Creative Access Nations (CANs)

Foreign missionaries may be hindered by many countries, but this is not delaying the work of Christians to reach the world and spread the gospel. Countries that willingly admit foreign missionaries through missionary visas are referred to as “Open Countries”, while countries that restrict missionary visas are referred to as “Closed Countries.” These closed countries often prohibit evangelization within their country and issue severe punishments to the perceived perpetrators if any Christian activities are known. However, over time, Christians have found various ways to gain access to these nations through such outlets as education, business, medicine, or humanitarian service. Figuring out a way to reach out to these nations has been a huge step for Christians, to such a degree that they began to refer to these nations as "Creative Access Nations."

In order to get across the impact of these now-dubbed "Creative Access Nations", it is important to realize that these countries make up about one-third of the total nations on the globe. "In our world today, out of more than 200 countries, more than 80 can be considered Creative Access Nations. . .The majority of these countries are Islamic or Communist. Three or four countries in Southeast Asia where the Mien live, China, Laos and Vietnam, are creative access countries. Thailand is much more open to Christianity." Regional laws and culture play a huge role in the countries who are more wary about allowing international access for Christian missionaries.

Sources:

Commons, Bill. "Beyond Closed Doors: Missions in Restricted Access Countries" 01 Jan. 2009. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.

"What Is Creative Access?" Pray For The Mien: Mobilizing Prayer For A Church Multiplication Movement Among The IU Mien Of Southeast Asia. Web. 31 Oct. 2014.

http://www.abwe.org/news/beyond-closed-doors-understanding-missions-in-restricted-access-countries#.VEadjfldWAg

http://prayforthemien.com/what-is-a-church-multiplication-movement/church-planting-101/