ministry head

Project Judea Outreach

God has called every one of His children, not just a few to be money missionaries  -  Dr. Leroy Thompson, “Money with a Mission” (2000).

What is Project Judea Outreach?

Project Judea Outreach (PJO) is an initiative of Signs Church. Because the Deaf Community in major coastal towns north of South east Queensland have no ministry catering specifically to their unique cultural and communication needs, PJO was set up to reach them and minister the Gospel to them.

 

The outreach is based on Acts 1:8. After Brisbane (our Jerusalem) , we reach regional and outback towns (our Judea). it is envisaged we will reach and minister to the Deaf in New Guinea and our neighboured islands. Our immediate ministry is in our own backyard.

What PJO can do is:

  • finding where the Deaf individuals are and sharing God's Love with them.

  • organising outreach in town where formal Deaf Club existed i.e. DVD, BBQ, one to one ministry.

  • if possible, organising with local church to have initial service interpreted for local Deaf.

  • gathering details of new disciples for later follow up, weekly encouragement by email or mail, ePastoral (see webpage on ePastoral).

  • providing training workshop to local churches on how to reach and minister to the Deaf. Email us for more information on the workshop.

  • in addition to the above services, we can conduct Bible workshop for new believers in regional towns. Topics of workshop are:

    • Foundation of Faith  (for new believers learning the basics of Christianity)

    • Being a Good Student of the Word (hints and help on studying the Bible)

    • Life in the Spirit (living in holiness and bearing fruits)

    • Solving Life's Problems (how to face daily challenges in faith)

The Rationale behind the Project

Hearing Churches need to realise the Deaf can't do it all by themselves. Although Deaf evangelists and church planters are the most effective because the Deaf welcome them as one of their own, the hearing churches can help. hearing Churches are needed to see how they can empower the Deaf to go.

We have workers ready to go and many places where the Deaf care are crying out for someone to come and talk to them about God and His kingdom. because the Deaf are structurally always at the lowest of the socio-economic scale, there is so little money within the Deaf community itself to fund such a project.

Generous hearing Churches or individual can cause a quantum leap in Deaf mission. We can not do this by themselves.

What Can You Do?

1. Make this project on of your mission focuses and prayer, especially your local area. The Deaf field is the most neglected mission field. How many hearing churches are aware of this field?

2. Support this local project or other Deaf mission forces worldwide. there are many worthy mission force successfully reaching the Deaf for Christ. Email us for list of international Deaf mission forces.

3. Support financially. We have the ability, the language (AUSLAN) and the understanding to minister to the Deaf Community. WHO estimated 6% of developing world countries are Deaf so should it be fair if 6% of mission fund goes into this ministry. Click here to go to HELP website,

 

The Deaf are not only a fruitful Mission Field but
the Deaf  are also called to be a Mission Force

 

pjo logo

Some Astonishing Facts

Some estimates put the world Deaf population at 364 million which makes the Deaf the third-largest people-group in the world (after China with 1.3b and India with 1.1b)

[Justin Long, Network  Strategic Missions 2003]

  
Nation Population Deaf
China 1.3b 75.2m
India 1.0b 90.4m
USA 278m 16.6m
Indonesia 212m 12.7m
Brazil 170m 10.1m
Pakistan 156m 9.3m
Russia 146m 8.7m
Nigeria 111m 7.7m
Japan 126m 7.6m
 

Australia has a population of 22 million but the Deaf Community is 22,000 strong. In Queensland, it is estimated that close to 4,000 considered themselves part of the Deaf Community.