COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO (ANS) -- An international media and healthcare ministry is launching its 'Voice and Hands' Contest to encourage and enable Americans both to pray and to reach out to their communities and the world during these tough economic times.

A media release from HCJB Global (www.HCJBGlobal.org  ) based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, says the Voice and Hands Contest is a part of the "Me and My Household" initiative, which HCJB Global announced in February.

According to Wayne Pederson, HCJB Global president, the goal of the contest is to "challenge individuals, households and churches to come up with ministry projects that have a 'voice' component that declares Jesus and a ‘hands’ component that demonstrates the love of Jesus in tangible ways."

Pederson is inviting people to submit their project ideas to HCJB Global, and 10 submissions will be selected to each receive a $200 prize that can be used toward their outreach or short-term mission trip and a flip video camera to record their experience. HCJB Global also will be allowing people to vote for a subset of entries as part of the selection process.

As an encouragement to those seeking to reach out, HCJB Global also is giving away at www.hcjbglobal.org/resources  a free "Voice and Hands Reader" that provides 30 days of devotionals and inspirational stories, along with worship music about what it means to be the "voice and hands of Jesus."

The title of the contest reflects the fact that HCJB Global is known as the "Voice and Hands" of Jesus around the world, because the ministry both proclaims the Gospel and provides practical aid to the people with whom it shares the Gospel.

Voice and Hands Contest entries can be submitted and rules are available at www.hcjbglobal.org/contest  . Contest entries will be accepted beginning April 20. The final day for entries will be May 20. Contest winners will be announced June 1.

HCJB Global’s "Me and My Household" initiative is based on research that shows the ministry is reaching more than 1 million households in the Arab world through its radio ministry, along with the importance of the scripture Joshua 23:15: "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

HCJB is offering a free prayer e-card at www.hcjbglobal.org/myprayer  that Christians can use to send a prayer for their households to their immediate and extended families.

The media release says the Voice and Hands Contest is the next step in the campaign.

"We believe one of the ways God may be answering the prayers we have been encouraging since February is by giving His people new ideas and fresh enthusiasm for reaching both their neighbors and those around the world," Pederson said.

"The Voice and Hands Contest is a way of collecting these ideas, celebrating what God is birthing in the minds and hearts of His people, and providing encouragement and seed money for the implementation of these God-given ideas."

Pederson added: "Generous giving during difficult times has an added impact. First of all, the needs are greater during times of economic distress. Secondly, when Christians give in times of crisis, we bear witness to an unbelieving world that our trust is not in money, but in God and His provision. Giving in tough times is a powerful Gospel witness."

HCJB Global also is challenging the households of America and the world to pray for unreached households and to give $1 to reach one household in the Arab world for one year.

What is the 'Voice & Hands' contest all about?

HCJB Global has a passion to see believers engaged as the Voice and Hands of Jesus. That means that they are proactively declaring and demonstrating Jesus to those around them. In order to highlight people who are using their voice and hands for Jesus, they are sponsoring the contest.

Why is HCJB Global sponsoring it?

In these tough economic times, HCJB Global wants to highlight people who are stepping out in faith and reward their outreach efforts. Their passion is to see believers throughout the United States being the Voice and Hands of Jesus in their households, their communities and the world.

How does the contest work?

People who are planning some sort of local, national or global outreach between now and August 1 can go to www.hcjbglobal.org/contest   and fill out the entry form to be registered for the prize. Every entry must share about their project and how the person is being the Voice and Hands of Jesus through their outreach.

What are the prizes?

HCJB Global will select the 10 entries that most represent being the Voice and Hands of Jesus, and they will each receive $200 toward their project, along with a Flip video camera to record their experience.

Who is eligible to enter?

Any U.S. residents 18 years or older are eligible to enter.

What kinds of projects does HCJB Global anticipate being entered?

HCJB Global hopes to see a broad mix of local, national and global projects that have an element of showing mercy and an element of declaring truth. Their hope is to shine the light on the many ways that people can be the Voice and Hands of Jesus. God has given great creativity to His people, and they expect to see many examples of that creativity through this contest.

What does HCJB Global hope the contest achieves?

HCJB Global's main objective is to highlight how people are being the Voice and Hands of Jesus. Secondarily, their desire is to encourage and help people in their outreach during this difficult year financially. Many may be worried about how they will raise their funds, and they want to encourage them to step out in faith and engage people even in this recession.

How does the contest tie into the "Me & My Household" initiative?

This contest is simply the next progression in HCJB Global's initiative. They started by challenging people to pray for their households. Now they are asking people to go beyond their households and reach out to those around them.

Will HCJB Global publish or publicize some of the types of project ideas they receive?

HCJB Global will be allowing people to vote on the top 10-20 entries. Those votes will be part of their final deliberations. HCJB Global will be featuring the projects of the 10 winners, and they will be sharing many of the other entries throughout the year in creative ways. Their hope is that the creativity that we see come out of this contest will bless and encourage countless more to reach out.

The media release states that for 77 years HCJB Global ministry’s passion has been to be the Voice and Hands of Jesus to the unreached. Using media and healthcare, while working with partners around the world, HCJB Global has ministries in more than 100 countries.

It expalins that the gospel is aired by HCJB Global in more than 120 languages and dialects. Thousands of listeners and healthcare patients are meeting Jesus. Local believers are being trained as missionaries, pastors, broadcasters and healthcare providers.

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael has traveled to Albania and the former Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany and the former Czechoslovakia, Israel,and Canada. He has reported for ANS from Jordan, China, Russia, Jamaica, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can donate online to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.'