We use ‘Creative Access’ to refer to nations, areas or ministries where there is great hostility towards Christianity and where traditional ‘missionary work’ is not possible. Workers, therefore, need to be ‘creative’ in how they proclaim the liberating news of Jesus Christ. In North Africa alone, 200 million people from 472 unreached people groups are unreached with the gospel. That’s 200 million people unknowingly heading for a Christ-less eternity.
Workers use skills in many areas, including business, education and healthcare. Whatever you do for your ‘job’ at home, with a bit of modification you could probably do it in a creative access area.
Whatever role you have, the aim is to be as intentional as possible – to have the name of Jesus Christ on your lips at all times. Whether it is buying bread for breakfast, meeting with a client to discuss business, dropping off children at school, or drinking tea with a friend, the intention is to always be ready to share the truth of the gospel.
The lost need to hear the good news of Jesus. Is God working in your heart? Are you considering working in an area where Jesus isn’t known?
There are many expressions of Islam, reflected across Muslim believers from different countries and cultures. Even within the two main branches, Sunni and Shi’a, there can be differences in beliefs and practices. But all Muslims share some core beliefs, the five pillars of Islam, outlining general rules for living.
There is often a necessity for church planting in creative access areas to look different from what we might be used to. We asked a member of a team in North Africa what church planting might look like for them, and how they maintain their relationship with God in a spiritually isolating area.
Women in North Africa use henna to make temporary tattoo designs on their hands and feet. Use this hand template to have a go at designing one that reminds us that God doesn’t forget us.
Creative access locations can be isolating and, at times, dangerous. We asked one of our missionaries who works in that context why they have chosen to serve there.
Nine years ago, Miriam* and her husband followed a calling from God to live and work incarnationally and with intention in a multi-ethnic inner city area of Britain. Here they share about their work in the UK and their call to serve overseas.
Kay lives and works in a remote village on an Indian Ocean Island, seeking to share the gospel through her healthcare work.
