“CREATIVE ACCESS” APPLIED

How to Enter Creative Access Countries?

Given the unique challenges of working in CANs, we need to employ creative and acceptable ways to connect with people and share our lives:

1. Business as Mission (BAM)

One effective approach is to set up legitimate businesses to provide valuable goods or services to the local population. These businesses can serve as a way to cultivate natural relationships. By integrating faith into their business practices, CAN workers can demonstrate the love and values of Christianity through their actions and interactions.

2. Social and Humanitarian Work

Educational programs, healthcare initiatives, and community development are also ways to serve the local population. Over time, one hopes to build trust and credibility, creating positive impact that opens doors for deeper spiritual conversations.

3. Cultural Exchange Programs

Cultural exchange programs, such as language teaching, student exchange, and cultural immersion experiences are also good ways to bridge with CANs. These programs allow for the sharing of cultural and religious ideas in a respectful and mutually beneficial manner, creating opportunities for witness.

4. Media and Technology

The use of social media, radio, television, and online platforms can reach a wide audience, overcoming physical and institutional barriers, e.g. the cost of travel and visa limitations. Digital resources such as Bible apps and online courses also offer valuable spiritual content to those in hard-to-access areas.

5. Training and Empowering Local Believers

One of the most effective ways to reach CANs is to train and empower their local believers to share the gospel within their own communities. These individuals already have the language and cultural fluency as well as the inherent right of abode in their own country. Next generation, indigenous leadership will enable the gospel and the church to take root.

Who Can Have Access?

To work in CANs, much is required.  It is a call to the long road. Because of the restrictive environment, small gains may come at considerable cost to both the CAN worker and the local believer whose new faith in Christ could brand him an outcast. The journey may include more loneliness and would require heightened alertness and caution. Spiritual warfare is real and tangible. But Christ’s love would compel His children and give them the courage and resolve to go.

Here are different types of people who can access restrictive countries: students who go to study language and culture, teachers with specialties that are in demand, tourists who visit often, retirees choosing to settle abroad, businesspeople and entrepreneurs who provide goods, services, and jobs that are needed, professionals and workers with skills for hire, and nationals with foreign passports who return regularly to visit family and friends, or are called to repatriate to their country of origin.

In these and many other ways, Christians can enter CANs, purposefully and prayerfully build relationships with a sincere desire to learn about the peoples and the cultures and become welcomed guests or caring neighbors.

Café: Connecting Creatively Over Food

A bakery, famous for its croissants and designer cakes, is a shining example of how missional businesses can creatively engage and serve their community

·      At a local food fair, they used the theme “faith”, “hope” and “love” to invite customers to share what these words mean to them on decorative cards. These cards sparked conversations, leading one person to faith.

·      They hired youth with special needs for part-time work and celebrated them with a special party, honoring their families and caregivers as well.

·      They organized a block party for neighborhood businesses, allowing neighbors to sample baked goods and get to know each other better.

·      They provided games at the café to start meaningful conversations with customers.

·      They hosted special theme nights to promote family fun, especially for absentee fathers to connect with their children.

If you want to learn more about Creative Access Nations (CANs), and how to equip  yourself to serve in restrictive countries, contact us at info@goliveserve.org. We help you “Go where you are needed, Live fully in Christ, Serve to make a difference!”