USA (MNN) — An event rallying Christians to “finish the task” of the Great Commission just wrapped up in California.
(Photo courtesy of Finishing the Task)
“The idea of finishing the task – that’s not just a function for pastors or a function for the church in general,” observes Rob Myers, President and CEO of DOOR International.
“The Great Commission is a call that God has on every single one of our lives.”
The needs of 1,386 unreached and unengaged people groups were presented to ministry and church leaders from across the U.S. Speakers Rick Warren and Francis Chan encouraged believers at Finishing the Task 2016 to focus their efforts on what matters the most: making disciples of all the nations.
This video presents the vision of the Finishing the Task movement.
Finishing the Task 2016
As explained here, “Finishing the Task (FTT) is an association of mission agencies and churches who want to see reproducing churches planted among every people group in the world.”
Myers addresses the crowd at Finishing the Task 2016.
(Photo courtesy of DOOR)
Each year at the Finishing the Task Conference, church and ministry leaders gather to celebrate progress, identify remaining needs, and commit resources to reaching the unreached. Following the 2015 conference, 138 unreached and unengaged people groups received new attention and resources.
“If I could relive my life, I would’ve spent a lot more time focusing on this,” said Francis Chan.
See the complete list of unreached and unengaged people groups.
“Among the groups on that list, between 10- and 15 percent are Deaf groups,” says Myers. “Deaf communities around the world that are unreached are part of the ‘final frontier’ of the Great Commission.”
There are 70 million Deaf people worldwide, and less than two percent of them know Jesus as their Savior. As the world’s largest Deaf-led ministry, DOOR International exists to equip and empower Deaf believers to reach their own people for Christ.
“We are so excited to see God moving among Deaf communities around the world. God is raising up Deaf leaders, and God is raising up Deaf ministries. DOOR International is one of those ministries, and we also have several partner organizations that we work with.”
Through workshops and hands-on breakout sessions, Myers taught conference attendees the importance of “best practices” in Deaf ministry. Church and ministry leaders also learned how to equip Deaf leaders and engage in Deaf-to-Deaf church planting.
“DOOR’s heart is Deaf-to-Deaf church planting, so while it’s hearing churches and hearing pastors and I, as a hearing person [at this conference], God uses us as advocates for the Deaf community,” says Myers.
“Deaf leaders need to be the ones doing this work. Our goal is to help churches understand how…if they want to see Deaf ministry happening, that they have Deaf leaders they’re encouraging to reach their own communities for Christ.”
What it all means for you
Partnering with DOOR International doesn’t mean you have to learn sign language. Myers shares three ways every believer can help reach the Deaf for Christ.
PRAY
“God called each one of us to pray for workers to be raised up in the harvest, and that is a big need in the Deaf community. Pray for those needs and pray that God brings the resources.
GIVE
(Photo courtesy of DOOR International)
“Sometimes, we have people in the field who are ready to be trained, they’re ready to reach their own people but they’re simply waiting on funding. It only takes $21 to sponsor a church planter through DOOR International for a day.
“We would love to see people come alongside our ministry and begin supporting and helping to see local Deaf people trained to reach their own people.”
Support DOOR’s work and help bring the hope of Christ to the Deaf.
SHARE
Finally, “God may be calling you to be an advocate for the Deaf community. You can begin to advocate by getting more information,” Myers shares.
Learn more about Deaf culture and the common misunderstandings surrounding the Deaf community. Then, “begin bringing that awareness to other people in your church, and encouraging them to partner, to be engaged with Deaf ministries.”
See what happens when Deaf people receive the Good News of the Gospel in their heart sign language.
I worked with the Deaf Community in Wichita Kansas. I worked at the Deaf community agency teaching life skills to the Deaf community who were in need of such skills. I truly enjoyed the work. It was on a part time employment level, while I was in College at Wichita State studying Social Work. I went to college later in life I didn’t graduate until I was 50 years old. I was born and raised in Kansas but moved to California while in was in Jr High School, most of my family still lives in Kansas so that is why I chose to go back to college in Wichita. After college I moved back to California. I still have a heart for the deaf community however I find that the Deaf for the most part in California to be much more educated an advanced the those in the mid west. An example of that in Wichita if you give the Deaf attention and watch what they are saying as a hearing person you are given almost a rock star status. Whereas in California they expect respect from everyone and they really aren’t impressed if your signing skills aren’t up to their standard for easy communication with you and they want you to be able to sign with them or you lose their intrest pretty quickly.
I would be willing to help out here in San Diego County if anyone has a need I could possibly help out in some way. My signing skill are real rusty so it would take me some time to get my communication skills up to par however I do have experience in that field. As far as Christian service I do not have any skills as far as pastoring or evangelism other then just sharing the path to Salvation on a one on one situation. I am now 70 years old so I am no spring chicken any more. I feel like I am trying to talk you out of calling on me but I just don’t want to mislead you at all. I am not an interpreter either. I would say at this point in my life I would be being called in the ministary of Helps.
When I first came back to San Marcos, CA I looked up the only Deaf Agency in North San Diego County and it was in it’s starting the very beginning so they were in the process of writing for grants to get some funds for their needs were great but they didn’t have any funding at that time. I was hoping for employment but that didn’t work out.
I am not looking for a paid position just want to help if I can. My email address is: [email protected]. Please email if there is something I could do to help you with the Salvation in the Deaf Community.