On this month’s Langham Live, I can’t help but reflect on the energy and hope surrounding the event as we welcomed Bayar Garam from Mongolia. His insightful stories and fervent faith reminded us of the power of God’s work around the globe.
A Warm Welcome
Our host, Jo Phillips, introduced Bayar, a Godly yet humble man on an incredible journey. “God is doing remarkable things in and through Bayar” was a sentiment echoed by many of the prayers during the breakout sessions. As the first Mongolian to earn a Ph.D. in biblical studies, his contributions to Bible translation, publishing, and church leadership are nothing short of inspiring.
The Heart of Mongolia
Bayar painted a vivid picture of his homeland, often referred to as “the end of the world.” Nestled between Russia and China, Mongolia is vast yet sparsely populated, with a history that intrigues many. “Mongolia is known for our rich history, which includes figures like Genghis Khan,” he shared, providing context for how Christianity has re-emerged in the nation after decades of communism.
One particularly moving moment was when he mentioned, “After 70 years of communist regime, Mongolia became a democratic country in 1990,” marking a turning point for the Christian faith in the region. The resurgence of churches, with around 600 now operating across Mongolia, stands as a testament to the power of faith and community.
A Mission to Bring the Bible to Mongolia
Bayar shared his deep calling to Bible translation, a mission that took root during a 2001 conference and grew into a lifelong pursuit. While Mongolia had previous translations, one was overly paraphrased, and the other was too literal, making it difficult for serious study and preaching. Determined to bridge this gap, Bayar and his team embarked on an 11-year journey to create a faithful yet natural Mongolian translation.
With the Old Testament now complete and the New Testament set for release this year, their work is a testament to the power of faith and perseverance and the importance of Scripture in a language that truly speaks to the heart of its people.
An Incredible Journey of Faith
The discussion shifted towards Bayar’s personal journey. He reflected on his own faith amidst the backdrop of his country’s transformation. “I was a student in my first year in 1992, which was the time when our country just opened up,” he recalled, illustrating how God can work in the most unexpected of places. His journey reinforces the idea that no matter where we are, God is always present, guiding us towards our purpose.
Connecting Through Faith and Prayer
Bayar’s open invitation to share prayer requests struck a chord with many attendees. “I’m really excited, and I’m also very glad to share what God has graciously been doing, and hopefully will continue to do so,” he expressed. It created an atmosphere of unity as we collectively brought our prayers before God, supporting not just Bayar and his family but the entire Mongolian church community.
Join the Mission
As the evening drew to a close, I felt a profound sense of hope and encouragement. Bayar’s dedication to spreading the gospel and his humble approach to leadership left a lasting impression. It reminded us all of the importance of connecting with each other and the global Christian community.
For those who missed the event, I highly encourage you to tune in and listen to Bayar’s remarkable testimony. It is these stories that energise our mission and inspire us to support one another in faith. Let’s continue to pray for Mongolia and all the wonderful work being done there. Together, through Langham Partnership, we can enable more stories of faith to flourish around the world.
Video Transcript
Summary
- Bayard Garam from Mongolia. Has participated in all three parts of Langham’s programs. First Mongolian to have his Ph. D. in biblical studies. Also a publisher of translated Christian books and a preaching coordinator. God is doing some remarkable things in and through Bayar.
- Bayay was introduced to Langham as he was finishing his theological studies in the US. He received a calling and vision from God that God was calling him to Bible translation work. He applied to schools in the UK and was accepted to Cambridge.
- During a mission conference in 2001, when a missionary was leaving Mongolia after 10 years of service, he was challenged about Bible translation by Mongolians into their own language. Mongolians must own it and do it.
- The Mongolian church was established in the last 35 years. Some mission agencies look to Mongolian Christians as potential missionaries. About 100 Mongolians out of 600 pastors have been through the Langham programme.
- Please pray for Bayar’s right eye, which now has glaucoma. Doctors in Austria are trying to find out why it is progressing while the eye pressure is normal.
Transcript
Welcome, everybody, to Langham Live in this month of February, which is nearly over. Can we believe it? I don’t know about you, but we actually had sunshine here today. I’m based in Carlisle, where our Langham Service Center is. I am the executive officer here and help serve the senior leadership team, fundraising, and all those kinds of things. It is my pleasure and privilege this evening to be here to speak with Bayar Gam from Mongolia.
He’s not sitting in Mongolia tonight—I’ll let him tell you about that. Some of you may know Bayar from different parts of his life story, while for others, he will be new. I’m looking forward to introducing him because I believe God is doing some remarkable things in and through Bayar. Langham gets very excited about him because he has participated in all three parts of Langham’s programs. He has been a scholar, involved in publishing, and active in the preaching program.
Not only that, he is a husband and a father of four children. He is also a pastor and, I believe, the first Mongolian to earn a Ph.D. in biblical studies. He manages a team of Bible translators working on a Mongolian translation and is a publisher of translated Christian books. In addition, he is a preaching coordinator. Oh my goodness, that’s a big list, isn’t it?
As I was preparing for this meeting, I was deeply impressed by the clarity with which he communicates complex ideas in an accessible and persuasive way, yet with great humility. I think he brings that clarity to strategic thought, which perhaps explains how he manages to keep all those plates spinning. So, without further ado, I’d really like to introduce you to our brother Bayar.
Bayar Garam’s Introduction
Bayar: Well, thank you so much! I’m really excited and very glad to be with you all, especially those from the UK, and I see a few people from Cambridge. I see Gareth Paulson—thank you, Gareth, for joining in.
I’m excited to share what has been happening in our lives and what God has graciously been doing and, hopefully, will continue to do. I’m also very happy to share my prayer requests so that we can spend time praying together.
Mongolia’s Background
Host: Absolutely! Perhaps not everyone is greatly familiar with Mongolia itself. Could you tell us a little bit about where it is, its history, and what we should know?
Bayar: Yes, Mongolia is located at what some people in English call “the end of the world.” I heard that when children are naughty, their parents threaten to “send them to the end of the world—to Mongolia!” That’s where I come from.
Mongolia is in Asia, sandwiched between Russia and China. We have only two neighbors, but they are giant neighbors. In terms of land size, Mongolia is a vast country, but in population, we are only about three and a half million people. Despite our small size, we are known for our rich history, including Genghis Khan and, more recently, our period under communism.
Christianity has an interesting history in Mongolia. The gospel first came in the 7th century through the eastern branch of Christianity and remained present until the Mongol Empire in the 13th and 14th centuries. At one point, some Mongolian tribes had a majority Christian population—these were followers of the Nestorian branch of Christianity.
However, under communism, everything changed. For 70 years, there were no churches, and Christianity was completely wiped out. No Christians remained. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that people began hearing about Christianity again. When Mongolia officially became a democratic country in 1990, missionaries were able to enter, share the gospel, and churches began to be planted.
Today, we have about 600 churches throughout Mongolia. About two-thirds of them are in the capital city, while the rest are spread across the country. There are approximately 60,000 Christians, mostly evangelical, with a small number of Catholics. In fact, Pope Francis visited Mongolia two years ago—and I had the opportunity to meet him!
Bayar’s Journey to Faith
Host: That’s fascinating! But I’d love to hear about your personal journey. How did you become a follower of Jesus?
Bayar: I became a Christian in 1992. It was a chaotic time—Mongolia had just transitioned to democracy, and the entire system had collapsed. The education system, the social system, and the job market had all fallen apart. People were in crisis, wondering, “What do we do now?”
I was a first-year student, and a classmate told me that if I went to church, I could practice my English. At the time, I was desperate to learn English because I believed it was key to education and opportunity. So I went to church, but what struck me immediately was the warmth of the people.
I had always been searching for answers to life’s big questions: Who am I? What is the purpose of life? Why am I here? I had tried studying hard, visiting Buddhist temples, and other approaches, but nothing gave me satisfying answers. However, when I heard the gospel, everything started to make sense.
I never missed a Sunday after that. I attended both the Mongolian and English services. I bought a New Testament—the only part of the Bible available at the time—and started reading. I prayed, “God, if You are real, if You exist, I want to follow You.” Since then, I have been walking with Christ, and it has been an incredible journey.
Bayar’s Connection to Langham
Host: That’s amazing! And somewhere along your journey, you found Langham. How did that happen?
Bayar: Langham came into my life when I was finishing my theological studies in the U.S. at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. I had a firm calling from God to work in Bible translation, so I prayed for an opportunity to prepare myself well.
After finishing my Master of Divinity and my second Master’s degree, I was ready to return to Mongolia. However, my professor insisted that I pursue a Ph.D. He said, “It will be useful for you.” I hesitated, thinking it would take too long, but I decided to apply only to shorter programs—and the UK had some of the shortest ones!
I was accepted to Cambridge, which was nothing short of a miracle. I needed funding, and someone suggested I apply to Langham. That’s how my connection with Langham began.
Bible Translation in Mongolia
Host: Your calling to Bible translation is fascinating. There was already a translation available, so what drove you to take on this enormous task?
Bayar: The need became clear during a mission conference in 2001 when a missionary emphasized that Mongolians should take responsibility for translating the Bible into their own language. That thought stayed with me and grew stronger over time.
At that time, we had one New Testament, but it was very paraphrased—like the Good News Bible. It wasn’t suitable for serious Bible study or preaching. Later, another translation came out, but it was the opposite extreme—overly literal, translated from the New American Standard Bible.
Both translations had their strengths, but neither was ideal. I felt that Mongolians needed to own this process and create a translation that was both faithful to the text and natural in Mongolian.
Prayer Requests
Host: Before we move to prayer, do you have any specific requests?
Bayar: Yes. Firstly, I am currently living in Austria rather than Mongolia due to my wife’s medical treatment. She has liver cirrhosis and needs a daily injection, which is unavailable in Mongolia. Please pray for her treatment.
Secondly, pray for our four children—that they will love and follow the Lord. Since we are first-generation Christians, we need God’s grace to pass on our faith.
Lastly, please pray for my health. I have been blind in one eye for over 30 years, and now my good eye has glaucoma. Despite normal eye pressure, the condition is progressing, and doctors in Austria are trying to determine why.