We will unleash the Gospel through oral Bible storytelling to Chantus (Uzbeks) in Mongolia

(Church Mobilization)

1. About “Christ Fellowship” Church

Christ Fellowship Church was planted in 1998 in Ulaanbaatar city. Now we have about 50–60 members in our church and have not been active in cross-cultural missions. After 30 years from the collapse of Communism and the Gospel coming to Mongolia, most of the churches are focusing on in-reach to their fellow members but not focusing on doing outreach and working among unreached people groups. Our church sent several long-term missionaries into China and supported them with prayer and finance and sending short-term missionaries into different nations. For the sake of completing the Great Commission, every church has a need of adopting specific people groups and pray, send, care, support for them. A cross-cultural mission doesn’t mean you have to cross the border. There are 22 ethnic people groups in Mongolia and churches can commit to reaching out to those specific people groups they chose. Also, church members need to identify themselves and find out their roots (which tribes they are from), and start from there. Our church is located in the only urban city in Mongolia, so we can share the Gospel with the ethnos in our own backyard.

I have tried evaluating my church mission potential by collecting the answers from my church pastors and elders about those four questions.

i. Overall, what are the one or two greatest needs in your cross-cultural ministry? -People who willing to go and finance -To understand the cross-culture and be respectful.

ii. Primarily, on what basis do you select your cross-cultural partners and projects? -Most importantly love Jesus. Also, respectful and not force their opinion. -Commitment and flexibility

iii. What ministries do you have or are you considering with unreached people groups? -Inner Mongolians and Native Americans -Poor community and women in depression

iv. What obstacles or challenges might you face in working with unreached peoples? -Sometimes they focus on materialistic needs. Lost focus -Finance

2. About Chantu (Uzbeks) people group

Chantu people in Mongolia

People groups in Mongolia divide into two categories: Mongol origin and Turkic origin peoples. Turkic origin Khazaks and Khotons peoples are well known among Mongols but Chantu (Uzkebs) people are like hidden people. There is no research about them either. Chantus live in the western north side of Mongolian province called Khovd and they are probably the least number of a people group in Mongolia. In 2020, there are just 202 Chantu people counted by population census, but that number was 260 in 2010. I believe, the reason why the population dropped by 24% is because many of them immigrated to Khazakstan or the next generation of Chantu people not keeping up their record right.

As I mentioned, there is not much research about those people and there is still conflict between Mongolian historians and demographics about either Chantu people are Uygar or Uzbek. I personally visited an 82-year-old Chantu man Barat who lives in UB to gather some more information. He said Chantu people fleed during the Osman Batyr rebellion in China from Xinjiang to the most diverse Khovd province in Mongolia where the Mongolian border lined with China. One Mongolian historian wrote that Mongolian officials brought them for providing the vegetable need of the leaders and they introduced melons to Mongolians. Their lifestyle is now still the same growing different types of vegetables and fruits.

Chinese gave them the name of Chantu even though they are officially one of the 56 people groups in China called Uzbeks. It’s similar to Mongolians call Koreans Solongos but they call themselves Hanguk. From another resource in Russian, I found out that the Chinese call the Uzbeks of Kashgar and East Turkestan Uyghurs “Chantu”, which is usually translated as “big-headed” or “wrapped head” that is “chalmon-bearers, for all Kashgar wear turbans on their heads. Also, a Mongolian missionary in Qinghai province (border with Xinjiang) proved that when I asked it.

Russian army officer M. Pevtsov who is a famous explorer in Central Asia noticed that Chantu people are also called Dolans. Dolans are also not known in the world or there is not much research about them. At the same time, the Dolans of Xinjiang are an ethnic group of Uygurs of Mongolian origin which can be confusing. Uzbeks and Uygars languages are the most similar and their culture and appearance are identical but there are few differences and these two people groups are officially separate. I suppose Chinese who are typical farmers assume those two people groups are one and gave the name of Chantu. When I met with Barat who is the only Chantu I met in my life told me his father was an Uzbek man who was born in China. Therefore, I come to the conclusion that Chantus in Mongolia are Uzbeks not the Uygars in China. I believe the bearers of the family names of Chantuu, Chantu, Uzbek, Uigar, Uygar, Uygurzhin, Uygarzhin are the people groups which I am doing research.

There is 120999 Khazaks and 12057 Khotons counted by population census who are Turkic origin people in Mongolia. Even though Chantus look similar to Khazaks to us they speak a different language. Because of such a small population, most of them marry with the same Islamic believing Kazakhs and they started merging with them. Even though all these Turkic origin ethnic groups are Muslim, Barat said Chantu Uzbeks are more religious and more into their beliefs. Other resources also show that Uzbeks in Central Asia and China distinguished by their strong faith in Islam from the other people groups who are with the same faith. There are few Mongolian Uzbeks left who can speak their native tongue. I assume the younger generation of Chantus are fluently speaks and writes in Mongolian but Barat couldn’t read Mongolian. I believe that average Chantus are not fully capable of literate so it will connect with my strategy.

About Barat

Barat lives on the hillside of Ulaanbaatar with his grandaughter Nurgul and great-grandson Nauriz and he doesn’t know any other Chantu person in the city other than his family members. I met with him in May 2020 when I was doing mercy ministry among slums in hillside areas and sharing the Gospel. That time I visited his home and first time heard about there are Uzbek people in Mongolia who are considered one of the minority ethnic groups in our country. Over 20 years ago brother Barat’s children immigrated to Kazakhstan and before they left Mongolia he adopted his grandaughter Nurgul from his son. But they found out Nurgul is not considered a Mongolian citizen and she has no registration with the government when she attempted to vote for the presidential election in 2017. She still hasn’t found a way to get her citizenship ID and receive any state help for pregnant mother and her son also doesn’t have a birth certificate either. She is around 24 years old and couldn’t read or write and her son is just a year old. The only income they have is Barat’s pension. He explained that the immigration worker made a huge mistake of deleting Nurgul’s name with her parents when they immigrated into Kazakhstan through the Bayan-Ulgii province border. Flourishing Future NGO is trying to help them with their case.

Barat’s father immigrated into Mongolia illegally from China in 1921 and married his mother who is from the Khazak tribe Bayan-Ulgii province. In 1956, Mongolian communist leader Tsedenbal made a protocol about 44 Chantu families to move back to China and gave three years verified Mongolian passport to all the children who born in Mongolia. Unfortunately, China considered them spies and put them in jail. Because brother Barat is now 82 years old he was unclear with some numbers, so he said he was in China jail for around 3 months and skipped from the prison with his brother and one other Khazak guy. They came to Mongolia through the Altai province (No longer called Altai) Khukhtogoo border but Mongolians also put them in jail as well. There is a famous Chantu singer in Khovd province and her name is Yasa (I couldn’t find any information about her) and she found out there is some Chantu in border jail. She helped them to write a statement to the communist leaders and release them from prison. Barat shared with sadness about his father’s death in prison of Xinjian province and he heard about it later when some Chantu visited from China side.

He married with Khazak lady from Bayan-Ulgii province and he was a truck driver all his life with just elementary education. When I was doing an interview with him, I noticed how small a number of Chantu people merged with Kazaks in Mongolia but stand strong in their faith comparing with Kazaks. I hope I can have contact with Barat’s younger brother who lives among other Chantus in Khovd province and do more research when I get there.

The Chantus in China

Chantus (Uzbek) history in China dates back to the time of the Mongol hordes dominated Central Asia and China in the thirteenth century. The Uzbek in China is descended from traders who traveled along the Silk Road. Another resource said Uzbek history in China dates back as early as the Yuan dynasty, when Uzbek merchants, trading along with the Silk Road began settling in Xinjiang. The largest wave of Uzbek settlers didn’t arrive until the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries when they began using Yarkant County (known as “Shache” in Mandarin) as a trading post for silk, tea, porcelain, and other goods. During the following centuries, Uzbek numbers rose higher until hardship under Mao Zedong’s leadership forced thousands to flee to the Soviet Union.

The Uzbeks are one of China’s 55 official minority groups and there is around 22000 (not an official number) Uzbek Chantus in China. In 1953 there were more than 13,600 Uzbeks in China. By the 1964 census, however, their numbers had dwindled to only 7,700: many Uzbeks chose to flee to the Soviet Union to escape from Mao Zedong’s extreme policies as I mentioned. Also, the reason that numbers dropped is that some of them moved to Mongolia and created this minority in Mongolia.

The Uzbeks that live in China live mostly in Xinjiang near the border of Russia and the former Soviet Central Asia republics. Since the 16th century, they began to settle in cities in Xinjiang. Most Uzbeks in China still live in the cities and are engaged in trading or business. Some are farmers or animal herders, Many intermarry with Uygurs and Tatars. Sometimes Uzbeks and Uygurs are confused. Uzbeks wear round hats while Uygurs wear square ones. Chantu Uzbeks are scattered over a wide area of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Most of them are city dwellers that live in compact communities in Yining, Tacheng, Urumqi, Shache, Yecheng, and Kashi.

The name Uzbek probably came from Ozbeg Khan, a Mongol ruler of the Golden Horde who spread Islam throughout many parts of the Empire in the fourteenth century. Those who remained in the area under Ozbeg Khan’s rule became known as Uzbeks. He was the grandson of Chinggis Khan Bat’s great-great-grandson. He ruled Golden Horde for 28 years with success and he was the longest ruler of this country under the Mongol Empire. He converted to Islam and take the throne upon the death of his uncle Tokhta in January 1313. His adoption of Islam as a state religion led to a conspiracy of Shamanist and Buddhist princes, whom he subdued severely but win the heart of the people through religion.

Islam is central to many aspects of Uzbek life in China. Like their neighbors, the Uyghurs, Uzbeks don’t eat pork or drink alcohol. While pork is a staple of the average Chinese diet, Uzbeks prefer mutton, beef, and even horse meat. Crusty pancakes and tea with milk are standard fares for all three meals of the day, and they enjoy stewed meat with potatoes, honey, and syrup. “Naren,” a mixture of minced cooked mear, onion, and sour milk, dressed with gravy and pepper, is a tab;e delicacy reserved for guests. The Chantu Uzbeks eat it with their fingers.

Islam is even important after death. An imam will visit the deceased’s home 40, 70, and 100 days after death to chant Quranic scripture for the grieving family. Three key Uzbek festivals also have their roots in Islam: Mawlid al-Nabi, a celebration of the prophet Muhammad; Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan; and the Corban Festival, during which Uzbeks feast, gather in mosques, sing, dance, and even wrestle. For centuries the Muslim clergy have been responsible for the religious and secular education of Uzbek children. When the Chinese announced that all children in China were required to attend a state school, the Uzbek was outraged and refused to send their children to be educated by an atheistic regime. The Uzbek are committed Muslims, perhaps more so than any of the other Muslim peoples in Xinjiang. Uzbeks speak a Turkic language influenced by Persian, Arabic, Russian, and Mandarin. The Uzbek language is said to be most similar to Uyghur.

There are an estimated 50 Uzbek Christians in China today — significant considering the strength of Islam among the Uzbek. Most Uzbek, however, are completely unaware of the gospel. The Uzbeks in China are a difficult group to reach for Christ because of their small numbers and close-knit communities.

The Chantus (Uzbeks) in Central Asia and all around the world

As I mentioned before the name Chantu is given by the Chinese and their known name among nations is Uzbek. The Uzbeks are an ancient Iranian people that intermingled with nomadic Mongol and Turkic tribes that invaded Central Asia between the 11th and 15th centuries. They are the largest Turkic ethnic group in the area. There are around 36 million Uzbeks in the world and found chiefly in Uzbekistan, but also in other parts of Central Asia and in Afghanistan. The Uzbeks speak either of two dialects of Uzbek, a Turkic language of the Altaic family of languages. More than 27 million Uzbeks live in Uzbekistan, 4,000,000 in Afghanistan, 1,380,000 in Tajikistan, 570,000 in Kyrgyzstan, and smaller numbers in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Sinkiang in China. Also, there are 70,000 Uzbeks immigrated to the USA and 70% of them live in the United State illegally.

The great majority of Uzbeks are Sunnite Muslims of the Ḥanafī rite. The Uzbeks, especially the urban Uzbeks, are considered to be the most religious Muslims of Central Asia; early marriages for young girls, bride-price, and religious marriages and burials are among the traditions still practiced. The Uzbeks are the least Russified of those Turkic peoples formerly ruled by the Soviet Union, and virtually all still claim Uzbek as their first language.

1. Strategy to reach out to Chantu people

It’s not known how many believers among Chantus in Mongolia but the Joshua project showed 85.5% of Chantu’s are Muslim, 14% of them Athiest, and 0.5% are Christian. Chantus are in China 5% of the believers and 99.5% are Muslim. Also, other resources show, A 2015 study estimates some 10,000 Muslim Uzbek converted to Christianity, most of them belonging to some sort of evangelical or charismatic Protestant community. According to the 2009 national census, 1,794 Uzbeks in Kazakhstan are Christians. In Russia, there are some long-term Uzbek workers converting to Eastern Orthodoxy through missionaries.

Uzbek people have an oral storytelling nomadic culture which is how they pass down their history, religion, culture and communicate their belief as well. That’s the number one reason why I picked the oral Bible storytelling strategy.

It is not known the Chantus in Mongolia if use their native tongue in their daily life. The only Chantu Uzbek that I met speaks fluent Mongolian but doesn’t know how to read. When I met with him the first time, I handed him Bible, and a year later I visited again and asked if he ever opens the Bible and his answer was I can’t read. Therefore, based on what I witnessed I decided it is the best way to unleash the Gospel through oral storytelling with them. It was my second reason. Also, recorded audio Bible in Mongolian is better for them. (We have several different audio Bible)

There is an oral Bible storytelling YWAM school going to start in Mongolia soon which is called Word by Heart. First of all, there is a need to do a short term mission trip to Khovd province with a team who prepared to share different stories from their heart and get to know those people and get in contact with them and find out their family members and relatives who live in the capital city Ulaanbaatar. That would open the door for our Church to reach out and disciple the Chantu people in our own backyard.

Furthermore, we can send a team to Xinjiang province in China and explore more about Chantus. Also, we could get contact with the Mongolian mission team in Uzbekistan and support their ministry with our prayer and send short and long-term teams. I have had a chance to personally meet this Mongolian mission team during “30 days Ramadan Prayer”. Our Church has a huge potential involved in mission and reaches out to those Chantu people through oral Bible storytelling and send mission teams to the Western part of Mongolia and even to China and Central Asia.

Sources:

Joshuaproject.net

wikipedia.org

britannica.com

theculturetrip.com

minorityrights.org

chinahighlights.com