Dan and Alyson Merk have faced numerous culture clashes—the humorous and the awkward—over the past eight years of life in Central Asia. Cows and goats wandering their streets have become an afterthought. Reliable utilities are never taken for granted. Neighbors are, and will ever be, unavoidably social. In fact, the Merks’ cultural immersion has been so thorough that trips back to the States often leave them in shock. Walking into a new Kinko’s or local Target, American culture stuns them with its largeness, brightness, convenience and materialism.
Eight years ago, Dan and Alyson Merk moved with their three young children to a small, rugged province in Central Asia. They chose this country because of its strategic, cost-effective location near a Muslim people group they are reaching out to with the gospel. A former military man, Dan admits that God has used his thirst for adventure to motivate him to risk kingdom work in some of the world’s most dangerous areas.
As Dan and Alyson considered moving to Central Asia, friends and family suggested part-time or short-term work—without moving the kids. But, Dan comments, “we measured [the decision] against wise council.” After several years of wrestling, the move became “an obedience issue,” and they chose to obey. Occasionally, Dan and Alyson ache to think about what their kids (ranging from infancy to 15 years old) are missing in the States: scouts, football, youth group. Yet they are glad for their children to have “a huge international vision.”
Dan and Alyson have led some of the most effective translation work for the Muslim people group that they seek to reach. They have distributed over a million pieces of literature to this people group—even across dangerous borders into the most restrictive locations. The literature they translate and distribute includes New Testaments, full Bibles, and various discipleship materials.
But Dan and Alyson desire to work and live closer to their people group, within those most highly restrictive communities where they ship their materials. They long to evangelize, disciple, teach, and translate from within the communities. Without a credible means of entry, however, doors remain closed. They must remain in the less restrictive bordering nation where they live currently until they can obtain a credible reason for access into the more closed country where they hope to move.
This is where Access Partners enters the picture. We began working with the Merks about a year ago to create a way for them to move into the especially closed nation where they hope to live. We aim to facilitate their church planting by structuring an infrastructure business in that region. Our research shows that the need for such infrastructure is high, the viability to carry it out is promising, and the result would be unparalleled access for church planters like the Merks.
Dan and Alyson are grateful for the possibility to one day live among the very ones they are laboring to create materials for. In the meantime they are striving to live faithfully as a family among the Muslims of their current neighborhood. It is their dream to see many turn to Christ and join them in their heavenly family, the family of the people of God.
Special prayer requests:
- Please pray that Dan and Alyson would have wisdom to guide and love their children well amidst their ministry responsibilities.
- Please pray that this new business venture would successfully facilitate church planting efforts among the lost.
- Please pray that new converts in their region would know boldness, joy and Christian fellowship in the face of intense persecution.
* Dan and Alyson Merk are not the real names of these church planters. Names have been changed and locations have been left general to preserve the security of their work.