What is the GBGM?
The GBGM is the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. It is the agency that oversees the sending of missionaries for the United Methodist Church and directs the mission work of the UMC. It is divided into the following areas: Mission and Evangelism, Development and Communication, UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief) and the Women's Division. You can find more information on the GBGM website.
What is the Mongolia Mission Initiative?
The Mongolia Mission Initiative is the mission work occurring and network of ministries and congregations being formed in Mongolia through GBGM and its missionaries. It currently includes four missionaries, two mission interns, two mission centers, three congregations and Grace Hospice.
Mission Initiative is the name given by GBGM to mission locations in the world that are not yet individual annual conferences or autonomous members of the UMC but are still in the process of planting churches, growing ministries and expanding (more information).
Where is Mongolia?
It's in Asia, with Russia to the north and China to the east, south and west. The Mongolia Mission Initiative works primarily in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.
Tell us some more about Mongolia and Ulaanbaatar.
Basic facts and information:
Country population: a little over 3 million
Approximately 38% of the population makes it home in Ulaanbaatar (also sometimes known as UB), which is the coldest capital city in the world.
The country has a long history of nomadic herding and a significant percentage of the population still lives as nomadic herders in the countryside. As such, the traditional Mongolian dwelling is the ger- an easy to move tent that is used by those who still herd, as well as by many city dwellers.
The city of Ulaanbaatar has seen an increase in population as more and more families and individuals have moved to the city looking for work or other opportunities. The areas and neighborhoods that surround the city center are often called "ger districts" because of the many gers and other homes that fills these sprawling areas. The ger districts don't have running water and residents have to haul water from neighborhood water stations.
History:
The Mongol Empire was first founded in 1206 by Genghis Khan (known as Chinggis Khan here) and was ruled by various nomadic empires and Chinese dynasties. In 1921, Mongolia declared independence from China. To this day, the territory called Inner Mongolia is still a part of the Republic of China.
The Soviet Union-backed and Communist Mongolian People's Republic was formed in 1924 and remained until the Democratic Revolution of 1990. A new constitution was introduced in 1992. Today Mongolia has a parliamentary government.
According to the CIA World Factbook:
50% Buddhist
40% None
6% Shamanist, Christian
4% Muslim
Language: Mongolian
There are 21 provinces and 1 municipality (Ulaanbaatar).
