Frequently Asked Questions
How come donations to Jesus. All about life are tax deductable?
Jesus. All about life is a prime time media campaign that utilises the medium of film television and radio to communicate its message.
The Jesus. All about life message is based around the person of Jesus, and who he is and what he actually said. The media content in itself does not look to convert people to Christianity, it simply challenges people’s perceptions of religion and points them to cultural, community and arts events that will be run in association with the campaign.
The campaign also uses prime time media and billboards to promote literature and cultural, community and arts programs that local churches are encouraged to run over a specific time frame.
The production and presentation of film, television and radio programs along with the promotion of the literature produced and cultural and community programs run are deemed acceptable expenses under section 30-300 (2) of the Income Tax Assessment Act.
Why are funds provided to the Bible Society?
The Bible Society NSW will accept all donations supporting Jesus. All about life. These will be received into the ‘Bible Society Foundation’ for the receipting of all tax deductible donations. (Bible Society Foundation is a tax deductible fund of Bible Society NSW). Bible Society NSW has established a second tax deductible Gift Fund known as ‘The Areopagus Trust Gift Fund’ for the purposes of projects such as this, so Bible Society NSW and the Bible Society Foundation will in turn pass these tax deductible donations to the Areopagus Trust and that Trust will incur only those expenditures which are eligible for a tax deductible fund.
What is the relationship between Jesus Racing, the Bible Society and JAAL?
Jesus Racing provides film and TV production on behalf of the Jesus. All about life program, with associated production costs paid for directly via The Areopagus Trust Gift Fund.
Jesus Racing also provides an advertising mechanism for the Bible Society in order to raise funds for their JAAL program.
Who is behind the Jesus. All about life program?
Bible Society NSW developed the Jesus. All about life campaign which is then run in conjunction with local churches in a particular area, city or state. This campaign has already been run in South Australia, the ACT and Tasmania. In each of these places, Jesus. All about life had the support of the major denominations who all ran cultural, community and arts events in conjunction with the program, this will be the same in NSW & WA.
Is the Jesus. All about life campaign a pro-abortion campaign?
No, the JAAL campaign is about the historical person of Jesus and aims to provide information about Jesus, what he actually said whilst on earth and who he is.
This is achieved via the utilisation of film, television, radio and the media as well as cultural, community and art events run via local churches.
• Why does the church waste money on TV ads when we are in the middle of an economic crisis?
o Obviously those involved with the JAAL program don’t believe that the ads are a waste of money as these ads are used to promote the cultural, community and arts events that the local churches will run during the campaign. Much of the funding for the previous Jesus. All about life campaigns came from private individuals who support the objectives of the campaign. Some denominations have also chosen to support the campaign financially as have church members. It is believed that this will be the case for the NSW & WA campaign as well.
• Why does the church think it should be pushing its religious views on TV?
o The Church is not pushing its views on TV. In fact the TV ads simply present the words of Jesus and then invite people to ask for more information. The JAAL program simply communicates the teachings of Jesus, what he said, what he stood for.
• What do Christians hope to achieve by advertising on TV?
o Christians are seeking to raise awareness of Jesus’ teachings and what he stood for, as well as establishing a connection point for the local churches so they can connect with their local community through cultural, community and arts events.
• If Jesus was here now do you really think he’d be involved in TV ads?
o All that the ads are doing is expressing the words of Jesus. Given he also encouraged the church to speak his words into the world it is thought that he would approve.