In many closed and semi-closed countries of the world, official mission work is not possible. Cross-cultural workers obtain access by other means, obtaining jobs or college courses. This is called Creative Access and such countries are termed 'Creative Access Nations' (CANs).
In the our secular western world, creative strategies are increasingly important as we seek to engage with people who have a postmodern or New Age worldview and no church background of any sort. Some traditional methods of evangelism may only ever reach those with a measure of Christian knowledge – the 'once-churched'. We fail to engage with anyone else. But this is a diminishing pool. In very few countries in the western world do even 5% of their populations attend church regularly. The very high percentage of church attenders in USA is a unique phenomenon, which may perhaps prevent some Christians in that country from seeing the opportunities for creative evangelism. In the non-western world and the 10-40 Window, where Christianity is a misunderstood minority religion, the need for creative evangelism is equally pressing.
The way that the Holy Spirit has led Christians around the world into unusual outreach strategies is quite remarkable – and it deserves a website of its own. These approaches usually use a version of the Bridge Strategy. They include a wide range of approaches, such as drama, storytelling, comics, film, dance, the arts, conjuring, escapology, puppets, and servant evangelism. See the creative approaches used by the OM Luke team (click on 'creative' tab) such as fine arts, which could be adapted for the Internet. God can lead us, often through group brain-storming sessions, into quite remarkable ideas. Dream dreams! Envision visions! Please send us examples of creating and innovative evangelistic strategies.
But the need is enormous. These sites are only scratching the surface of an enormous evangelistic opportunity! Ask God to show you a creative strategy that could be used online.
Gordon Bailey has throughout his ministry emphasized the need to be 'creative', and feels passionately the need to 'go out' with a message that relates to people where they are, rather than waiting for them to come to where we are. He also strongly affirms that effective 'communication' must include 'communing' with people – that the Gospel should flow across a real relationship. He leads a team that ministers within UK schools, and also offers one-day training programs. Gordon has also written a number of books. His strongly-felt conviction is that Christians must move from their comfort zones to where people actually are: that we do not wait for them to come to us, but go out into the byways to search for them.
Christ names himself 'the beginning' – the alpha of everything – leaving true believers with no choice but to ensure that everything they believe and do as a result of their beliefs, begins with the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul also refers to Christ as the beginning in his letter to the Colossians.
All aspects of worship, fellowship, and evangelism – as witnessed in the lives of believers – should be tracable back directly to Christ's life, ministry, teaching and example. Sadly, many of the ways in which professing Christians express themselves and their faith cannot be traced back directly to Christ. Some teachings, especially those which have resulted in serious divisions within the Church, do not trace back at all!
Is it time I examined everything I believe and everything I do, in order to check their true origins? Why do I believe that? Does the Lord Jesus teach it, exemplify it, and did he do it? Why do I worship as I do, fellowship as I do, evangelize as I do? Does Jesus, in his life, ministry, relationships with non-believers, or in his teachings and commandments, tell me this is the way I should behave?
Let us consider 'evangelism' as it has been generally practised by the churches, over the past few centuries.
Despite the fact that Jesus never did it, churches have so often restricted the establishment of relationships with
Jesus came to earth from heaven, at his Father's urging, and later said, "As my Father sent me, so I send you." (John 20:21). To his disciples He issued the command "Go into all the world, to every creature," instructing them to communicate to those who were yet to believe "all that I have commanded you". (Matthew 28:16-20)
The activities of the first disciples can be summarised as "we have come to tell you". Sadly, over recent centuries, most
The preaching of the Gospel of Christ has so often been restricted to those who would attend the meeting or the rally; or those who are compelled into church at christenings, weddings, and funerals. Where can we trace this back to? Certainly not to the person and work of Christ.
The sower went forth to sow. He did not sit waiting in the seed barn, praying for the field to come to him!
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