Open access ministries are those where people can obtain a missionary visa and work full time in evangelism and church planting. Some countries have particular requirements if you want to obtain a missionary visa, so it is well worth talking to a mission agency about what they currently are. Often it involves a degree or postgraduate training in theology so you will need to attend a recognised Bible College and complete a qualification. (check out the chapter on Bible College)
Ministry in open access countries might involve evangelism, training future church leaders, church planting, but might also be a place where you can build relationships with your community using your hobby. Sometimes there are particular projects that help vulnerable people, or roles that support front line workers like guest home managers, medical advisors or teachers in missionary kid schools.
Creative Access ministries are where you can’t get a visa to be a missionary, so living there and connecting with the community takes a bit more creativity. Most people going to these countries obtain a visa through study, work or business. This means that you need to have some sort of skill or qualification that allows you to obtain employment or set up a sustainable business in the country you plan to go to.
It is possible to work in creative access countries as part of a not-for-profit that isn’t overtly Christian but provides education, aid for vulnerable people or community development.
Bible College continues to be important, not for the qualification, but for the knowledge and skills you gain that you will be able to use in ministry. Either within your work or outside of your work, you should be sharing the good news of Jesus in a culturally appropriate way, discipling new believers and mentoring church leaders. Bible College is great in preparing you for those things.
Doing ministry in a creative access country does have extra challenges. Somehow you need to work out how to commit yourself sustainably to both your ministry and employment (not to mention family and self-care). You may need to be more careful about your personal and online security if it is a country where Christians and evangelism aren’t appreciated. This can be stressful for some people. You also need to consider how you communicate and think about yourself if you aren’t able to call yourself a missionary but are still working towards kingdom goals.
Next steps
Do you want to be able to use your work experience overseas?
Or would you prefer to go overseas on a missionary visa?
How do you feel about the potential extra stressors, living in a place where you can’t call yourself a missionary?
