Ministry Ideas: An Open Door In a Closed Country

Contributed by a Missionary In a Creative Access Country

In a bustling city, a Bible teacher (missionary) found himself stepping into a ministry opportunity he hadn’t planned for. What began as an invitation to a simple networking event quickly became a fruitful platform for sharing the gospel—one that he believes was orchestrated entirely by God.

Back several month ago, the missionary was working to launch his own English language outreach. Despite his efforts, the initiative wasn’t gaining much momentum. But then, a young couple attended one of his events—not to participate, but to invite him to a different weekly English networking gathering held in the city.

They explained that their event typically attracted 40 to 60 attendees and was connected to online groups with a combined membership of around 700 people. The missionary accepted the invitation, and almost immediately, he was added to these online communities and began attending the events.

Each week, participants at the networking event are divided into small groups of four to six people for English conversation practice. This format has given the missionary a natural, low-pressure setting to share the gospel with new individuals on a regular basis. Interestingly, he isn’t responsible for organizing anything—he simply shows up and engages with people who are often eager to speak with a foreigner and hear what he has to say.

What makes this opportunity even more unique is the constant rotation of attendees. New people show up weekly, offering fresh chances to share the message of Christ, while regular attendees have now heard the gospel multiple times. Some of those regulars have even started attending church services. One high school student, who connected with the missionary through the event, recently came to faith after several months of church attendance.

More recently, a young man in his twenties arrived at the event clearly weighed down by personal struggles. He shared openly about a difficult season in his life, including problems at work and with his family, and then made a bold statement: “I need God to save and help me.” This kind of openness is rare in this country, where people are often hesitant to discuss matters of faith publicly.

Before the missionary could respond, another young man—who himself isn’t yet a believer—interjected, saying to the weighed-down young man that he was in the right place because the missionary was a Bible teacher. This opened the door for him to share the gospel with him and others at the table. What’s remarkable is that other young man, though unsaved, had heard the gospel enough times to recognize that it could offer real hope to someone in need.

The missionary continues to ask for prayer—for these two young men, and for the many others he meets each week. He also wants to encourage others to consider a simple idea: ministry opportunities are often closer than we think. By looking for existing events or gatherings in their own cities, believers may find that God has already opened doors—they just need to walk through them.

Sometimes, the most impactful ministry doesn’t require starting something new. Sometimes, it just takes showing up.