Using Dental & Medical Services in "Closed Countries".

Closed countries, limited access countries, restricted nations – these are all terms used in missions to describe areas of the world where the Gospel message, and the missionaries who carry it, is not tolerated or is seriously restricted.  In a worldly sense, these governments forbid the Christian message from being freely proclaimed within their borders.  However, the command of Jesus was to take the Gospel “unto all nations” (Matthew 28:19) and the Bible teaches that the Word of God is not bound (2 Timothy 2:9).  The challenge for the worldwide missions endeavor is to find ways, within the restrictions imposed, to get the Gospel message to the people in these countries. Rather than refer to these countries as closed, limited or restricted, the term used should rather be “creative access countries.” Creative ways must be found to penetrate the man-made (political, social, cultural) barriers imposed.

Grace Dental and Medical Missions (GDMMissions) is burdened for the people of these countries and therefore has as one of its goals, the use of its medical and dental assets to help penetrate these creative access countries.  In many of these areas of the world medical and dental needs abound and because of this the door is often opened wide for Christian health care personnel to freely enter.

As an example, for the past two years, a GDMMissions dental team has been invited by the government of a so-called “closed” country to freely enter and help meet the dental needs of an under served group of its people.  The invitation has been offered even though the government has been aware of our evangelistic priorities.  As a result, however, we have the opportunity to support the evangelistic efforts of a fundamental church planting missionary living there and working in another, more acceptable, capacity.  There have also been examples of closed groups of people within otherwise open countries who have invited us into their midst and listened to a clear gospel presentation only because they needed medical or dental help.

Currently, GDMMissions is actively pursuing other avenues to enter such creative access countries. Many such countries are opening their doors to teachers of various kinds.  Teaching English as a second language is being used by many mission organizations to insert their personnel into strategic locations throughout the world.  Even though these organizations have a clear Christian or missions recognition, they are still being invited simply because of the need. As an openly Christian organization we have been asked on a number of occasions to provide medical or dental training in some of these countries.  Therefore, we are pursuing the development of teaching programs and curriculum to offer in these areas of the world where the latest medical information or advanced technical training may be lacking.

There are, however, other countries which will not invite or welcome an organization with a Christian-sounding name, no matter what they need.  For these situations we are exploring the development of a sister organization whose name may be more acceptable.  We hope to use our educational personnel to partner with other fundamental Christian missionaries or nationals who may have already penetrated such countries and are actively planting underground or house churches.

Much prayer is needed as we pursue these plans.  Also, more health care workers are needed, both to provide direct medical or dental care and to assist in a future educational component.  GDMMissions is committed to a fundamental, separated stand and will not compromise in this area just to add personnel. Therefore, finding like-minded Christian health care workers or organizations to partner with will be a challenge. We know that God desires “all men to be saved,” no matter what country they live in.  We also know that, with God, all things are possible, even penetrating creative access countries with the Gospel of salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.