CASA HISTORY
Central Asia Sharing Aid (CASA), a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, was founded in Rockford, Illinois in 2001 by Elder Chia Shan Yang. CASA is the primary sponsor and funding source of Mercy Charitable Christian Foundation (MCCF) in Kyrgyzstan.
MCCF’S HISTORY
In 1992, the 64 year old Elder Chia Shan Yang, a devout Christian since age 14 and a former merchant marine captain, was called to serve God in full time ministry. With his family’s blessing, he shut down his 7 shipping offices and dedicated his life to the mission. Under the Great Commission Center International, he and his wife, Yuen Chen Tsui Yang, ministered among the Dungan people (Chinese Muslims) of Kazakhstan from 1995-2000. In 2000, they were called to serve in Kyrgyzstan to open a Christian School in Tokmok. It was a miracle that the Religion and Justice Departments issued them the first Christian school license in Kyrgyzstan. The School of Blessing opened in Sept. 2000 with 120 students from the 1st to 4th grades. It was the first Christian school in Kyrgyzstan. Since then, the school has grown to 300 students from 1st to 11th grades.
In May 11, 2001, Elder Yang founded MCCF, Mercy (YRAIYIM) Charitable Christian Foundation as a nonprofit, interdenominational, Christian organization. It was the first legally established Christian foundation in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan that was officially approved by its Religion Department, a Miracle by itself. MCCF was also one of the very few openly-proclaimed Christian Foundation registered within the five Central Asian Muslim nations.