Go to main text 
Go to site search
Homepage |
|
 |
 |
| Title |
|
News ArchiveThanksgiving Celebration Saturday 27 October 2007Posted: 15th October 2007 by James Brookman
The church's address is Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, TN10 3HZ For directions - click here
Premier Radio publicises INSIGHT - Torch's new programme for blind and other disabled listenersPosted: 6th October 2007 by Gordon Temple Read Premier Radio's press release - click here Listen to INSIGHT with Marilyn Baker at 9pm each Saturday evening: in the Greater London area on 1305, 1332, 1413 MW, or DAB and elsewhere in the UK on Sky Digital 0123, Virgin Media 698, Freeview 725. Or go to www.premier.org.uk and click "Listen Now". Disability Sunday 7 October 2007Posted: 20th August 2007 by James Brookman Here's an opportunity to encourage your church to think about the needs of blind, partially sighted and other disabled people. Click here to find out more. Cheltenham Bible Festival 9-11 August 2007Posted: 4th August 2007 by James Brookman The Federation of International Evangelical Churches (FIEC) is holding their annual Bible festival at Cheltenham Race Course. Come and visit Torch at their stand in the Global Village marquee and, if you're there on the Saturday, come and join the special Torch Fellowship Group Meeting starting at 4pm - in the Tote Sport room! Open Day has changed to Open Nights!Posted: 12th June 2007 by James Brookman To try and attract different people we have decided to try something new this year. Instead of having the Open Day, scheduled for Saturday 16th June, we are planning two summer-time evening "Open House" events at Torch. Join us for a bar-be-que and fellowship on the evenings of either Wednesday 25th July or Friday 31st August, between 6pm and 9pm. Magazines ArchivePosted: 22nd May 2007 by Gordon Temple To make the Downloads page less cluttered a new Magazines Archive page has been added to the site. Now just the latest issues of each magazine are listed on the Downloads page, but at the bottom of the page is the facility to click through to the Magazine Archive page to find back issues. Click here to go there directly New Torch Fellowship Group Directory now on linePosted: 22nd May 2007 by Gordon Temple The latest (2007) edition of the Torch Fellowship groups can be found on the Torch Fellowship Groups page and on the Downloads page. It's organised by region, according to the government's regional boundaries. As it is an html document it is possible to click on the hyperlinks in the regional index to go directly to a listing of Groups within that region. For each Group the timing and venue for meetings is given along with a local contact name and a contact number and email address. Click here to go there directly Latest Magazines and more!Posted: 9 March 2007 by Gordon Temple Visit the Downloads page for the latest Torch magazines: Torch Family News Spring 2007, Christian Today Digest Spring 2007 and Torch Magazine Issue 2, 2007. Also added to the downloads is the latest Good News sheet (March 2007) and the 2007 Torch Holiday Brochure, both as a PDF file (with pictures) and as an HTML file (text only). Click here to go there directly Janet is back in MalawiPosted: 5 March 2007 by Gordon Temple The recent floods in the Lower Shire district have done terrible damage, especially in the extreme south near to Mozambique. Many blind people have lost their homes. The container of aid sent in December has arrived at the depot in Blantyre, praise God. Please pray that it is delivered to the Torch compound within the next few days so that Janet can unpack it and get the contents to where they can be of most use. Stay in touch by visiting Janet's Jotter - click here. Pray that she can get internet access to update it this time - communications in Malawi are overloaded! Torch invests in on-line audio storagePosted: 5 March 2007 by Gordon Temple Torch is ordering two massive data stores (4 terabytes each) that will hold all of Torch audio book files and make them instantly accessible on Torch's internal computer network. This means we can make additional copies or replace lost or damaged cassette tapes or CDs at a moment's notice. Why two? One will be in Torch House and the other will be off-site holding a duplicate copy of the priceless files so that we can be confident they are totally secure. For some years volunteer Roger Wyatt has been copying our vulnerable (and bulky) stock of audio tapes to digital files. So now these as well as the more modern books, which have been originated digitally, can be retained on the data stores. The total investment is £10,000. For more infomation email Paul Wood Torch Family News Spring 2007 edition is out.Posted: 5 March 2007 by Gordon Temple It's available in text format on our Downloads page. It's a good read with a special emphasis on how Torch is being used by God to bless people all over the world. It's even better with pictures - so why not request your own printed copy - or several that you can distribute at church. And if that doesn't suit, it's available in braille and on audio cassette too. Email your order to Carol Nokes or call 01858 438260 (+44 1858 438260 from overseas). Latest MagazinesThe second edition of "TLM" aka Torch Library Magazine is now available on the downloads page along with the autumn edition of Christian Today Digest and the Christmas special edition of The Torch magazine. A Whole New Magazine - TLMTorch Library Magazine or "TLM" is an addition to Torch's magazine line-up. Written for Torch Library borrowers it includes reviews and listings of new additions to our Library collections. It is produced in audio cassette, DAISY CD, braille and giant print formats and is sent free of charge. To download the first issue click here A New Page on this Website - Resources for ChurchesWithin minutes of entering a church for a service we are usually offered something we are expected to read -a hymn or song books, a Bible, a Prayer Book, an Order of Service, a newssheet. Increasingly, attention will be directed to a screen for information. If you can't see to read any of this, it's a pretty unwelcoming experience. Torch can help you address this with a selection of Christian resources in a mix of braille, audio and giant print - to find out more click here Janet is back in Malawi - September 2006Janet Stafford arrived in Malawi on 20th September for a three week visit. Follow her adventures and support her in prayer by visiting her blog - click here Annual Thanksgiving Service - 28th October 2006 at 2:30pmJoin us in Harlow to celebrate the goodness of God as we look back on another exciting year in the story of Torch - and to look forward to what lies ahead. Our guest speaker is Victor Jack. There will be reports on the various aspects of the work and worship with the Torch Singers. Venue: Mark Hall Community School, First Avenue, Harlow, CM17 9LR Directions: Exit M11 at Junc. 7. Take A414 towards Hertford. Continue straight over 3 roundabouts - at the 4th roundabout turn right into First Avenue (B183). The school is almost immediately on the right and the car park is to the right on entering. Stella Heath home from hospital - September 2006Following a stroke, Stella Heath ("Mum" to the Torch Family) has been released from hospital. Please pray for a full recovery. Autumn 2006 Torch Family NewsWith an emphasis on the Bible, the latest Torch Family News (published on the website first!) is an interesting read. Download here Updated Torch Fellowship Groups DirectoryAt long last the 2006 edition of the Torch Fellowship Groups Directory is available. Why the delay? Well, it has been completely reorganised to reflect our new regional structure. To support the growing links with other organisations like Social Services and local charities serving blind and partially sighted people the Groups are listed according to the Government's regions. If you want a copy then request from Torch House - go to Contacts Annual Report for last year - published Aug 2006Having filed its annual Report and Account with the Charity Commission Torch has for the first time published a "friendly" version, telling the story of God's blessing on the work during 2005. It will be distributed with the next edition of Torch Family News - coming this month - and (if you have broadband - it's big) can also be dowloaded from this website. To download Annual Report select PDF or HTML versions: Acrobat PDF (623k) Html (35k) Torch founder in hospital - Aug 2006 - please pray!Stella Heath, known to many in the Torch Family as Mum Heath, suffered a stroke and is currently recovering in hospital. Her speech has been particularly affected. Please pray for her, and Eileen Cole and Sandy Clarke who are seeking to support Mrs Heath during her recovery. Latest Torch Magazine - Issue 5, August 2006Torch Magazine goes to readers in 97 countries in braille, audio and giant print formats. Torch Magazine celebrated 75 years in May of this year. Now you can download the latest issues from the Downloads page - and also browse the previous issues. Torch at the Keswick Convention - July 2006
Torch Chairman Rev'd Ron Wells recounts his experiences of the Torch Houseparty at Keswick.
I find it impossible to believe that over 50 years have passed since I attended the Keswick Convention as a young person. Much has changed, but thankfully the motto still applies ‘All one in Christ Jesus’. Fourteen of us enjoyed a great week of friendship and fun as the Torch Trust Keswick Houseparty. Three things stand out in my mind:
As we said our goodbyes on Saturday morning the Verse on the Torch Calendar reminded us that ‘if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation’. We were immensely grateful to Jack and Sally Middleton for their leadership of the group. Their kindness and their care were an example to us, and they certainly showed the love of the Lord Jesus in thought word and action. First Sight of Sight Village - July 2006
James Brookman tells his personal experience of this important annual event
Phew! I might have to think a bit more carefully before volunteering to represent Torch at Sight Village again – what an exhausting and amazing day! At the height of July’s heat-wave Queen Alexandra College (a national college for people with visual impairment and/or other disabilities) held their annual Sight Village exhibition in the centre of Birmingham. Several hundred exhibitors plied their goods and services with the sole aim of giving the visually impaired visitors as much of their ‘sight’ back as possible. For me it was a day of contrasts. At the Torch stand you could sometimes go 10 minutes without any interest and then suddenly you would be inundated with several groups of people at once. Around the exhibition halls there were vast areas given over to high-tech equipment costing thousands of pounds; near the Torch stand was a man selling a single product, a giant print diary he’d designed, for L4.50. One visitor was still bitter about a phonecall to Torch 5 years ago that was never followed up, another was so appreciative of the daily Bible reading notes she was receiving. It is expensive to show at these exhibitions yet it is undoubtedly worth it. The number of people who said ‘I’d never heard of you before’ or ‘I’ll pass that info on to my clients’ was most encouraging. The connections made with other agencies e.g. the Macular Disease Society offering to put a Torch link on their website, and contact with old friends are invaluable. But most of all it’s the chance for Torch to offer ‘sight’ in all its fullness; one moment you’re dealing with a totally blind woman buying a complete giant print Bible in 35 volumes for her church, from which she can never benefit, and the next you’re speaking to a 90 year old atheistic man who can’t wait to die because he’s so miserable and walks off with a heart too hardened to hear – but who knows... Sight Village was hard work (I was dragged off at one stage to do an interview for their website audio magazine and couldn’t remember Torch’s phone number!) so would I go again? Well that may depend on whether I’m asked, but I’m keeping 17-19 July 2007 free just in case! Whole New Magazine - June '06Torch has distributed the first edition of its new accessible media magazine. Christian Today Digest replaces Christian Herald Digest which came to an inevitable end with the demise of the Christian Herald weekly newspaper. Christian Herald was very popular with Torch's UK readership with around 3000 copies distributed each quarter. Unlike Christian Herald, the content of Christian Today Digest has not previously appeared in print. This new magazine is the result of a partnership between Torch and Christian Today, a London-based international Christian news website (www.christiantoday.com). Each quarter news, features and comment will be culled from the stories posted to the website over the past three months. Click here to read the very first edition. Christian Today is available free of charge to blind and partially sighted UK readers in braille, audio cassette, giant print media as well as from the downloads page on this website. The Torch magazine celebrates 75 years - May '06The Torch is an unusual Christian magazine. Produced only in braille, giant print and audio media, its readers are all blind or partially sighted - almost 10,000 of them. Published bimonthly, it’s free and via “Articles for Blind” freepost it goes all over the world; to 97 countries in all. The braille edition alone has a circulation of 5,000, making it the largest circulation regular braille publication worldwide! It was started in May 1931 as a devotional magazine with an initial distribution of just 60 copies. The latest edition - Issue 3, 2006 (click here to read it) - marks the magazine’s 75th anniversary. In it Stella Heath, Torch's co-founder, looks back on how they came to adopt the magazine that gave Torch its name. Also Torch's Technical Director, Mike Townsend, concludes a series of studies on Revelation (go to Downloads to read earlier instalments) and Gordon Temple (Chief Executive) ponders on what sort of Saviour Jesus isn't. The Torch magazine is one of six magazines published by the Torch Trust for the Blind. Our newsletter, Torch Family News, is the only one to be produced in standard print. Contact us to get a free copy quarterly so that you can pray for our vital work. European ConferencesOn 2nd and 3rd March representatives of European organisations and missions working with blind and partially sighted people will be meeting at Torch Holiday and Retreat Centre to share news of their ministries and their vision for the future. Please pray that God will bless this time of fellowship. Represented will be La Cause (France), Pro Lumina (Romania), Dezna Torch (Romania), Compass Braille & Sightlink (based in the UK but focussed on Asia), Nueva Luz (Spain) and, of course, the Torch Trust. On the evening of 3rd March this group will join with a wider Europrean Christian Disability Conference in Bognor organised by Torch's "Churches for All" partners Through the Roof and Causeway Prospects. This conference is entitled " Making our Churches Inclusive " and runs through to Sunday 5th March.
Which way, Tom Tom?Mike Townsend’s dog leads him from danger. Mike's tells the story ... Where were you on 7th July, 2005? I always say I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As I walked away from the Tavistock Hotel, There was a massive explosion behind me. A London bus had been blown up by terrorists. Just two minutes earlier I had been waiting at the lights where many were killed and injured. Tom, my guide dog, carried on walking, leading me to safety. Roads were closed off, but Tom found a completely new route to RNIB. Tom has received a bravery award, and been in the papers and on television. God does not isolate us from tragedies, but Jesus lives our lives with us. “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, NIV). Christian Herald Digest - Winter editionis now available for download. Included is a extensive list of new books added to the library collection in braille, cassette, DAISY CD and giant print formats. Visit the Downloads page or Click here Torch Family News - Winter editionis now available for download. Visit the Downloads page or Click here Report from Extra Open Day - 19th NovemberOn 19th November Torch House was the venue for the Opening of FIEC's (Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches) new office in Market Harborough. Representatives from the network of churches came to Torch House from where they visited the new FIEC office in groups. While they were at Torch House they were able to tour the work and meet Torch staff. Altogether 140+ gathered in the conference room of Torch House in the afternoon to dedicate FIEC's new office. Richard Underwood, General Secretary of FIEC welcomed the guests. The speaker was FIEC chair Paul Mallard who also spoke at the opening meeting of the Torch Fellowship Group in Worcester. The Torch choir sang at the service which was concluded with a blessing pronouced by Gordon Temple. Michael Stafford travels to Malawi - 12th NovemberMichael left on 12th November on a 3 week trip to Malawi. During his visit the Council and Trustees of Torch Trust for the Blind International (Malawi) will take place. The situation in Malawi just now is dire. The President has proclaimed the country a "disaster area" with up to 5 million people facing stavation. Is this Niger all over again - just six months later? Pray for Michael as he encounters the needs of blind and partially sighted people: often the poorest among the poor. Off to Romania again! - 15th OctoberOn 15th October a self supporting team of 27 people from Motherwell in Scotland are going to Casa Torch, Romania with the object of completing the family home for blind and partialy sighted orphaned children ready for inspection by the authorities. Do include them in your prayers. National Fellowship LeaderAfter more than 2 years of seeking and praying for God's person to undertake this vital role, it's great to welcome David Palmer to the team at Torch House. Click here to view the letter sent to each Fellowship Group's leadership to introduce David. Thanksgiving 2005Each year we set aside time to give thank to God for all that he has blessed us with over the past year. Our financial year ends on 30th September so October is the natural time for Thanksgiving. While churches are celebrating the harvest in the fields we celebrate the rewards of our labours in lives changed and touched by encounters with Jesus through the diverse activties that Torch runs. Choose a venue and join us if you can. You'll be welcome and there will be food to share too! Annual Thanksgiving
The church is in St Jude’s Road just off Tettenhall Road (A41) on west side of Wolverhampton. Approaching from M54 exit 2, take A449 south. After approx 3.5 miles, take ring road (A41). At first roundabout take 3rd exit to keep on A41 (Tettenhall Road). After 500 metres fork right (still A41). After another 500 metres, turn right into St Jude’s Road. You will see the church almost immediately. Scottish Thanksgiving
Northern Ireland Thanksgiving
Publications newly downloadable from Torch websiteFor the first time Torch Family News and Christian Herald Digest are available from our website. Already The Torch magazine has been available and the latest issue (No. 5 - 2005) is now on the website downloads page. Until this year The Torch and Christian Herald Digest were only available to blind and partially sighted readers (in braille, gaint print and audio). Now Torch's supporters can take a peek at them too! The HTML files include "hyperlinks" take you directly from the contents list to the articles that interest you. Christian Herald Digest is the result of a partnership between Torch and Christian Herald. Christian Herald is published weekly. A two cassette audio version can be ordered by subscription from TNAUK. but for many blind and partially sighted people this is just too much material on a weekly basis. Christian Herald Digest is produced quarterly with material selected firstly by Christian Herald editor to present the highlights of each edition and preserve the character of the weekly publication. Its bright and varied style has proved very popular with Torch's UK readership. Important news for UK readers is included - with new additions to the Torch library added to the latest edition. The Torch magazine is Torch's international "flagship" periodical. It was first published in 1951 by the Trench sisters working from their Lake District home. Today, every 2 months it is sent to almost 10,000 readers in 95 countries. With around 5,000 produced in braille it is certainly amoung the largest volume regualr publciations in this medium. It is written by Torch people for Torch people. Some of the articles are written by visually impaired people. Mum Heath, Torch's co-founder, contributes an article to each edition, as does Gordon Temple (Torch's chief executive) Torch Family News, published quarterly, brings news of Torch from around the world. Its available in full-colour crisp standard print, in braille and on audio cassette. It includes news of Torch people, activities and initiatives, in theUK and abroad. There's much to inform and stimulate prayer and its the ideal publication to hand out to those interested in Torch at church and wherever else. Make sure you are getting the Torch publications that suit you in the media you prefer. Call 01858 438260 or email info@torchtrust.org Janet's back from MalawiJanet is home! Her visit to Malawi was both challenging and encouraging. At last blind and partially sighted people are being included on lists used for food aid distribution. Its a real answer to prayer. Janet will be sharing more soon. Click here for Torch in Africa factsheet Click here for Malawi factsheet. Emergency Prayer for Khalil and LisaKhalil and Lisa and their daughter Ariana have been refused asylum and will soon be deported to Iran. Both Khalil and Lisa are blind. They go to the Southampton Torch Fellowship Group and are Torch Library users. They have been persecuted before in Iran and fear what will become of them if they return. Pray that the Home Office will respond compassionately to the appeals made on their behalf. Torch House Open Day Report (18th June)It was a great day! Fine weather and good company - what could be better? Only one thing ... the blessing of God - and we certainly experienced that! Many visitors were long standing friends of Torch, from as far away as Kent and Bristol. But there were also many first time visitors too. We much on display it took many of the visitors a couple of hours to tour the work. If you were with us on the day - then thank you for coming. If not - try and come next year. First Lazuri houseparty of 2005George Iordan has sent news of the the first houseparty in 2005 at Pro Lumina's Lazuri house. The houseparty is for blind people resident in Romania assylums - often the only home disabled adults in Romania know. The Lazuri house provides a Christian home environment where these people can experience the love of Jesus and enjoy Christian fellowship. To view relevant new website content see Pro Lumina information New website stuffGoogle site search has now been added. It searches everything on the Torch site including downloads. You can also search the internet from the Torch homepage - so no more excuses - make www.torchtrust.org your browser homepage! Then you can join us in the daily prayer item and the Bible verse for the day. A new link has been added - to the Churches for All website.
Muriel Low's Book of PoemsStephen Low from the Southampton Torch Fellowship Group has sent this item. We thank him and his family for their generosity. Thoughts and Praises to God the Father, by Muriel Low 1914 - 1988. In 1983, sensitive to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Muriel Low began to write poems in a book, she called ‘Thoughts and Praises to God the Father.’ Hand-written copies of the poems and prayers were given to her Christian friends and people she met who she felt needed some encouragement during difficult periods in their lives. In the last 5 years of her life Muriel wrote 51 poems and prayers, all of which were inspired by verses from the Bible which accompany the poems and prayers. Her writing is reproduced in the publication 'Thoughts and Praises to God the Father' by her Son and Grandson, who both have visually impaired relatives. In the spirit in which Muriel used her gift of thought and praise, the book has been produced to benefit the mission: 'The Torch Trust for the Blind'. If you would like to purchase a copy for yourself, a relative or a friend , please send a cheque or postal order made payable to Mr M.R.Low for £3.50 (which includes postage and packing) to; Muriel Low Poems, 104 Prince of Wales Avenue, Southampton, SO15 4LU. All proceeds from the sale of this publication will go to the work of Torch Trust for the Blind. Malawi now!Janet Stafford reports from MalawiBlantyre - 24th March 2005"The food situation is dire - a few have a small harvest but the majority will have nothing at all - there has been no rains since January - which should now be daily up till end of this month and well into April. The ground is dry and dusty and the grass is just brown -and scorched earth everywhere. There is a great fear as folks look to the coming months of famine and along with that comes the associated illnesses and problems. Its no wonder the folks sing of heaven and the hope of being with and seeing Jesus! It is quite hard seeing the continuous desperate needs of our brothers and sisters!" The container pictured in Torch Family News being packed in December has arrived at Torch House in Malawi. It is packed with aid - clothes, seed, toiletries, and things that can help blind Malawians set up their own businesses. Torch is doing its bit to Make Poverty History. Janet has some money given to Torch to help the people of Malawi. Today we have sent some more. Pray for Janet as she makes the hard choices involved in helping Malawians meet basic survival needs. People power
WorcesterOn 15th January the Worcester Torch Fellowship Group got off to a good start. Well over 30 people from the area came, including students from Worcester New College, the national school for blind and partially sighted people. The afternoon and tea time was marked by busy chatter and laughter, which is a good foundation for a happy Torch group!Craigavon re-born!On Saturday 4th December, a group of visually impaired people and voluntary helpers came together for a Christmas celebration! That was the first official meeting of the revived Craigavon Torch Fellowship Group. We praise God for: answer to prayer, new leaders, new helpers, new venue and, best of all, new visually impaired persons. Now we look to Him to direct our steps in our future growth. Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre Makeover
Pray that the work finishes on schedule too - in time for the fully-booked Easter Houseparty - and that all the costs will be covered. If you can help with decorating during before Easter then contact GailW@torchtrust.org
|
James Brookman - has joined us as Audio Transcription Co-ordinator - working three days a week at Torch House and one day a week at home in Evesham. James is married to Sarah with three children - William, Peter and Edward - and for the previous 10 years has taught physics in secondary schools, including two years in Zambia. In giving up a teaching career to work in mission with Torch, James and Sarah have taken a courageous step of faith. James says: "After just a fortnight in the job I have already benefited personally from working alongside the staff who are so welcoming, hardworking and faithful in their desire to bless visually impaired people".
Work to improve accessibility for disabled people began in January and is nearing completion. The work, which is necessary under the Disability Discrimination Act involves creating an en-suite bedroom suitable for wheelchair users and a fully accessible shower room. To widen and straighten the corridors the main staircase has been removed and will be replaced by one that's better positioned and less steep. At the back of the house a new terrace will lead via shallow ramps into the garden.
Bibles in Libraries
We have a major new production machine. For five years now we have used a 'digital' printing machine produced by Dutch firm, Océ, to produce much of our giant print publications. It works like a photocopier but is connected directly to our computer network so that it functions as a very fast laser printer. Originally it ran alongside our traditional offset-litho press that did the higher volume items, but we decided not to bring the offset press with all its bits and pieces to our new building. Instead we decided to look for a faster digital printing system. After a search we chose another machine from Océ. The quality is better and it's 50% faster, producing 2,700 double-sided A4 sheets per hour. The remarkable thing is that we now have both machines on rental contract for only 5% more than we were paying for the old slower machine - and we get additional prints at a lower cost per sheet! The old one is now in the Editorial and Transcription office where it produces proofs of new printed items, and provides back-up for production.
Wrap up!