History

Outback Focus is a non-profit organisation which began back in the early 1970’s when a farming couple from the northern Victoria moved to the north-west New South Wales town of Moree to commence the a Christian ministry.

The couple, Lloyd and Lois Lanyon, moved from their farm in Victoria to NSW to provide a ministry providing practical and spiritual support to people in isolated areas. Lloyd, a pilot, was able to travel the vast distances with a the use of a small light aircraft visiting small towns, properties and very small communities throughout northwest New South Wales and southwest Queensland.

Over the many years, Bible studies, Religious Education in many isolated schools and church services were conducted, sometimes on very isolated station properties. The Gospel was presented to people in all sections of the community. The aircraft was also used to provide emergency flights on many occasions, helping to save lives in a very practical way.

Most people in these areas experience isolation in many forms. This ministry was founded to provide a link for these people to help only a few hours by plane, and help reduce the isolation with spiritual and practical support. People in these areas are not able get the support of local churches due to the distances from their local community, in some cases hundreds of kilometres.

Lloyd and Lois experienced many opportunities to share with people what God can do in a person’s life, the main purpose of the ministry being to share the love of God to people in the Outback.

In the mid 1990’s a board of directors was established with the main leadership of the ministry coming under the direction of Greg and Jill Lanyon. Greg had just completed his Diploma of Church Ministries at Adelaide College of Ministries (South Australia) in 1993. Greg and wife Jill moved to Central Queensland to further the work of reaching the people in the outback with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They have endeavoured to work in areas where there are no churches, and to assist local churches situated in small towns.

Greg, who is an experienced financial planner, and Jill, a gifted speaker and singer, continued the focus of the ministry to the remote and Outback areas. The ministry of Outback Focus is now based in Toowoomba, Qld, and continues to support people in the Outback. Thousands of homes on remote and isolated properties receive the “Good News” each month through gospel literature which is delivered to their door. People are visited in small communities, on large properties, small churches assisted where able, to share the gospel, encourage, conduct Bible studies and offer pastoral care.

The Outback Focus team continue to travel and assist people in the outback as invitations come to assist and encourage the local people in many different ways, for example, pastoral care, literature distribution, Farm Care program, Religious Education in Schools, Country Gospel Concerts, Bible Studies, Financial Seminars.

To work and partner with other like-minded organisations is essential to be effective in the reaching people with the Gospel. Challenge Literature Fellowship, Mailbox Club, Postal Sunday School Movement, CWCI – KYB Bible Studies, Emmaus Correspondence School, Crown Financial Ministries, Word of Life, are just some of these organisations.

If you would like to know how we can provide assistance to you please contact us.