Shagai

Altanshagai, who goes by the nickname Shagai, lives in the capital city of Mongolia, in Ulaanbaatar. Formerly under communist rule, Mongolia has only been an independent democracy since 1990 and fewer than two percent of the country are Christian. Shagai shares that his family life has been very challenging since his father moved abroad and remarried. This resulted in a strained relationship with both his father and later, his younger brother. However, Shagai and his mother have a very supportive relationship and he prays often for her as she navigates the great financial strain of being a single parent of two young men.

Raised in a country where Christianity is less than one generation old, Shagai was of the minority to even occasionally attend church. When he was invited to Young Life club by his friends, he truly embraced the Gospel and decided to believe in Christ. His faith grew tremendously during a week at camp where he was impacted by the joy and humor of the week and felt encouraged and built up by his leaders. Shagai revels in knowing he has been chosen by God and spends his time as a Young Life leader sharing this good news with the teens in his community.

Now a Developing Global Leader, he attends Mongolian State University of Education and is studying social work. Shagai loves sports, especially basketball, and hopes to incorporate that passion with connecting with kids both in his ministry and as a career. Shagai will be the first in his family to graduate from university.