Why We Embrace Creative Ways of Sharing the Gospel
December 2024
Adapted from Making Disciples: Creativity as a Recipe to Share the Gospel
Sharing the gospel in some regions is tough—laws, cultural barriers, and apathy create real obstacles. In these settings, creativity becomes essential, opening doors to connect with people in new ways and make disciples.
Imagine you have a perfect recipe for sharing the gospel. It’s proven and effective. Then you travel to a new country, only to find your usual ingredients unavailable, with labels you can’t read and unfamiliar options on the shelves. What do you do?
This is the daily reality for global workers. Every culture has its own "ingredients," its own rules, and its own tastes. Like a chef adapting a recipe with what's available, global workers find creative ways to share the Good News.
Since Encompass was founded over a century ago, creativity has led to some unexpected platforms: guitar clubs, choirs, youth camps, coffee shops, sports, cooking classes, quilting clubs, and more. These hobbies aren’t just for fun—they’re intentional bridges. These new approaches have proven essential in places like Europe, where “church” carries negative connotations, or in Asia, where there might not even be a concept for “church.”
Beyond hobbies, creativity also meets practical needs. Just as Jesus fed the hungry, global workers host soup kitchens, run food banks, and serve vulnerable groups like refugees, immigrants, and those in poverty. These efforts provide shelter, employment, education, and medical care while creating opportunities for discipleship and spiritual growth.
But creative ministry isn’t easy. Cross-cultural workers often have to step out in faith and try new methods with no guarantee of success. They wrestle with doubts and take risks, knowing they might fail but trusting God to use their efforts.
When you support global workers, you’re encouraging their courage and perseverance. You’re walking alongside them as they explore new ways to share God’s love. You’re helping them see failure as part of the process and trusting God to turn small efforts into great results. Thanks for partnering with Encompass World Partners to support international missions for the past 125 years!
More Stories
Zeke felt God nudging him toward ministry ever since high school, but be com ing a pastor just...
March 30, 2026
"Once we made th ose small change s , our church plant stopped losing people coming in and...
March 3, 2026
When Anna* was challenged to think about her goals for 2026, she sensed a clear nudge from God: begin preparing material to train others....
February 17, 2026
“In the 1980s, if you walked into a Christian bookstore in France, you’d find maybe two shelves of Christian books,” Florent...
February 13, 2026
As someone who’s spent much of his life planting churches in Asia, Ted now serves as the Director of Encompass...
February 10, 2026
Reaching the unreached is a beautiful idea, but it’s a lot easier said than done. Even so, Auburn Grace Community...
February 9, 2026
“I had no idea what Japan was,” Kya says. “Then my parents took me when I was 10, and now I wake up every day and think about...
January 30, 2026
Mika* grew up in Japan as part of a family that was culturally Buddhist, yet God gently placed people in her life who...
January 29, 2026
Grace Church in Simi Valley, California has been partnering with Encompass for over 60 years now, making us their primary missions agency. That...
January 23, 2026
