The Quarterly News Magazine of Torch Trust for the Blind
OUR AIM: To overcome sight loss as a barrier to finding a personal faith in Christ and to living a fulfilled Christian life.
From:-
TORCH TRUST FOR THE BLIND, Torch House, Torch Way, Northampton Road, Market
Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9HL, U.K.
Telephone: (01858) 438260, Fax: (01858) 438275, email: info@torchtrust.org
Charity Number 1095904.
I am excited that this edition of Torch Family News carries so much about the Bible.
What makes the Bible so special? Of course the Bible remains the all-time bestseller. Indeed it was the demand for copies of the Bible that was the original impetus for printing. But the thought of millions of identical copies belies the Bible's real significance - that it is a living book which can come across fresh every time we read it.
I cannot imagine how I could function without a Bible to hand, and I firmly believe nobody should be denied the chance to read it in their own language and in suitable media.
In an age that is suspicious of big ideas - of universal truth - the Bible unashamedly asserts the biggest of pictures: that behind apparently random and meaningless happenings, the loving God who created all we know is at work to restore it from its brokenness.
It's not just that the Bible gives us the big picture, but that it is so intimate and personal. Never more so than when it tells us of Jesus: in the written word we find the living Word.
Pray that as the Bible goes out from Torch in many forms and formats it will bring that personal touch of light and life.
Gordon Temple
There's an old chorus that starts, "The best book to read is the Bible". Believing that to be true, it's got to be tragic when you simply can't. Of course the Bible is available in braille and that's great for the relatively few blind people who read braille. Others have found Torch's giant print Bibles to be just right for them. But for most people with impaired sight the only practical way to read is to listen.
The Bible is special. It is the life-giving word of God. It's also a book that we use in a relatively unusual way. We dip into it. We look up a verse or passage and read that, then another. But you can't do that with ordinary audio Bibles. By choosing the disk or cassette and skipping tracks you may be able to find a book within the Bible, but finding chapter and verse by winding through really isn't practical.
That's what makes the DAISY New Testament that Torch has just completed so special. For the first time someone whose sight loss has denied them access to print, but who cannot read braille, can really read the Bible as a sighted person does - going directly to a passage or verse.
From Autumn 2006 the DAISY CD New Testament will be available for purchase from Torch and the RNIB. Right now we are offering free samples of the Gospels to blind and partially sighted people at exhibitions like Sight Village - as well as sending them to all our registered DAISY readers.
It's a huge job to produce the whole New Testament in the DAISY format but the project has been a brilliant collaborative effort. Hodder have generously allowed us to use a brand new actor-read digital recording of the Today's New International Version (TNIV). Torch staff and volunteers have done the exacting task of converting the recording to the DAISY format and adding the chapter and verse announcements, and the RNIB are assisting with production of the discs and the packaging.
An item placed in Calibre's audio newsletter has greatly increased the take-up of Torch's audio daily Bible readings.
Calibre (short for "cassette library") offer a library service of mainstream books to their 19,000 blind and partially sighted users. In April Torch used Calibre's biannual newsletter to inform their users about our provision of Daily Devotional Readings. The main thrust of the item was that the Bible is the best book to read, a message reinforced by my spirited rendition of the Sunday School chorus, "The best book to read is the Bible". It seems that the song awakened memories amongst Calibre's predominantly older readership as requests for Every Day With Jesus and Scripture Union's Daily Bread have come in steadily ever since.
In July I attended Calibre's launch of its digital service, whereby their books are provided on a CD in mp3 format. Calibre, who have now changed their name to Calibre audio library, can be contacted on 01296:432339 or via their website www.calibre.co.uk
James Brookman
As its name implies, The 100-Minute Bible provides a simple overview of the whole Bible, condensing the 66 books into one short book which is easy to read or listen to.
Presenting the salient stories, themes and characters in a succinct manner, it is ideal reading for non-Christians who are curious about the Bible and the Christian faith; and also for Christians requiring an overview of the Bible as a whole.
Torch is now producing it on cassette, DAISY, braille and giant print - priced at £3.
[Torch trustee, blind singer/songwriter, Marilyn Baker, expresses delight at her new Megavoice ...]
It is wonderful! The smallest Bible I have ever owned, it's ideal for use on a train with headphones, or just as suitable when at home listening through the clear, inbuilt loud speaker.
Navigating through books and chapters is simple. Although you can't go directly to an individual verse, you can move forward or back approximately five verses at a time, or skip through chapters and books. Solar charged, there is no worry over battery life.
So it's a wonderful way of reading and getting to know the Word of God, and having it available at all times in any place.
There are so many new editions of the Bible becoming available in different versions and in different media - how do you know what's out there? Are any of them accessible to blind and partially sighted people?
We are just completing an update of the booklet, "The Bible for Blind and Partially Sighted People", which gives some of the answers. Contact Torch House for more details.
The Gideons International, who distribute Bibles around the world, has its UK headquarters in Lutterworth, Market Harborough's nearest neighbouring town. It was a privilege for us to have a visit from Executive Director Iain Mair recently.
We plan to work on producing a braille edition of their invaluable "Bible Helps" booklet that guides those unfamiliar with the Bible to passages that address their needs and circumstances.
We were excited to receive a sample of their latest version of Gideons' giant print New Testament and Psalms. It is excellent. Set in 19 point bold type with an appearance similar to Torch's larger (24 point) Bible volumes we believe it could be helpful to many. Gideons present Bibles through the local Gideons' Branches. Call Gideons Lutterworth office on 01455:554241 for more information or to request a copy.
Our new quarterly magazine, Christian Today Digest, replaces Christian Herald Digest which necessarily ceased with the demise of the erstwhile Christian Herald weekly newspaper. Introduced just three years ago, Christian Herald Digest has become very popular with our UK readership and we knew that we must put something in its place. But most remaining Christian newspapers are published by denominations with only the members of their particular network of churches in mind.
We turned our attention to the Internet and soon found a website with a broad spread of Christian news. We made a visit to eitherChristian Today 's offices in London and explained our mission. They shared their vision for bringing Christian good news from all over the world to a wide audience through the Internet, describing themselves as "new feet" in referring to the words of Isaiah:
How beautiful on the mountain are the feet of those who bring good news ... (Isaiah 52:7)
This magazine may replace Christian Herald Digest, but it is an entirely new magazine. The common theme is Christian news, but just as its predecessor followed the editorial style of the print newspaper, so Christian Today Digest reflects the distinctive style of the website from which it is drawn. It is available free of charge in braille, giant print and audio, and can be downloaded from the Torch website.
Now's the time to order:
April 29th saw another of our Regional Training Days at Rawtenstall organised by Bob and Mary Callender, Freda and Marshall Goff and their team of helpers. It was great to see most of the Torch Fellowship Groups represented from that area.
On June 16th at Torch House we held our first Torch Church Reps Training Day. We were able to provide up-to-date information about the different aspects of our work and a resources pack. If you are interested in representing Torch in your church or locality contact David Palmer at Torch House. The next training sessions are planned for November 17th and 18th in Scotland.
As part of our resources for Torch Church Reps we have produced and circulated the first of our twice-yearly newsletters entitled Share At Church providing ideas to promote Torch within the local church.
At last the new 2006 Torch Fellowship Group directory is in print! In this issue we have taken the opportunity to come in line with the Government UK Regional map, which means that some of our own area categories no longer exist, and others have merged into one larger area. This will particularly help our Torch groups to link more efficiently with social services and other regional bodies in their area.
The new divisions highlighted the fact that the area called Greater London has only two Fellowship Groups, Teddington and London East. Our capital needs more than that. Another challenge is that there is no co-ordinator for that region. Remember - prayer changes things!
Decorating a greetings card ... collating and binding a giant print booklet ... writing one's name in braille ... packing a shoe box for Malawi ... learning the deaf blind manual ... talking with Winston Chidzumbuyo in Malawi - all part of Open Day?
Yes! - together with other hands-on activities, plus 3 sessions for news and prayer through the day. The opportunity for visitors to be involved certainly made an impact and was blessed by God.
Abbey Park was the venue for the celebration of the 80th birthday party of the Diocese of Leicester. People from all over the world as well as from the different parishes came, and the Archbishop of Canterbury also "graced" us with his presence.
Torch too was invited. We had a stand in the Missions Tent, which was very popular and attracted lots of new contacts.
The highlight of the day was a Communion Service for around 6,000 people; the service had been transcribed into braille and giant print by Torch and was in high demand.
Following the event, Rev'd Gill Jackson, Leicester diocese Social Responsibility Chaplin who had organised the very successful exhibition, came to visit Torch House to find out more. Together we plan to raise awareness of the needs of blind and partially sighted people in Leicestershire churches.
In July Torch had a stand at Sight Village, an annual exhibition of equipment and services for visually impaired people held in Birmingham.
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, eg the Macular Disease Society, offering to put a Torch link on their website, and contact with old friends are invaluable.
Most of all though Sight Village is the chance for Torch to offer "sight" in all its fullness - you meet such a contrast of people, one moment you're dealing with a totally blind woman who wants to buy a complete giant print Bible for her church, from which she can never benefit, and the next you're speaking to an 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 what God can do through Torch.
There are two aspects to the Torch presence at the first week of the Convention, one of which is a houseparty - 14 people this year - enjoying not only the excellent Bible ministry in the tent, but also the glorious scenery.
The second aspect is a Torch display stand on the street close to the main Keswick tent. This year there were plenty of contacts as folk passing by stopped with a question or a request.
October 8th is earmarked as Disability Sunday. Make sure it gets into your church diary! We are in the process of putting together some resources that you can use within your worship services for that Sunday. Try to get a blind or partially sighted person - or other disabled person - involved in the service that day. We could also arrange for someone to come to your church and give a related talk.
[For more information access www.disabilitysunday.org]
Coincidentally, 12th October is World Sight Day. For more information access www.www.v2020.org/world_sight_day.
Are you or your church involved in planning a conference, mission or other major event? To enable organisers to ensure their event is fully accessible to disabled people, Through the Roof, a partner with Torch in the Churches for All initiative, is running a workshop at the Evangelical Alliance office in London on 31st October. Follow the Churches for All link on Torch's website for more information.
Mozambique! Oh Mozambique! A country with many blind people, who have endured much pain, and yet so excitingly open to the gospel and truth of Jesus Christ.
It was a natural progression that the Torch Fellowship Groups should spread from Malawi to neighbouring Mozambique. Lapson Mbewe and Bitten Masamba have both made recent visits to Mozambique.
"In one area I visited it was wonderful to see how the Torch Fellowship Groups are growing. There had been an increase of blind people from 201 to 495. These people are from places around Mutarara, Khaya, Nyang'oma, Sena and Murambala.
"Even though the blind people live under hardships they still have reason to thank God that the Lord kept them through the deadly war.
"Some people at the Fellowship Groups lost their sight due to the war. As one of them was trying to give a testimony of the way the Lord protected him from the soldiers, Mikaela, an old woman who is in her 70s, begun to cry and after some minutes everybody was in tears. The Holy Spirit brought healing to many during this meeting and other meetings. They need to know there is a Saviour Jesus, who loves them.
"Just as in Malawi, blind folks in Mozambique face the same problems. I saw that they need food, shelter, clothes. Very few of them read braille, but those who do need Bibles and books in Chichewa, Sena and Portuguese.
"I am praying that the good work which the Lord began while I was in Mozambique should continue and that those who had their hearts opened should bear fruit which will then be a testimony to others.
"Please join me in praying for the following areas;
[Phil and Mary Cooper report on their recent visit to Romania.]
During our visit, we were privileged to be part of the joy of Lazuri house. Already this summer, eight young people have committed their lives to Christ, and further groups will be organised as funding allows.
We were also able to visit Dumbraveni, where sharing the gospel, on the foundation of George's many visits, saw about 30 people saved. Please pray for them and for the opportunity of visits to encourage them.
On the production side, the braille Bible quota for the United Bible Society continues well. We must, however, look to replacing the old Heidelberg press with more modern brailling equipment, as it is becoming less reliable. The demand for audio Scriptures, Bible notes and Christian books just keeps on growing, for which we are grateful, but equipment here also needs upgrading. We are aware of a huge demand for giant print too, which could be met more easily with our own binding machine.
We were humbled by the commitment and hard work of those within Pro-Lumina. Continue to lift them in prayer.
Volunteer teams from Scotland are pushing towards completion of Casa Torch. The now annual summer camps in Dezna help develop the links with blind and partially sighted children in schools and orphanages.
Now we urgently need to find the people God is preparing to be houseparents. Could it be that you know the right couple? Call John Darby on 07747:842192 or email personnel@torchtrust.org. Please pray that we may soon be able to receive children to a Christian family home at Casa Torch.
In June, 13 of us (5 for the first time) travelled, most of us from Northern Ireland, to Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre for this year's Activity Holiday.
The week was action packed: Pot-painting - a new activity that everyone loved ... Sheffield Park - amongst beautiful lakes and trees ... Indoor bowling ... Horse-riding for everyone ... Wolstonbury hill-climb and Narnia film ... Rock-climbing ... Abseiling ... Archery ... Swimming ... Shopping in Brighton ... and more - and everyone so appreciated the comfort and safety of the new minibus.
There are still spaces in some Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre houseparties this year. Call 01273:832282 or email gailw@torchtrust.org
The annual NI Fellowship Group houseparty weekend in Newcastle, Co. Down, was a great celebration. One man put his trust in Christ and joined in communion when he realised his sin was forgiven by his new-found Saviour and Friend!
More than 100 people were there for the Saturday.
[A first-time Torch holiday maker, Claire Horrix, who has recently lost her sight writes:]
25 of us, including baby Madeline, went to Cyprus, 29th May to 9th June. Accommodated in a beautiful hotel at Ayia Napa, we enjoyed the use of three swimming pools surrounded by shady areas and sun beds, a favourite spot for us to meet up and swap yarns.
On three coach trips we had guides who described the scenery we could not see and told us much about the people and their history. I guess the best outing was up into the cool Troodos mountains, but Nicosia had excitement too.
There were two Cyprus-style evenings, when we ended up dancing round the hotel grounds, a couple of evenings when Janet Stafford told us about Malawi and on another evening an impromptu concert. I certainly haven't been on a holiday like this for some years and say a deep felt thank you to Janet and all who looked after us and showed us such friendship and love.
[Stella (Mum) Heath writes:]
60 of us came together for the Shalom Holiday at Pilgrim Hall. Over half of our number were visually impaired. Some needed wheelchairs, others had guide dogs, and several deaf friends brought special apparatus which made it easier for them to hear.
The swimming pool was very popular, and the outings went well. The Bible teaching by Gordon Hamilton reminded us of Jesus' teaching on the commandments. The music with Marilyn Baker and David Angell was lovely, and Sandy Clarke brought to the sessions a happy blend of the serious and light-hearted.
The highlight of the week was the challenge brought to us by Janet Stafford. The Malawi people came alive as she described their lives, and their shining faith in the Lord.
People had come wanting a touch from the Lord, and they were not disappointed. One visually impaired girl gave her life to the Saviour. Other friends found relief as they gave their burdens to the Lord.
Follow-up is necessary after this holiday. Library books and magazines from Torch are so useful for this purpose.
[Since writing this report Stella (co-founder of the Torch Trust) has suffered a stroke that has particularly affected her speech. She is now in hospital and making a steady recovery. Please pray for her.]
In the spring edition I explained that though Torch faced the prospect of running out of cash during the present year, God had wonderfully answered prayer with the notification of three large legacies. At the same time I noted that timing of any payment from these legacies was uncertain.
In July we had indeed come to the point where we had less cash than would cover all the expected payments. One morning we made this a special matter for prayer and once again we had that spine-tingling experience of seeing God's immediate answer. That very morning the post included a cheque - the largest ever legacy cheque to be received in the history of Torch, rather larger than we had expected and enough to cover the projected shortfall for the year. How we thank God. Once more we prove, "before they call I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24).
Interestingly, all three of these sizable legacies were left to us by people who for years had been quiet, faithful servants in local Torch Fellowship Groups. They are remembered as those who both cared and prayed. It is amazing to think that it was years ago that they prayerfully and privately made the decision to leave us these very substantial amounts. We so appreciate both their service and their generosity.
So far this year legacies have made up almost half Torch's total income. Larger legacies help us to undertake new projects, but only if day to day running costs are already covered. It's encouraging that donation income is also up on last year, but there's a long way to go before that alone could cover everyday costs.
The miracle of legacy income is that though many years may elapse between a bequest being made and the donor passing away, the timing of the income Torch receives is so often just right. But then again, we know that this is all in God's hands. We thank God that he used those who had the vision to make the legacies that support such important work today, and pray that the same may be happening today to support Torch into the future.
Gordon Temple
Summertime can be a difficult period as holidays - both Torch and personal - take staff away from their normal jobs. But the problem becomes an opportunity. Young people from the UK and abroad come to spend their holiday working with us, both at Torch House and Torch Holiday and Retreat Centre. Some can even stay longer as they use the opportunity to improve their English.
All the same, we still need some critical vacancies filled with committed staff and keen volunteers. If you think God may be leading you to work with Torch, contact John Darby on 07747:842192 or email personnel@torchtrust.org.
A new Daily Prayer Guide is being prepared at present, and will be mailed when ready.
Saturday 28th October 2:30 p.m.
Mark Hall Community School, First Avenue, Harlow CM17 9LR (directions below).
Speaker: Victor Jack.
Exit M11 at Junction 7. Take A414 towards Hertford. Continue straight over 3 roundabouts and at 4th roundabout turn right into First Avenue (B183). The school is almost immediately on your right, car park to the right on entering.