Creative and Closed Access Nations: What Does It Mean?

If you’re in a church or ministry that is involved in missions at all, especially in the missionary sending area, you’ve heard the terms. They can sound scary: “closed access” and “creative access” areas of the world. People who are called to those fields use caution themselves and ask their supporters to do the same. But what do those terms really mean?

I asked Dr. John David Smith, BMA Missions director, to define and explain the terminology so those of us who support the people and families living abroad on mission can know what to do and what not to do. None of us wants to do something to put them or their ministries in jeopardy.

BMA Missions’ goal is to come alongside our missionaries, church planters, and media ministry (Lifeword) partners in areas where there is or will be BMA personnel to support in evangelizing an area with the gospel. Ministry, however, has to be approached differently in every area of the world. The following is Dr. Smith’s explanation:

“The terms “closed” and “limited” access have been used to describe countries where traditional missionary activity is illegal or banned. Most mission thinkers today now utilize the term “creative access nation” rather than use those terms. This more commonly applied term acknowledges that while there are countries that are closed to traditional missionary ministry, they are not really closed to the gospel. 

“Most mission agencies like BMA Missions are very reluctant to make a formal list of creative access countries for fear that it will draw unwanted attention; however, some have estimated that there are at least sixty countries in this category. So when there is an opportunity for missionaries to enter these places, they must be “creative” in the ways that they enter and reside.”

Platforms and Tentmaking

Dr. Smith went on to explain the specifics of the “platforms” used most commonly by our American missionaries that minister in countries like China. He says that, “Creative Access Missions (CAM) refers to the strategy of using a “platform” in order to gain entrance into a country that is considered closed to missionary activity. 

Platforms can be in the areas of medicine, education, or business, and the gospel can enter through students, businessmen/women, teachers, the Internet, literature, and Christian radio from neighboring countries. These jobs allow foreign-government-approved access into places where Americans with the title missionarymay not enter. Nations that are closed to the gospel and necessitate a platform are commonly referred to as creative access nations. “

Another term that you will often hear istentmaking.The term comes from the fact that the apostle Paul supported himself by making tents while living and preaching in Corinth (Acts 18:3).  Tentmaking missionaries do the same for their financial support abroad.

Dr. Smith explains it this way: “The positive side of CAM is that witnesses of Christ gain access into closed areas, and tentmaking is usually a part of that access. This is where people earn money through their platforms, which helps to ease the financial burden on missionary-sending churches. This approach to missions allows the creative access missionary to incarnate Christ into everyday settings and situations and infiltrate the daily lives of the people to whom he or she ministers.

“The negative side of CAM includes what many bi-vocational pastors know and experience: The jobs that serve as platforms into the country demand a great deal of time. Another negative in CAM is the inherent danger that comes from working with governments and religions that are hostile to the gospel. There is a constant concern for the safety of their families and other followers of Christ.” BMA Missions has personnel in countries designated as creative access. It is our prayer that God’s name will be glorified and that the name of Christ will be proclaimed throughout the world. Let’s pray for the safety and effectiveness of all BMA personnel in creative access environments.