Mongolia, an eastern Asian nation roughly the size of Alaska, is primarily a Buddhist country.
About 94 percent of the population of 3 million people practices Buddhism, according to One World Nations Online. The remaining citizens practice Islam and shamanism, a belief system indigenous to northern Asia.
So they definitely need to hear the message of the gospel.
About 70 percent of the people living in Mongolia’s capital city of Ulaanbaatar don’t have running water, so most people do not have easy access to water for drinking, cooking or even washing clothes, according to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Because running water isn’t typically available in people’s homes, they must go to a community well and draw water for their daily needs.
In spite of how complicated life can be for the people of Mongolia, the people are very interested to hear about Jesus, and the churches were excited to have the BGEA present for a 2-day event called Festival of Joy over the weekend.
Local church members gathered at community wells to tell people about the Festival of Joy. About 50 churches partnered with BGEA to put on the festival.
When families would bring their water jugs to the well, church members would explain what it means to follow Jesus and invite people to the free event.
There were over 400 volunteers who participated in getting the word out.
This was the first time that Franklin Graham preached the gospel in Mongolia, though he had visited the country in 2018, according to CBN News.
Over 17,300 people attended the free event. Besides the preaching, attendees were also treated to the best Mongolia has to offer in music and the arts.
More importantly, hundreds committed their lives to Jesus over the weekend.
In a post on his Facebook page, Franklin Graham expressed his excitement about the Festival Of Joy.
“So many people are searching and have an emptiness that they can’t find a way to fill—they don’t even know what they’re searching for. But God loves us and wants a relationship with us,” the post read.
“He’s the only one who can fill that void in our lives. It was thrilling to see hundreds of people of all ages respond to God’s invitation to repent of their sins and put their faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
“’And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12). Their lives are changed for eternity—and we give God the glory!”
He went on to thank churches, pastors, executive leadership and all the volunteers who made the beautiful Festival of Joy event possible.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.