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.
2007 is the year of celebrating the abolition of the slave trade 200 years ago. I have been thinking: what's the opposite of slavery? Obviously freedom - but I am sure for many released slaves it was not that simple. Hunger instead of regular food. Sudden loss of security and certainty. Homelessness. The children of Israel dreamed of freedom from the oppressive slavery of Egypt but when it came they hankered after the simple secure lives that came with it. They couldn't have been more free, wandering the expansive desert landscape, but the freedom dream was soon shattered.
The Bible exposes something we know in our heart of hearts, that we are slaves to sin. Jesus set us free. If that freedom were the equivalent of seemingly aimless wandering in a wilderness, then a return to slavery might appeal! But the freedom that Jesus releases us into is in no sense a vacuum. It is into a life of freely offered service; an expression of love in response to him who first loved us.
Perhaps the true opposite of slavery is not freedom but free choice. To have something taken from you is demeaning, even degrading. To give something brings dignity. As Jesus said, "it is more blessed to give than to receive".
To quote an old prayer: "... so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Gordon Temple
Easter houseparty guests at Torch Holiday and Retreat Centre went to see the newly released film (with audio description) about Wilberforce and the abolition of the slave trade 200 years ago. 2007 is also the bicentenary of John Newton's death; this anniversary may not have had as much media attention but it is interesting that the film has taken it's title from Newton's most famous hymn: Amazing Grace. The slave trader that described himself as spiritually blind before his encounter with Jesus, spent his last days physically blind. Nevertheless he continued to the end telling others of the sight that comes through faith in Jesus.
John Newton was born in 1725, the son of a commander of a merchant ship which sailed the Mediterranean. When John was 11, he went to sea with his father and made six voyages with him before the elder Newton retired. In 1744 John was impressed into service on a man-of-war, the HMS Harwich. Finding conditions on board intolerable, he deserted but was soon recaptured and publicly flogged.
Finally he was exchanged into service on a slave ship, which took him to the coast of Sierra Leone. He then became the servant of a slave trader and was brutally abused. Early in 1748 he was rescued by a sea captain who had known John's father. He ultimately became captain of his own ship, one which plied the slave trade.
Although he had had some early religious instruction from his mother, who had died when he was a child, John had long since given up any religious convictions. However, on a homeward voyage, whilst attempting to steer the ship through a violent storm, he experienced what he was to refer to later as his "great deliverance". He recorded in his journal that when all seemed lost and the ship would surely sink, he exclaimed, "Lord, have mercy upon us". Later he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him.
For the rest of his life he observed the anniversary of May 10, 1748 as the day of his conversion. He continued in the slave trade for a time but saw to it that the slaves under his care were treated humanely.
By 1755, after a serious illness, he had given up seafaring forever. He decided to become a minister and accepted the curacy of Olney, Buckinghamshire. In 1780 he became rector of St Mary Woolnorth, in London. There he influenced many, among them William Wilberforce. Newton continued to preach until the last year of his life, although he was blind by that time. He died in 1807. Infidel and libertine turned minister in the Church of England, he was secure in his faith that amazing grace would lead him home.
[Gemma Gardner, née Cooper and a previous Torch staff member, tells her story ...]
I was born blind in 1952, but through several operations I gained some sight in one eye. My childhood was very unhappy. I was an only child, and my parents divorced when I was five years old. I attended various boarding schools for partially sighted and blind children. At the age of 13 I tried to kill myself. Then followed four years of treatment in various psychiatric hospitals. I was classed as emotionally unstable. Finally I was discharged in 1970; my problems were suppressed, but not cured.
Then I heard about Torch Trust, and went to stay at Torch House for a fortnight. I was so impacted by the love I was shown, and the Lord drew me to Himself. I knew instinctively that He had the answer to all my inner pain and turmoil, so from then on I actively sought Him for the help I needed. It was wonderful to have access to the whole of the Bible in braille at this time. I joined the staff at Torch in 1974, but I was still in great need. It took a long time for me to learn to trust people and to receive their love, and I tried their patience sorely at times. But the Lord held on to me through all the storms.
I became physically ill in 1990 following a virus from which I didn't recover. I left Torch in 1993 and lived on my own in Market Harborough. But the Lord had shown me He was going to heal me. I waited and prayed. Years passed. Then finally things started to happen in 1998 when I was prayed with and counselled at a Christian Centre. From that time on I made steady progress until by January 2000 I had no more symptoms. In August that year I met Dean, a lovely man who is now my husband. We married in June 2003 and we live near Norwich where we attend the Torch Fellowship Group when possible. How I praise the Lord for the freedom, health and joy He has given me now. It took a long time, but God kept His promise - He is faithful!
I continue to thank God too for the availability of the Scriptures in alternative media. Last year I bought a Megavoice solar-powered Bible. I love it! As its name indicates, it recharges with sunlight. If you are interested, contact Torch House for further details.
If you have been looking out for Torch's programme on Premier Christian Radio, we're sorry you have been disappointed. To produce a weekly programme is a huge challenge for us and we grew concerned we would not be able to keep up the flow of good quality material. With Sarah Brookman, who has become our programme's producer, we prayed for extra help. Then one afternoon, Susan Hammond dropped in to see if there was any work she could do at Torch House. Susan has become our researcher and we are once again making encouraging progress towards launching "In Sight" - as we are calling the programme.
Churches for All, a collaborative initiative of the UK's Christian Disability organisations including Torch, relaunched its campaign to churches at Spring Harvest with the strapline, "Disabled people inspiring faith without limits".
The questions, "Is your church complete? Who's missing?" are designed to make churches think about what they're missing if they are not fully including God-gifted people who just happen to have a disability.
To find out more: http://www.churchesforall.org.uk/ or call Torch House to request a brochure.
Churches for All had stands at both the Spring Harvest venues of Skegness and Minehead. Three of the partner organisations - Prospects, Through the Roof and Torch - shared manning the stands, with Torch covering mainly the Skegness site.
It's always amazing to be amongst so big a community of Christians. We had a good position in the "Skyline" exhibition area through which most, if not all 7,000 Spring Harvesters passed at least once a day. In addition, an African drum company, which was next to our stand, had daily workshops which attracted large crowds, quite a few of whom left with our literature!
An English actor-read New Testament with navigation to book, chapter and verse specially for blind and partially sighted people. Order from Torch or the RNIB at just £3.99.
Friday 13th April was an excellent day for Torch. At Torch House we welcomed the leadership of the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB): Lord Low of Dalston (Chair) and Lesley-Anne Alexander (Chief Executive). Colin Low, who was elevated to the House of Lords last year, is also President of the European Blind Union. On their tour of Torch House they showed great interest in the work and in the people. After the visit Lord Low wrote in appreciation, "We learned a great deal and were very impressed with what we saw and are truly most grateful to all those who gave up so much of their time to make us feel welcome and to show and explain things to us."
The RNIB is currently leading a sector-wide consultation process that is formulating a vision strategy for the UK, covering prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and support for those who face losing their sight or who are blind. Torch has been able to ensure spiritual aspects are recognised.
Janet Stafford has recently returned from a challenging visit to Malawi. She tells of her experiences:
Although the flooding in Mozambique earlier in the year was widely reported by the media the flooding in neighbouring Malawi was hardly spoken of. During my recent trip to Malawi I was able to visit villages which had been affected and found some still flooded after three months. So many have lost their harvest and some their houses. One village of 54 families, including 11 blind, were evacuated to a new area about 10km away - some provided with tents but others with nothing. On checking the blind people only nine families could be found; the other two were still in the flooded village as they had no one to help them move. In another village I found a blind man, who had lost his house, sleeping with goats. Then I visited Eneles - who also lost her house - living in a church doorway; she was vulnerable as the flooding had brought snakes and wild animals nearer the houses. I was staggered: just how do these blind people survive!
I was so blessed by being part of another weekend conference for blind people at Konzere (over 700 again attended) and it was a great thrill to see and hear testimonies of what God is doing in the lives of individual blind people.
Emmanuel tells how God has healed his heart and set him free:
I was a child when I lost my sight. From that time my mum wasn't happy to have me as her son. Then my dad passed away and in 2001 Mum tried to kill me. She set fire to my little grass thatched house so that I could be killed. Yes, God is wonderful. He saved my life. I woke and although I could not see I felt the heat and got out of the house. People were shouting "Fire! Fire! Please come out and help our brother Emmanuel."
After attending the 2006 conference for blind people at Konzere God spoke to me from the messages that were preached and showed me that I should forgive my mum. For almost five years I had carried what had become a heavy load of unforgiveness and I had stopped visiting her. Once I repented, the Lord released me from the bondage, and early this year I went to my mum and told her how God had released me and said I forgave her for what she had done. Mum also took the opportunity to ask me to forgive her.
I really thank God for healing me from this bondage and now I have freedom.
Your ongoing prayers for our brothers and sisters is much appreciated and God is answering them.
Romania is now within the European Union. What an amazing journey this country has made since it emerged from the iron grip of Ceauscescu. Romania's tragic orphanages have been notorious but this too has been changing. Under intense pressure from the EU these large institutions have been closing with the children placed in foster care or smaller units. Recent research has shown that almost all the blind and partially sighted young children - those that would have previously suffered so badly in the orphanage system - are now cared for by these new arrangements.
The Romanian Social Services and Blind Institutes advise us that there is no longer the pressing need to give a home to orphaned and abandoned blind children and have directed our attention to other areas of largely unaddressed need.
So now that we have Casa Torch just about ready to open we have been seeking God for the real purpose that he has given this excellent 18-bedroom property.
The children Mike and Edith Townsend met in the old orphanages that originally motivated the construction of Casa Torch are now in their teens - finishing their schooling. In Romania the prospects for young blind and partially sighted people remain poor. Few disabled people ever find employment and little has been done to prepare them for independent living. Foster families, and their blind children, need a lot of support and training. It would seem that Casa Torch would make a suitable Christian Training Centre, giving vital life skills and vocational training with a Christian dimension.
We have engaged John Elford, an experienced manager, to investigate and plan the future of Casa Torch. He will work with Nicu Tole in Romania and with us at Torch House over the coming months. Do pray that the way ahead will become very clear.
Meanwhile the Summer Camps that have touched so many young lives continue, with blind and partially sighted children coming from schools right across the country to enjoy the programme and hear the good news about Jesus.
We need to put together a team to travel out with Mike and Edith Townsend on 4th August returning on 15th or 16th. Want to help? Call or email Torch House and ask for a brochure and form.
Saturday 31st March saw the first of a series of Regional Days we are planning for different locations around the UK. On this first occasion we were the guests of Roseford Chapel, Cambridge. We had folk from a number of the Groups in East Anglia/Essex: Southend, Frinton-on-Sea, Chelmsford, Norwich, Basildon, Harlow and of course a few from Cambridge itself. We spent the majority of the day unpacking much of the contents of two new handbooks we hope to publish soon providing ideas, resources for Group gatherings; and practical guidelines in starting and effectively managing a Torch Fellowship Group. In between the two presentations we held a stimulating workshop trying out some fresh ideas on tactile worship.
Dates and venues for further Regional Days:
The 2007 Fellowship Group Directory is now available in print and braille. Contact Torch House for your copy. An adapted version can be found on the Torch website: http://www.torchtrust.org/
Gail Whitaker writes:
"I was very nervous as we approached Torch Holiday and Retreat Centre," said Gill Walden. "But we were met with a huge welcome and shown to our beautiful [well-equipped] rooms. I am partially sighted, a wheelchair user and a diabetic and it was the first place I had ever been where everything was catered for above and beyond what was necessary. The staff are fantastic and the centre is so homely." Anne who was Gill's helper said how wonderful it was for the first time in her life to feel part of a family.
Bill who is blind was accompanied by his carer, Jean. It was their first visit and they were both overjoyed at having found a holiday to suit each of their needs - with great food, lots of fun, new friends, and life-changing fellowship. Bill had not had a holiday since a week at Hallaton in 1979! He thoroughly enjoyed playing the grand piano in the evenings. They both have booked for further holidays in the year.
Simmie, aged 19 and blind, said she had such a lot of fun. She loved making the decorative boxes, the photo albums, the card for her dad and painting the trinket box. One evening Simmie told us about how lonely she is at college but at Torch HRC she felt so loved through people giving her so much time and attention. She quoted Malachi 3:10 thanking God for her holiday: "I will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it".
We say thanks to Olive Gatward who did all the preparation and thought behind the crafts, and Marilyn Baker and Tracy Williamson who were used mightily by God to minister and bless us all. Due to the response, we are putting on a Christmas Art and Craft week in October. Book early to avoid disappointment.
We are pleased to report that Gail Whitaker (Manager, Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre) has announced her engagement to Stuart Millar. They plan to marry on 8th March 2008 with the blessing of their church and the support of their children.
Here are some dates for your diary:
Wendie and Haydn have joined the Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre team as deputy managers, working with Gail to develop the work of our increasingly busy Centre. After running their family business for 19 years and working with their village church, they sensed God was prompting a change. An Internet search for Christian service opportunities turned up an old Torch vacancy advert. Wendie's mum, Jean Seward, has had a long association with Torch and it rang a bell. The rest is history - and interviews - and upheaval, leaving their picturesque cottage at Sixpenny Handley, near Salisbury, to move to Hurstpierpoint.
Joining to work as Torch House handyman working two days per week, Ronald is brother of Patricia who worked with us for a year before going to University.
Media Development - to help raise awareness of Torch especially among blind and partially sighted people.
Administrator - to support the Chief Executive and leadership in the orderly running of Torch.
These are both full-time positions at Torch House in Market Harborough that could be permanent or on a two-year contract basis.
Live-in Cook - to join the team at Torch Holiday and Retreat Centre in Hurstpierpoint.
To enquire contact John Darby on 07747 842192 or email personnel@torchtrust.org
Whether you are a winner or loser as a result of the Chancellor's recent changes to income tax, Torch, with other charities, is likely to be a loser. The reduction in the standard rate of income tax from 22p to 20p, effective April 2008, means that the Gift Aid that Torch can reclaim will be reducing from £28.21 on every £100 given to £25.00. This means a drop of over 11% in income from this source.
But there is the opportunity to more than replace this. At present only around one quarter of Torch's donation income is gift aided. To Gift Aid your donation is very simple. Just request from Torch the simple form (it's in large print), complete and sign it and send it back. From then on everything you give will attract Gift Aid - adding 25p for every pound given - 28p until next April. The money comes from reclaiming the tax you have paid so you must be paying at least as much income or capital gains tax - and you must let us know if you stop paying sufficient tax to cover the Gift Aid reclaim.
You may have little control over what tax you pay but you do have control of where at least some of it goes!
Gordon Temple
Those who read Torch Family News regularly know well the credentials of Torch as a Christian mission organisation; but this is not so obvious to those who encounter Torch for the first time. For that reason we have recruited a Council of Reference comprised of respected Christian leaders. It has been a great encouragement that each one we approached has willingly agreed to be publicly associated with Torch. Their names are listed below, and over the next four issues we will include brief biographies, as follows ...
David Coffey has been an ordained Baptist Minister with the Baptist Union of Great Britain since 1967. A graduate of Spurgeon's College, London, he served as Pastor of three Baptist churches: Whetstone, Leicester; North Cheam, Sutton; and Upton Vale, Torquay.
He was President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain 1986-87, holding the position of General Secretary of the Union from 1991 to 2006, He served as President of the European Baptist Federation (1997-99), and at the Baptist World Congress in July 2005 he was elected as BWA President from 2005 to 2010.
He has a strong commitment to Bible teaching and has published a commentary on Romans in The Crossway Bible Guide series and is currently preparing Bible study material on the book of Hebrews. He has served on the Keswick Convention Council.
David has been married to Janet for 41 years and they have two adult children, Niki who is married to Peter, and Philip. David and Janet are now devoted grandparents to Samuel, Abigail, Naomi and Rebekah.
Richard tells his own story:
Born in West London, my call to Christian ministry was tested whilst at university in Cambridge. The result was that the Church of England indicated that they would encourage me to go forward for ordination, but wanted me to spend two years doing something else first. So I spent those two years in inner city Sheffield working in a cutlery factory and sharing in the life of a local church. This was a challenging and inspiring time, which in many ways set the direction of what has followed.
After training at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, my curacy was in Abingdon, just south of Oxford. In part, this was because I had got married at that stage to Helen, who worked at nearby Harwell. Inspired by "Faith in the City", I then returned to Sheffield and for the next nine years was Team Vicar, then Rector, in the Manor Parish. There I was involved in building a new church, training theological students in urban ministry, and engaging in mission. I next moved to be Vicar of Rotherham, where for six years I was involved in town centre and civic ministry.
Then five years ago, the Bishop of Leicester invited me to be Archdeacon of Leicester where I currently oversee the Church of England in both the diverse city of Leicester, and the rural areas to the east of the county. One particular joy was being invited to say prayers at the opening of Torch House. My introduction to the work of the Torch Trust at the opening was a new departure for me, but very much an inspiring one. Helen is now a Professor of Engineering at Leicester University, and we have three teenage children, who in turn are about to work their way through GCSEs and beyond!
Dr Elaine Storkey, Rev Derek Tidball, Rev Roy Searle, Ven Richard Atkinson, Rev David Coffey, Mr Jonathan Lamb, Dr Steve Brady, Rev Malcolm Duncan.