Nancy Yen Cintolo
Self-Introduction
My name is Nancy Cintolo (Chinese name: Yen Meili). I was born in Taiwan and moved to the United States when I was in high school. The Lord met me during my freshman year of college. Jesus is the living God. His words changed my life forever. 44 years ago, I was baptized in this church. Later, through short-term and long-term missions, the Lord gave me the opportunity to understand the needs of the gospel in Far East, Asia, Central Asia, and Africa.
The Cry of Central Asia and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
My family and I went on vacation to Xinjiang, China, in 1999, and found that there were Kyrgyz, Uyghur and other ethnic groups there. At that time, I didn’t understand the cultural traditions of these ethnic groups, as well as Islam, people who believe in Islam, mosques and the food they ate (mutton and horse meat). We even stayed in a non-Chinese hotel to experience a different culture. Our visit also brought a different culture to the local ethnic groups, attracting the attention of many local people.
The local society is male-dominated. Women are second-class citizens, and dirty children who seem to have been forgotten can be seen everywhere. Our tour guide, a Han lady, relayed the story of her best friend: She was a Muslim who was unable to continue her education after graduating from primary school and was forced to stay at home to prepare for marriage. The fate of this Muslim girl broke my heart. I was shocked that this tradition still exists in modern times at the end of the 20th century! At that time, all I knew was to pray to God to save the suffering people of Central Asia, most of whom were Muslims and needed the Lord! I prayed fervently to God: “If God would send me, I would serve the Muslim communities in that region or around the world and help them know God’s love.”
New life shaped by Spiritual formation
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17), gradually becoming more like the Lord Jesus Christ(refer to Romans 6:4). God’s love inspires believers to determine to follow Jesus. Our hearts are willing to live for the Lord, to walk with the Lord throughout our life and be an “overcomer” when we meet the Lord. This can only be achieved by the grace of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to have a spiritual perspective on life and service. Following God’s will, whether in life or service, we must think about how to connect what we do, who we are, and eternity. Take action, learn and develop throughout our life, perfect to maturity and perfection. We must ask the most critical question:”What really ‘matters’ in life?”
We need to know why God created us, because God has His perfectly good plans for us, and we have a responsibility to fulfill them. We also need to have an open heart towards God and be ready to meet Him face to face at any time. Because we know God, experience grace, and gain freedom, we will not be distracted and avoid temptations and traps. When we encounter difficulties and setbacks, we will not be discouraged and finish the race with perseverance.
Spiritual discipline is reliance on the Holy Spirit and daily exercise. In addition to emphasizing Christian devotional life (Bible reading, prayer), we must also pay attention to glorifying God by practicing silence, contemplation, pursuing holiness, participating in social justice, and living out love.
Why Reach out to Muslims?
God gave me a purpose, but I didn’t know how to serve Muslims. I have been praying and thinking for many years: Are Muslims of many ethnic groups the same? Will China’s construction of the “Belt and Road” spanning Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe help bring the gospel back to Jerusalem? How do I fit into the big picture? I don’t know anyone in the area, how do I get there?
God first helped me understand “Why should we reach out to Muslims?”
• Will God always be in control of the restoration of the kingdom of God, just like God is in control of Israel? (refer to Isaiah 49:12) Whether I decide to join or not, God will raise up others to take the gospel to the Muslim community.
• The gospel of Jesus Christ led many Muslims to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Today, the Muslim countries of Iran and Afghanistan have the fastest growing number of Christians. After these Muslims turned to the Lord Jesus, their lives underwent a huge transformation.
• Praise the Lord! He has given me new perspectives and new challenges to participate in His Great Commission. Jesus Christ said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, and I will always be with you until the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Which Mission Field is God Calling Me to be?
From 2010 to 2024, God led me several times across the Tianshan border to Kyrgyzstan, allowing me to understand the needs of the people there and why He was training me for His good purposes as a long-term missionary in China for 8 years.
What Can I Do Serving the Needy in Central Asia?
Before retiring, I was a financial professional and worked as a corporate and national financial director in China for 7 years. I helped Philips Medical and Liva Nova Medical invest, design, plan and execute the construction of two large-scale medical manufacturing plants and R&D centers in Suzhou, China. Therefore, I know I can use my business and financial management expertise to help Christian businessmen and entrepreneurs establish Kingdom businesses in Central Asia. Business missions and workplace vocational missions are God’s will. God wants to raise up Christian businessmen and entrepreneurs to be kingdom people and run their businesses with the concept of kingdom enterprises. Christian businessmen are God’s missionaries in both marketplace and workplace. In the workplace, they can contact people every day that full-time pastors cannot.
Kingdom Business/Business as Mission (BAM)
What is a Kingdom Business? It is an enterprise that is explicitly, consciously, clearly and intentionally intended to establish the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in the world. If we commit to running our company or business operations according to the teachings of Jesus, we must commit to connecting our company to the Great Commission! It starts locally and extends developing internationally of making disciples of all nations according to the command of Jesus Christ: “Teach all people – follow me.” (refer to Matthew 28:18-20).
Kingdom Business is vocational. God has given us His Great Commission, and Jesus Christ rules over all things, including churches, businesses and commerce, families, governments, and all life (refer to Colossians 1:16-20). Christian businessmen are all called, sanctified to God, and are ambassadors of Jesus Christ. They should behave in a manner worthy of the calling (refer to Ephesians 4:1).
Kingdom Business is purposeful. It has a very clear purpose: this business is not our own, but God’s, and He wants us to fulfill the purpose for which He established this business, because Christian businessmen are all created in Christ to do good, prepared by God Let us do it (refer to Ephesians 2:10).
Kingdom Business is relational. God has specially blessed us with relationships with many people. These are relationships we can’t get anywhere else. There are many unreached peoples among them. God wants us to value these relationships and share the gospel of the Lord with these unreached peoples.
Kingdom Business is operational. The way we run our business shall reflect God’s kingdom culture. We are called to run our businesses with excellence, giving the best to God for the glory of His name. Therefore, create outstanding companies and quality business management that embody the culture of the Kingdom of God. Integrity, efficiency, financial honesty and transparency, active management, cutting-edge technology, high-quality personnel, etc.
What Mission Works have been done in Central Asia?
In 2018, along with a group of Christian friends, I went on a “vision trip” and listened to the sharing of many local Christians and missionaries. We learned a lot, especially the Mercy Charitable Christian Foundation (MCCF), which Elder Yang has been working on for 25 years with “education as his mission” after retiring at the age of 65. MCCF is the only school that has received an “irrevocable Christian education license” from the country’s government. Other business missionaries such as Korean doctors and dentists have established multiple medical centers in Kyrgyzstan. North American businessmen have developed socio-economic opportunities through different business opportunities and helped local pastors train disciples in that area.
How did the Lord Open the Door for me in Kyrgyzstan? BAM
Kyrgyzstan lacks many resources. Parents did not pay much attention to the education of their children until children go to elementary school. In order to reverse the socio-economic situation of the country, in 2019 we plan to use the “Montessori Education Method” to introduce and share the love of God with children. This was supported by the local education department. Although we did not speak Russian or Kyrgyz, God led Maria and I to have a vision for Montessori teaching together in June 2019, and to further collaborate. At that time, there was no Montessori School (MS) in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Maria is a Muslim Born-Again Christian, and so is her husband. She is an expert in Montessori education/teaching. She established a Montessori school full of the love of Christ. She hopes to make it affordable for all children and train more Montessori teachers in Kyrgyzstan. God has truly answered our prayers and His call to us. Now, through early childhood education combined with the gospel, we are working with them and 3 other couples to start our first business mission project in Bishkek. Work to build Montessori educational institutions, through which more and more Muslim parents come to know Jesus Christ, the living God. Our long-term goal is to expand this education to other towns, but we need to find more co-workers like Maria and her husband, people with high integrity and passion.
The Results of Business as Mission in Central Asia
It is normal for local people to leave their hometown and country to find work in other places to support their families. They struggle to survive and long for change in their country, but none of them know where to start. They lacked knowledge and resources, and they lacked the gospel too. God raised up many Christians to work with local believers to provide discipleship work and resources to help them function competently in Islamic society, thereby enabling the Kingdom of God to spread throughout Central Asia. Many missionaries have committed themselves to this business mission work and have long-term assisted local people in establishing sustainable Kingdom-of-God businesses in their own countries, fulfilling the great mission of “making all nations disciples of the Lord.” Kingdom Business earns the respect of local government and communities. Not only does it have the funds to carry out needed Christian service projects, but it also creates many jobs and boosts the local economy. Compared with the traditional missionary model, the locals perceived that pastor lived a comfortable life, coming and going, having fun, and talking to people. They did not need to perform hard labor work and yet easily receive money from American or Western believers. This misconception gives a bad reputation and testimonials of Christian life.
Investing in Young Eager Believers
I spent a lot of time in Central Asia helping many young people who were new to Christ pursue their dreams of sharing the gospel with unreached peoples. They don’t know how to make and implement plans. Drawing on my past professional experience, I guide them in conducting feasibility studies, market surveys, market analysis, and formulating business and financial plans, and guide them in obtaining financial loans so they can establish their own small businesses. I also teach them to document their business operating policies and procedures and supervise their business management. I visit them once or twice a year and meet with them on Zoom to follow up on any business issues. I also assist them in fulfilling God’s calling for them when they preach the gospel to the unreached.
Spiritual Formation – Our life and services reflect the Glory of God
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” (refer to Luke 10:2) This is the call of Jesus Christ. Cultivating leaders for the kingdom of God today is an important challenge for Business as Mission. First there are leaders, and only then can there be godly groups and outstanding enterprises.
A leader’s life journey can be divided into five stages:
• The first stage: In the early days, God cultivated our character through home school, and we responded positively to God.
• The second stage: We study the Bible, meditate on God’s words, learn to pray and listen to the Lord’s words, and practice obedience to the Lord’s words, the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then, God tests us more deeply and gives us lessons. After we learn and pass them, we can take on greater responsibilities and expand our service.
• The third stage: Use our gifts in service and build relationships in the kingdom of God. In order for God to work in our lives, our focus is not on the promotion of ministry nor on bearing more fruits, but put Christ in the center of our life. Only then we can have Godly desired service in the kingdom of God.
• The fourth stage: Life moves towards maturity. At this moment, our “communion with God” becomes a more important discipline than the success of our ministry. After passing the test of isolation, crisis and conflict, the effectiveness of his ministry will be greatly improved.
• The fifth stage: God will lead us to a service position that matches our roles, gifts, and experiences. God will also prepare spiritual mentors to guide us.
Finally, the fruits of a lifetime of service and growth have reached their peak, blessing and benefiting many people, and allowing their service lives and who they truly are to reflect the glory of God.
Get Involved – why it is so important to invest in CA now
I have been in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, for the past five years. The country was not known as an “Islamic” country. In recent years, people in Central Asia have been hungry for God’s love because most children grew up without a father in their lives. Several developed Muslim countries are actively influencing the region through their economic system and education, and are actively building “mosques”. Patriarchal families severely persecute Christian family members. New believers long for freedom in Christ and the support and cultivation of the Christian community. We are foreign Christians who can freely share the faith of Jesus Christ and the love of God with the locals, support and encourage these vulnerable MBBs (Muslim Background Believers), so that they can continue to firmly believe in and follow Jesus Christ, and our biggest threat is just to be sent back Home. Therefore, the field of Central Asia is ripe now. People are hungry and thirsty for God’s love. It is the time for us to actively cooperate with local Christians, share the good news of the gospel of Jesus, and sow the seeds of the gospel, especially to preach the gospel to young children, teenagers, and adults (20-29 years old) who are willing to accept the gospel and help them seek truth, be shaped by the Lord, and learn.
After we had been working with Maria and her husband for four years, they invited us to work together to organize an English summer camp for children in the Muslim community, so that local Muslim children could feel the love of God in Tengir Church. We pray that these parents will step into the church of Christ Jesus and trust in the Lord. This year’s summer camp was filled with the presence of God and the experience of God’s power in prayer through courses such as Bible stories, medical knowledge, iCrobot, and artworks: Many children were moved to call on God to help their broken families and declare Jesus Christ as their superhero, with the hope to know more about Jesus Christ.
How to Pray for Central Asia
• When the heads of households can believe in the Lord, they lead their family members to believe in the Lord.
• Pray that God will bless believers with unity and unity in the will of the Lord.
• The minority Christians in the villages are suffering severe persecution. Please pray to the Lord Jesus Christ to grant wisdom, strength, courage and perseverance to the new believers.
• Break legalism and tradition – Ask God to give church leaders and disciples the strength so that they do not have to worry about what other brothers and sisters will think, but only ask God to give the church His word, preserve the unique culture of the ethnic group, and bear witness to the gospel.
• Ask Jehovah to give them dreams, visions, and signs to open the door to the gospel in Central Asia.
• Ask the Lord Jesus Christ to clarify to the Central Asian countries: There is only one truth in the world – Jesus Christ.
• Pray that God will help the local believers to simply trust Him, know Him, and settle down there instead of pursuing Western money and culture. Pray that the Lord will enable them to live in their own mother tongue and race, trust in and bear witness to Christ.
• Pray that the Lord will revive the spirituality of those who believe in the Lord in the 1990s and zealously preach the gospel.
Summary:
As we respond to the “Macedonian cry” in Central Asia, we will experience personal spiritual renewal and the promise of the Lord’s presence. “And surely I am with you always” (refer to Matthew 28:20). Just imagine what will happen to the Lord’s gospel work when you dedicate your gifts to the Lord? If you haven’t heard clearly from the Lord about His Great Commission and where He wants you to serve Him, pray and ask the Lord of the harvest and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and prepare to fulfill God’s work in your life set plans and goals.
Editor: Jia Cheng