived about 2-3 miles from the west side of Chicago for several years (by the way the east part of the west side of Chicago is being gentrified as we blog) and doing ministry in upscale Lincoln Park, my personal mantra was "get me out of the west side northwest side and near north side of Chicago to the real UB (where there are actually people repenting on earth)." Thanks for your perspective on what's happening in UB. It looks like I will be in UB in August.
Good word Bernie. From what I saw in my two weeks there, I think you are right on.
Good review I'll have to find the book and read it for myself. I agree with what you wrote about what is happening in Mongolia, I do think there might be a new disciple making movement happening in ByonHunger. Hopefully it will continue. I totally agree with what you wrote about UB, yes lots of foreigners but also half of the country lives there, seems like a key place to have a ministry.
See you soon
Jeff - good to hear from you, man! Praying for you guys and looking forward to seeing baby Mikayla! We'll definitely need to make plans to journey out to Bayanhonger! Looking forward to that...
I found the book fascinating and also insightful as to what different perspectives can be had by two different missionary teams. Having been in UB, I see the tremendous influence that is possible from reaching the next generation flocking to the city. You are exactly right in stating that better contextualization of spiritual, principles, truths and concepts must be developed for the unique Mongolian mindest. What you wrote is just as applicable to the American church. We have not always kept abreast as to how to effectively make disciple-making-disciples in our current cultural context.
Bernie,
Thanks for the advert and your thoughts.
I wanted to briefly address a few of your thoughtful observations from the front.
I am sorry that the section about our team being guided to Erdenet came across as an indictment of those working in the capital. You are right. Reaching UB is vital. My point was that to do the things God had called us to do we had to get away from all of the "other men's foundations" that were being laid down in UB. Those Western/Korean churches you speak of there were precisely what we need to have some distance from if solid NT principles of CP were to be tried.
The mother church in Erdenet is smaller than when we left but much of this is due to the seminomadic nature of the Mongols and the many other churches that have been planted in that city since. The numbers are still high city wide when you consider all the Erdenet churches, and the growth of our movement continues through the daughter and granddaughter churches, etc.
Bless you,
Brian Hogan
Thanks all for your comments on this. In particular, Brian, I thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Your family's courage and pioneer spirit paved the way for a church in Mongolia today. You guys are awesome! I recommend your book to anyone who is interested in the work here - and particularly for those called to serve here. Hope you sell a million copies!
I appreciate your recognition of different callings. I may be more sensitive to that issue, because I find at times that those of us who stay in the capital get placed into a sort of 'second rate' category by a lot of people, because we're not going out into the countryside. Probably just one sentence that rubbed a little ... because of the attitude that others take and not your own. UB is not a glamorous place to live by any stretch of the imagination. But it's full of lost people and a very adolescent church.
That said, I was just in Erdenet and Bulgan last week - and met some beautiful believers there ... fruit of your sacrifice, in my mind.
Next time you're passing through UB look us up ... I'd love to grab a cup of coffee with you, if you have the time.
Thanks for stopping by!
Another thought:
On evangelism - our team found that the Mongolians were gifted natural evangelists. Indeed, after the initial 14 disciples, we foreigners didn't need to do ANY evangelism. The believers completely took the ball and ran with it. I think that something (imported methods?) is inhibiting that natural gift in what you are observing now in UB. Maybe a refocusing on reaching those already in the circle of the disciple's relationships, rather than stranger evangelism. The evangelism modeled by Western (or Eastern!) missionaries tends to be less-effective and and non-reproducible when compared to the oikos evangelism employed in the New Testament.
More blessings,
Brian Hogan
I could not possibly agree with you more, on this point, my friend.
I feel that we're having to 'undo' a lot in order to get to that point.
Amen and amen.
Wow! You can get coffee in UB now! (Just kidding! I know that things have changed)
"Probably just one sentence that rubbed a little … because of the attitude that others take and not your own. UB is not a glamorous place to live by any stretch of the imagination. But it’s full of lost people and a very adolescent church."
I don't share that attitude, and we found Erdenet far easier to live in than UB. We did a year in UB and our hats are off to you!
Brian
Coffee and high speed Internet (with, of course, varying degrees of consistency!). The times indeed, they are a changing...
It is good to see the interaction going on here. My first comment is that Mongolia, like the rest of the world, is changing with so many people moving to the cities.
Bernie, with your love of good coffee, you may want to look into getting the StarBucks franchise for Mongolia. It's a natural for you!
And there is the question of the mile wide inch deep church. If this is indeed true in Mongolia, it is by no means unique. The worst example of this is probably Rwanda where Christian on Christian genocide was seen.
The underlying question seems to be how do we plant a church that can reproduce without bringing in a lot of Western baggage. It is going to take balance and a lot of prayer.
God bless you Bernie.
And you too Brian.
Terry
Hello Bernie,
My name is Maral Bat-Amgalan. I was born about the same time that the Christian church was started in Erdenet. My mom is a friend of Brian Hogan. He still has a video of my birth. Right now i live in the States. When i was in Mongolia, i use to go to a Catholic church in UB. I visited Mongolia in the summer of 2008 and a lot has changed. There are many new churches and many people attend them. My aunt Amarjargal, lives in Erdenet and she goes to church every week and so does her friends, family and relatives. I must say, in a way i was shocked. This summer i will be going to Mongolia again, but this time, i would like to do what i can to help you guys.
P.S. my email is memaral_94@yahoo.com
Hello everyone,
I am curious, what exactly is it about Christianity that conquers the hearts and minds of all the people it reaches? What makes it so different? How do the missionaries do it? Even in Mongolia of all places, with a culture and tradition so different from that of the West -- how does its people attend church every Sunday?
Hi Bumbuu,
Thanks for your comment and the great questions that you ask. I greatly appreciate that.
This is probably not a good place to discuss these things, as a blog is quite limited. I will send you my email contact information. If you'd like, we can get together in person and talk about these things. I'd love to talk to you! Maybe we can meet in person for coffee or tea and discuss your questions.
Blessings to you,
Bernie