A Rich Man

As Enkh surveys all that he has gathered over the last three-and-a-half years, he feels like a rich man. “We came to Singapore with only the first month’s rental,” he says, “but God has blessed us with much – books, clothes, schooling needs, and treasures that money cannot buy.”

Such treasures included practical knowledge he could bring back to his three congregations of “first-generation believers” in and outside of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s captial city. “I have already started teaching my leaders back home what I learned here, e.g., Bible Study Methods by Rev Jacob Li, spiritual disciplines by Dr Lewis, and Theology by Dr Raymond Go.”

“I really like Dr Raymond Go; he would entertain my many questions – even disagreements – in class.”

Another treasure is learning about humility. “I thought I knew a lot from my Bible school training and fourteen years of experience as pastor,” Enkh continues, “God showed me how shallow my knowledge was.”

“In my first semester, under the Christian Leadership module, Dr Roland told us to seek God for a vision and share it in class; immediately I told myself, ‘Easy. I already knew that!'” But when he sat down to work on his assignment, Enkh realized his vision was “just a vague idea.” To date, he has shared that presentation of church-planting in Mongolia with prayer partners “so many times that I cannot count.”

He also learned humility from watching the faculty, adds Enkh. “They, including our President, would join students in outreach projects or share the gospel on the streets; this is great role-modelling to me, very humbling.”

Of all his treasures, Enkh cherishes most his renewed bond with his children. “I used to travel a lot for ministry,” he confesses, “and missed many of their milestones.” “But here, I learned to swim from my eldest daughter, another of Dr Roland’s assignments; hung out regularly with my first son for ‘kopi’; heard my un-expressive and cool teenagers telling me, ‘Daddy I love you’; and seen them grow in faith.”

“I am a rich man.”

“Dear Enkh and Jiguur, what fond memories we have had together! Our ministry weekends in Batam, serving together during Mission Month, and dinner with your father eating khuushuur. As you have witnessed how God provided for you through the three years here, I believe He will continue to do so as you serve Him faithfully. Shalom!” – Pastor Jeremy Chew, Glory Presbyterian Church

The above article is written by Dr Lau Ying Kheng and published in 28th EAST Commencement Magazine, May 2022. Curated and reproduced with permission. Graphic design by Blessed Ong.