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.
Never having lacked for bread, we glibly quote from Deuteronomy: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord”. When Jesus used this same quotation to parry the temptation to make bread from stones, he did so whilst experiencing excruciating hunger. I can only imagine the significance that this fact has for our readers in the countries where starvation is endemic. He spoke from the inside of the experience, not from the outside as we so often do.
When theologian, Prof John Hull, lost his sight he struggled with his faith. The hymnal and even the Bible seemed to shout loud and clear that darkness and blindness are bad; that light and sight are good. A breakthrough came when he recalled that Jesus had been blindfolded and taunted in his blindness: “I began to regard Jesus not as my sighted or powerful Lord, but as my blind brother”.
Jesus truly understands our lives; the rough as well as the smooth. As those who follow him, shouldn’t we strive to get inside the experience of those we seek to reach and serve - to nurture an insight for blind and partially sighted people, that our words and actions would really make connections.
Gordon Temple
75 years of The Torch magazine? Yes, that little magazine which started the whole Torch thing off really is 75 years old in May.
In May 1931, the three Trench Sisters in Winscales, Cumbria, had a coachman who became blind. As Christians, they wanted him and others like him to be able to read the good news about Jesus. They set about the daunting task of learning and producing braille. That first issue of The Torch in May 1931 was sent to around sixty readers. You won’t be surprised to learn that its theme was “Jesus: the Light of the world”.
By the time Ron and Stella Heath, co-founders of the Torch Trust, took over 28 years later, it had increased to around 700 readers from various parts of the world. Gradually, they added audio and giant print versions.
Through the years, the style and content changed, but the message remains the same - Jesus came down to save us and set us free - good news indeed!
Now we send out six issues of this our principle magazine on cassette, in braille and in giant print to around 9,500 readers in 97 countries. With over 5,000 in braille we think it’s the largest circulation of a regular braille publication. So, Happy Birthday to The Torch! We pray that God will continue to use this little magazine to bless many more people all around the world.
by Stella (“Mum”) Heath
(co-founder of Torch Trust)
In 1959 Dad Heath and I made contact with visually impaired young people training at the newly opened centre for young people at Hethersett, Reigate. The students came to our house regularly and some of them put their trust in the Lord Jesus. But we had a problem: they found the Authorised version of the Bible difficult, as it had special religious contractions which they had not learned.
Away in Cumbria Miss Ada Trench was also having a problem. Her sister, Eva, had learnt braille in order to teach her coachman with failing sight to read, and later had started a little devotional magazine called The Torch; but Miss Eva died, and Miss Ada found it difficult to keep the little magazine going. She did not know braille herself, so all letters from readers had to be sent away to be transcribed. By this time she was in her eighties and was feeling she should give it up. Then she heard about us.
When Miss Trench’s letter came asking us if we would take over the editorship, we both felt it could help our young people to understand the scriptures and so took it on. Very soon we realised that there was a great lack of Christian literature in braille, and gradually the work started to take up all our time. A small team of devoted ladies painstakingly worked at these early copies, produced dot by dot on a homemade electric frame.
And still today, seventy-five years from its beginning, though many more sophisticated ways are available to produce it, the little magazine soldiers on with the Good News which can bring true release to every captive who believes in Christ Jesus.
Dot at a time. - The Torch magazine had a very small circulation at its start. As numbers grew, a method of duplicating the braille was necessary - hence the homemade electric frame previously mentioned. As the punch was moved by hand, care had to be taken to make sure that the dots on one side of the plate did not interfere with those on the other side. Plates were run through a hand mangle, the sort used for squeezing water out of clothes.
Page at a time. - I (Mike Townsend) got involved in 1966. Things had advanced. Instead of individual dots, the Lynes machine produced double-sided zinc plates. The mangle had improved as well. I sandwiched two sheets of braille paper between the zinc plates, pressed the button, and the electric mangle grabbed the lot. I dashed round the back to catch the plates and extract the printed sheets. Sometimes I didn’t make it, and the wall got another dent. Each sheet was stacked in piles ready for teams of young people to collate into magazines. It was like a nightmare of wash days! But it was worth it.
The main series in the 60’s magazine was The Great Adventure following the children of Israel as they went to the Promised Land. Opening the post together each morning brought many letters from blind people embarking on The Great Adventure with God.
Magazine at a time. - Today we print the braille version of The Torch one whole copy at a time. There are no more zinc plates, collating tables, or mangles. We use a very fast braille printer, the Interpoint i55, which takes direct output from the computer. The printer is fed by 5-kilometer rolls of paper.
Over the 75 years, the methods have changed but the message is the same, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8.)
CBC - Christian Booksellers Convention - is an annual conference for publishers and retailers and ... Torch Library workers! All those lovely new books. I just love it, like a kid in a sweet shop! This year we were delighted to be offered a stand inside the main exhibition hall instead of out in the cold entrance area. What a difference it made. We met so many new contacts.
The main reason we go to CBC is to have that all-important face to face contact with Christian publishers. This year we produced an informative newssheet for publishers which proved to be an excellent discussion starter and was very well received. We are asking for their help to increase the number of books we can transcribe in accessible media. Many publishers offered us review copies from their latest catalogues and my childish delight surfaces again when the boxes of books land on my desk.
Another publication to land on my desk is our own Torch Library Braille Catalogue in print and simultaneously in braille! All those new titles have made the braille version three volumes long! The volumes helpfully divide by category: study, devotional and biography and finally missionary and fiction, so our braille readers can have either the whole catalogue or choose the volume of their particular interest.
Do join with us in thanking God for the good relationships we enjoy with our publishers and for the production of the first of our new catalogues. We value your prayers for the completion of the remaining catalogues.
For your free braille catalogue please ring the Torch Library on 01858:438266.
Lydia Tebbutt
- Library Team Leader.
Action for Blind People, a large national charity working with blind and partially sighted people has come up with an imaginative scheme called InfoLink. Linking organisations using internal telephone numbers, InfoLink will enable the queries and enquiries of blind and partially sighted people to be routed to those best able to help.
At the beginning of February the Churches for All consortium partners met for a 24-hour conference at Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre to prayerfully consider the ethos and strategies that will shape the campaign over the next couple of years. The aim is to challenge and enable the church to fully include disabled people.
Details of the partners can be found on the Torch website www.torchtrust.org on the Links page.
We currently have 30 Torch representatives in churches around the UK. Recently we sent each two display racks enabling them to promote Torch literature in print and giant print within their local churches.
We also have scheduled some Church Rep training days in order to provide them with some guidelines, ideas and resources.
The dates are as follows:
· Friday June 16th at Torch House
· Friday Nov 17th in Scotland
· Saturday Nov 18th in Scotland
It would be great to see a stronger church representation promoting the work of Torch at local, national and international levels. If you are available on either of these dates why not join us. Please contact me, David Palmer, for further details.
The European Disability Conference that took place in Bognor in March, organised by our Churches for All partners, gave us the opportunity to invite representatives from European missions working with blind and partially sighted people. Meeting at Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre in Sussex, we spent a stimulating and multi-lingual (!) day sharing with each other what God is doing in each of the countries served. Andrew Diaz-Russell, a young man who went blind suddenly about four years ago but recently qualified as an interpreter, worked tirelessly in French and Spanish to support our discussions.
Starting with a review of Torch’s work in the UK we took a tour of the globe ...
La Cause (France) producing audio materials distributed mainly in France and providing other support services.
Nueva Luz (Spain) at work in Spain and across Latin America with audio books and magazines. This work rests heavily upon its founder, a now elderly blind man: Senor Antonio Padilla. Do pray for him especially that he may find a new leader for this strategically important work, and for Torch as we offer our support.
Dezna Torch (Romania) running summer camps for blind and partially sighted children and planning to open Casa Torch in 2006 as a home for some of them currently in state orphanages.
Pro Lumina (Romania) produces Christian literature in Romanian braille, audio and giant print and runs the Lazuri centre for blind and partially sighted people incarcerated in the asylums, like Dumbroveni.
Compass Braille & Sightlink (UK) produces braille Bibles and other literature in Asian languages and at work through partnerships in India.
Torch Trust International (Malawi) producing braille and giant print Bibles and other literature in African languages and supporting a network of fellowship groups in Malawi and Mozambique.
It was exciting to discover that together we are producing the Bible in braille in no less than 45 languages, and to realise that with the English, French and Spanish languages represented we can reach a very large proportion of the world’s population through their first or second language.
It’s a new idea and it works! The first two retreats for Torch Fellowship Group leaders took place in February and March - a chance to share fellowship and enjoy Torch’s refurbished Holiday & Retreat Centre, to exchange ideas and learn together.
Bridlington Torch Fellowship Group has its inaugural meeting on 20th May. Llanelli Torch Fellowship Group too was launched on February 4th under the fatherly eye of Peter Jackson.
David and Val Radford, new Regional Coordinators for East Yorkshire, were commissioned at Emmanuel, their home church, on 14th May, along with deafblind friend Eileen Atkinson who has prayed for years to see a Group in Bridlington.
Marian Kingsley has kindly agreed to become a Regional Coordinator in the North West of England alongside Bob Callender; Marian will specifically be overseeing the NW coastal region. Marian and her late husband Jim were instrumental in initiating the Isle of Man Group.
Frank Mason is our latest Regional Coordinator. Frank and Wendy have been leading the Worthing Durrington TFG for the past three years. Frank will support the Groups in Sussex.
It’s great to have these four very able individuals to join the growing band of Regional Coordinators.
As two blind people, we have been in contact with Torch for over 40 years, attending a thanksgiving service in Crawley in 1963 before we were married, whilst Val was studying at London Bible College. Val also benefited from The Torch magazine, YSL in braille and contact with the Heaths. Our youngest daughter worked at Torch House between school and college. Christian service has for us been through helping others in campaign or fund raising groups and in carrying out paid work to the best of our ability. David has had a career in social work and we are currently providing training on disability equality issues throughout the UK on behalf of SeeAbility. We now look forward to helping in the North as coordinators for Torch.
God has been preparing the way for a Torch Fellowship in Bridlington through the enthusiasm of Eileen Atkinson and there are already a number of people receiving Christian literature in different formats. Churches Together have given their support through donations, and a warm welcome from Emmanuel Church has provided a venue for meetings.
There are still areas of the country where we have no Regional Coordinator - notably in East Anglia, Greater London, Kent and Surrey. It is a crucial role in promoting the work of Torch across the regions. If you are interested please contact David Palmer at Torch House.
[Pictured in print edition: Partially sighted Steve Lewis, one of the Leicester Torch Fellowship Group leaders, presents the annual Barnabas award to blind member, Marissa Hendry.]
[Having just returned from a trip to Malawi Janet shares from her Jotter.]
Lost for words. - “This is a most wonderful day”, said Rev Lemy Chesi, as he opened the Gospel of John in Tumbuka braille and ran his fingers over the braille dots to find the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night. “This will help me when I am transferred to a church of my own Tumbuka-speaking people. But for me now, this is tremendous - the New Testament in my mother tongue; it speaks to my heart. I am overwhelmed and lost for words. I just praise God!” The braille New Testament in Tumbuka has just been completed at Torch House in Malawi.
Working together. - Ruth Kaufula is tireless in her service among the blind people of Balaka, (central area of Malawi). She herself is partially sighted, but undaunted by this difficulty she goes visiting by being carried on the back of a bicycle. She has formed 14 Groups, and how the people love her. The enthusiastic committees tell of people being born again. Different churches are represented at the groups, which has brought about a reconciliation among them. Ruth has always been supported by her husband, retired Colonel Kaufula, who now says “I am coming in to be a full worker with my wife. We want more blind people to come to know Jesus”.
Astonishing weekend! - A total of over 800 blind people plus 300 made up of children and sighted guides arrived at Konzere on a Friday afternoon. Most came in big lorries - one could hear the singing a long way off!
18 women cooked food over the weekend. This was done in relays. 10 goats were killed, a sack of beans used, masses of relish prepared, plus batches and batches of nsima! Many said it was the first meat they had eaten in 8 to 10 months.
A huge covered area had been erected to sit under and it was here the blind people sang, danced, gave testimonies and preached all through Friday and Saturday night.
On Saturday clothes and soap were given out - the small room for the braille books was opened and fellowship enjoyed. Most of them hadn’t seen each other for a year! The weekend went all too quickly and it wasn’t long before the big lorries were winding their way back through the villages full of very happy singing blind people and their children.
God wonderfully answered prayer. For me looking on from outside, I was full of admiration for the commitment of the team that organised the weekend. I don’t know of anywhere else where blind people are brought together in such numbers to give encouragement to each other like this. It was just wonderful!
Trip to the East Bank. - It was very muddy. We never knew whether the ground was firm enough to take the Landrover. The continual jolting of the vehicle caused the loads to shift forward so we stopped at the first port of call and off-loaded some of the goods. Then we got stuck in the mud - it was up to the top of the wheels. Praise God for Joseph who managed to manoeuvre backwards out of the mud.
There were signs of the recent floods - complete roads gouged out; hundreds of rocks having tumbled down from the mountains with the force of the water lay across the road in places. We passed miles of damaged maize because of too much rain.
Mr Kanghala was pleased to tell us that none from his group had died during the hunger crisis but most of them had suffered greatly. The picture Mr Njerwa and his committees gave us was the same: extreme hunger. Mr Paul Paul, a blind man along with four others, had seen their houses washed away. Mr Goba and his committees told us how the flooding had been bad in their area too with crops and houses having been washed away. None of these folks had received any relief Aid.
The visit was timely. Harvest in the country is very mixed - some areas have and other areas, particularly parts of the Lower Shire and Nsanje, have not. What we gave to all groups seemed so little in the face of the great needs, but they were full of praise and thanks to God. What joy a piece of soap brought - this was luxury!
Casa Torch. - The authorities insist that we complete the top (2nd) floor before registration. Consequently we shall not be using Casa Torch for the summer camp. We have booked a lovely holiday site on the edge of the forest not far from the swimming pool in Moneasa, and the children are really looking forward to coming. A number of teams from Scotland are planned for the summer to complete work on Casa Torch.
Lazuri is a holiday home for disadvantaged blind people from the asylum at Dumbroveni. Several have come to know Jesus through these holidays. Pro Lumina is seeking support for the holidays. Contact us at Torch House if you would like to know more.
Megavoice is a solid state audio player the size of two cassettes. Its memory is large enough to store a complete recorded Bible. You can move around the Bible using buttons, selecting book, chapter and section. The audio is clear, and the units are solar powered. These pocket audio Bibles are excellent for blind people and ideal for use in places without electricity. The Malawi Bible Society, with support from the Scottish Bible Society, is making a Chichewa recording of the Bible, and we plan to distribute this to blind people in Malawi.
The New American Standard Bible is available from Torch House priced œ40. Sales of Megavoice Bibles in the UK will be used to subsidise our African Bible project.
Torch has begun a whole new adventure. Peter Kerridge, Chief Executive of Premier Radio, accompanied by colleague, Claire Southall, visited Torch House in March for the second in a series of meetings leading toward the launch of a radio programme produced by Torch.
The idea started out as “radio for the blind by the blind” (forgive the non-PC language!). Blind people tend to be avid radio listeners. The BBC’s “In Touch” programme draws a surprisingly large audience.
We envisage a weekly 15-minute programme that primarily serves an audience of blind, partially sighted and other disabled people - bringing news and testimonies, and showing how Christian faith is relevant to them. The programme would also enable us to challenge and encourage Christians and their churches so that disabled people might be fully included in worship and outreach.
To do this, and do it well, will involve a massive effort. We need an additional staff member supported by gifted volunteers to research and prepare items for broadcast, and we estimate the cost to be around œ2,500 each month. Marilyn Baker has already agreed to be the lead presenter.
Pray for us as we plan and resource this exciting project, working towards a launch before the end of the year. Premier Radio was initially focussed on the London area but now with satellite and Freeview as well as the Internet, it is listened to all over the country. This is our year of connections and what better way to reach out to blind and partially sighted people?
I once again ask myself how I convey an insight for this exciting and challenging aspect of Torch life. Here we go ...
We can trace the ongoing miracle of God’s provision back through almost 50 years, since the co-founders, Ron and Stella Heath, committed to the “faith mission” principle and eschewed appeals and fundraising programmes. How God has honoured their prayers, and ours!
Though charities usually hold reserves to cover running costs several months into the future, Torch seldom has enough for more than a month. On the good side it makes us careful to spend wisely and focuses our prayers. But it does mean that the work is vulnerable to financial ups and downs and we need to be cautious about growth in running costs beyond unavoidable inflation.
As I explained last month, the assured standing order income pays the running costs for only 1« days each month. The rest of the £50,000 that running Torch costs each month is our ongoing faith challenge. If you are among Torch’s financial supporters please prayerfully consider setting up a standing order. As a taxpayer, remember that Gift Aiding your donation adds 28%. We can send forms for both on request.
God provides for our work largely through the generosity of individual Christians. This is a partnership - one between giver and receiver - and is, I believe, a blessing to both. I borrow the words of Paul: “I thank my God for your fellowship - your sympathetic cooperation and contributions and partnership - in advancing the good news (the Gospel)” (Phil.1:5 Amplified).
Gordon Temple
Becky Gradden, a volunteer for over a year, has now joined Torch staff working with the Editorial and Transcription team.
Pat Temple, wife of Gordon, is now working part time at Torch House, contributing her housekeeping and hospitality skills.
· House Parents (Romania): With Casa Torch well on the way to opening, we need to find the couple that God has chosen for this critical role.
· Administrator: Torch leadership needs someone with administrative gifting to join the team.
· Media Development: To boost our efforts to make connections and especially to make the Premier Radio programme a reality, we need a skilled and motivated person.
· Assistant Production Leader: This busy department needs a hands-on person, ideally with print experience, to help plan and organise work.
· Library Assistant: Growing activity levels and an improved flow of new books have put the library staff under pressure.
Passionate and committed volunteers are the key to Torch’s future growth. There are numerous ways you can be useful and fulfilled - at Torch’s centres in Leicestershire, Sussex and Northern Ireland, in your own home and across the country.
Call Torch House or email: personnel@torchtrust.org for more information.