Toward the Asian Century

By Bill Commons

Demographers see the focus of history turning increasingly to the Asia-Pacific region in the coming years. The press has dubbed century 21 as The Asian Century.

Likewise world Christians, who observe God moving in history, embrace the challenge of penetrating the vast unevangelized territories of Asia.

Many Asian countries do not accept traditional missionaries, so ABWE has developed innovative strategies for areas known as restricted access countries (RACs.) We prefer this term rather than designating them "closed" countries. To call a country closed is an insult to God "who is not willing that any should perish." There is no such thing as a closed door to the sovereign God. Where there is no door, God opens a window.

To penetrate the restricted access populations of Asia, including the masses of unreached Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and animists, ABWE has the following opportunities for believers committed to cross-cultural evangelism, discipleship, and church planting:

1. Career missionaries continue to be the primary focus. They will always be needed in traditional access countries (TACs) where the doors are open to the gospel.

2. Traditional missionaries can enter restricted countries by providing education, medicine, and development services. These services reduce resistance and act as bridges to present the gospel.

3. Local churches in Asian countries are joining hands with local churches in North America, sending international teams to work together in reaching Asia for Christ.

4. Tentmaker/bivocational missionaries penetrate restricted countries working in humanitarian and commercial ventures, partially or fully supported by their vocations. Lay professionals in North American churches don't have to set aside their training and experience. Their qualifications may be the key to entering the 99 nations which do not allow traditional foreign missionaries in their lands. It is time to thaw out "God's frozen assets" (the laity) in our churches and mobilize the membership for world evangelism.

5. Partnering with nationals links local churches in North America with responsible indigenous ministries in restricted countries.

Christ's "Go ye into all the world" does not mean only those nations who WANT missionaries to come. The apostle Paul wasn't welcome everywhere, but he overcame barriers. ABWE continues surveying "window countries" to place church-planting teams in resistant cultures. Lay professionals working alongside theologically trained ministers can impact the total community with the gospel. Help us push back the darkness as we move into the Asian Century.

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