The Quarterly News Magazine of Torch Trust
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, Torch House, Torch Way, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9HL, U.K.
Telephone: (01858) 438260, Fax: (01858) 438275, email: info@torchtrust.org
Charity Number 1095904.
Amid the seemingly unending gloom of 'the cuts' as we have come to know them, Torch is on the threshold of a new era of development and growth. Of course we are not immune to the economic stringencies of the present but I firmly believe God has reaffirmed his call upon us to serve people with sight loss across the UK and around the world, and to do so in new and creative ways.
Last year I devoted much time to researching and preparing plans for the next five years, working with the leaders, trustees, staff and others to discern and interpret what that renewed calling of God might mean for Torch.
Ron and Stella Heath (co-founders of the Torch Trust) often spoke of the two 'arms' of Torch: literature and fellowship. Torch's ministry can still be understood this way. Our plans include advances in both areas ...
Harnessing Internet technology to streamline the process of making Christian resources accessible to people with sight loss.
Introducing activities that bring Christian fellowship to those who have recently been given the devastating news that they are losing their sight.
Though both are hugely important, neither will be easy. To deliver on that which we believe God is leading us into we need to gain more understanding of the needs of those we serve and of the ways we can best respond - and to find new friends and build new partnerships that can help us on our way. That's why we have decided to make 2011 our Year of Learning and Sharing.
Both learning and sharing are deeply Christian pursuits. The disciples learned from Jesus, and Timothy learned from Paul. When the early church faced a crisis in coping with the needs among them, they appointed a team to shoulder and share the burden. Paul pictured the Church as a body in which the parts supported each other. So this year we aim to learn and share, that under God we put flesh on the bones of the plans, and prepare ourselves for what lies ahead.
The little letter to Philemon gives us this cue for prayer: 'I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ' (v6, NIV).
Gordon Temple - Chief Executive
It can hardly have escaped the notice of any that this year we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James translation of the Bible. For one thing, it figured in the Queen's Christmas speech.
This 'Authorised Version' served as the primary English translation for most of these four centuries. It was a most remarkable achievement of ancient scholarship and it has probably been more influential on our language and culture over that period than any other book. Many of us will have heard the recent programmes on BBC radio celebrating its history. Charles Dickens said the New Testament was, 'the very best book that ever was or ever will be known in the world'. But all this sees the Bible as no more than an influential piece of literature. It is so much more. We Christians believe it to be the word of God, given to guide our lives and lead us into a life-giving relationship with him through Christ.
Torch is counted among the partners in the biblefresh initiative (www.biblefresh.com) which aims to encourage a greater confidence and passion for Scripture across the Church. Torch's Lydia Tebbutt wrote a section in the biblefresh book entitled Reading the Bible without eyes! At Torch we are passionate about making the Bible text and the Bible's message accessible to people with sight loss.
Torch Trust's commitment to the Bible is evidenced in a number of Bible-related projects that celebrate the anniversary and support the biblefresh campaign to encourage more people to read more of the Bible more often.
On the 1st January Torch started producing Scripture Union's Daily Bread daily Bible reading notes in braille (taking this over from the RNIB) and also launched the first daily Bible reading notes in giant print: The Upper Room from Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF). This is written by contributors from all over the world. Interestingly, Elaine Storkey - one of Torch's Council of Reference - when asked by IDEA magazine how she kept her Bible-reading dynamic, responded, 'For me the greatest refreshment is actually to read the Bible together with a bunch of people from halfway across the world and hear how they hear it, hear those Bible stories come alive in a completely different new context'.
Coming soon is the DAISY audio edition of the complete King James Version, a project done in cooperation with the RNIB and Wycliffe Associates. Like the very popular DAISY audio TNIV Bible this can be easily navigated right down to verse level.
We are also transcribing two topical books. Celebrating the King James Version by Rachel Boulding from BRF brings together short, insightful devotional readings from across the King James Version that are written to help the reader reflect on the richness of the language and what it says to us today about faith in God. Scripture Union's Essential 100 by Whitney Kuniholm provides a comprehensive overview of the Bible - and it was edited by Lin Ball who works with Torch. These will be available shortly to borrow or buy in braille, giant print and audio formats.
Over the years Torch has done much to make the Bible available in braille in other languages, and last year we invested some of the money given in memory of Torch co-founder Stella Heath in new equipment for the Torch production unit in Malawi, so that it can be more flexible in responding to the needs among blind people in Africa.
This special year is one in which we can all challenge ourselves to read more of the Bible - to learn from it and share its vital message with others.
Biblefresh book - in braille (3 vols) - £5.00
Every Day with Jesus (CWR) - audio cassette or DAISY disk
Daily Bread (SU) - audio cassette or DAISY disk, braille
The Upper Room - giant print
[For the above three there is a suggested donation in line with the equivalent cost of print version. Enquire.]
DAISY Audio KJV Bible
Essential 100 (braille, giant print, DAISY - £5)
Celebrating the King James Version (braille, giant print, DAISY - £10)
For more information call Torch House on 01858 438260 or email info@torchtrust.org
As part of a global campaign we want every braille reader to be able to access the Bible in their heart language. Already Torch Malawi has produced many thousands of braille Bible volumes in 10 African languages and, recently equipped with new braille embossers, is set to produce more in response to the need.
If you share our desire to put more Bible volumes in the hands of blind people in Africa you may like to know that £4 will cover the basic cost of a single volume, or £50 for a New Testament of 14 volumes. If you wish to support this initiative, please mark your gift 'Braille Bibles for Everyone'.
Gordon Temple reflects on his recent visit to Malawi ...
In November I set off to Africa to join Janet Stafford in Malawi, and then return via Uganda. This visit was prompted by the appointment of Stanley Moyo as the new administrator of the work of Torch Malawi. It was encouraging to meet him and his wife Nellie for the first time - and to renew acquaintance with Torch's staff, Joseph, Lazarus, Blessings and the three night watchmen. I met twice with Torch Malawi trustees.
Most of my time in Malawi was spent visiting Fellowship Groups along with Janet. I saw almost 1000 blind and partially sighted people from around 30 Groups. Malawi is among the poorest countries in the world and its low-lying southernmost districts are the poorest of the country. I felt enormously privileged to visit remote villages in this area, where few Westerners go - and in them to meet people and visit some of them in their mud wall and grass roof homes.
It is often said that disabled people are the poorest among the poor and these blind people must be counted among the poorest people on the planet - with few possessions, no cash and little confidence in their food supply. Donations generously given in the UK allowed us to help them in a small practical way. But what struck me most was the dignity of those who have an authentic relationship with Jesus. In faith they are living above their circumstances and to meet them is a huge blessing. Alongside the sometimes excruciating physical need there's a spiritual hunger to know more of God. One night we were with over 600 blind and partially sighted people who had gathered together in the bush to worship and celebrate all through the night! The programme was planned and led by a blind man. There was no written programme, just the bundle of hand-embossed braille sheets in his hands.
It has been nine years since I last visited Torch's work in Malawi. In some ways little has changed. I didn't see a hot water tap in two weeks! But what I did see was a heartening growth in the spiritual maturity of the Fellowship Groups. The Group meetings were led with a gentle confidence, mostly by blind people. My last visit was to Torch's first Group, the one that meets at the Weaving Factory. This has been running for 17 years and has planted two others. In a context where church initiatives and aid programmes come and go Torch has been working in a steadily effective way. During the meeting we listened to a song from an extraordinary trio: a blind man, a partially sighted and disfigured woman and a lady in a make-do-and-mend wheelchair. Their song had the refrain, I am complete in Him!
In Uganda, I was amazed and delighted to discover that the Bible Society of Uganda had organised and run a symposium on sight loss last October that had attracted some 350 delegates. I met two of them during my other stimulating Kampala visits - to the Uganda National Association of the Blind and to the Mengo Hospital Eye Department. I returned hopeful that we will see some good things happening among the blind and partially sighted people of Uganda.
I returned stirred and challenged. In Malawi and Uganda, and many other countries, there is great need among blind and partially sighted people and that includes a deep hunger for God's word.
[Note: A diary of Gordon's trip will shortly be available in audio and in all other accessible formats by early March. If you are interested in receiving this, do let us know.]
Janet Stafford writes ...
Pastor Kusauka, a blind pastor and now in his 70s, couldn't believe it when he was given a suit of clothes. He had never owned a jacket, never mind a suit. He is very small and the chances of having a suit in the container which had recently arrived that would fit him you might think impossible. As I was unpacking the men's clothes and sizing up the suits I came across one for a 12/13 year old lad. I put it on a hanger but dismissed it thinking that there would not be anyone it would be suitable for. How wonderful is our God! Months previously someone was led to give that suit and it had been packed, gone in the container, sailed the seas, travelled by road, and now here was Pastor Kusauka, the man just to fit the suit. His joy knew no bounds!
Jonas. The vehicle suddenly stopped. Nothing we did would start it. A man came walking towards us. It was Jonas, a blind man from the next village. He was walking more than 24km to the nearest town to see if a local mission centre would help him with food. He, like so many others, had no harvest and he had not eaten for a few days. We were able to bless him with some money for food. He decided he was going no further but back home. We asked him if he would pray. Jonas immediately took his sandals off as he said it was holy ground he was standing on, and prayed a very moving prayer. He left us very happily on his way home. We got back into the car, turned the key and the car started! Hallelujah! If we had not broken down exactly where we did we wouldn't have met Jonas, he wouldn't have been blessed and neither would we by his prayer of faith.
Laston is a godly man. He recently went blind and gave this testimony: 'I thank God for the help of the goats which were given to me last year. I was given two goats but I now have four. The coming of these has really helped in a special way. Before I had the goats I used to leave my house in the morning and go round asking people for food. Things are so different now as I don't go out as I used to, for I am always at home looking after my goats and God speaks to people to help me with my needs. I used to sleep with hunger but now God has opened a door for me to trust him in a different way. It is my prayer that God should help me as I am looking after these goats. I no longer feel like a beggar but God has given me a sense of worth and purpose.'
[Note: International News for Praise & Prayer is published free 3 times a year and brings you news from around the world of work by a variety of organisations among blind and partially sighted people. Please let us know if you wish to subscribe to it.]
Gail Millar, Torch Holidays Leader, writes ...
This year we were back at Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre for our Christmas houseparty. It was a full house of people, the presence of God and his love. Roger and Olive Watkins led our devotions on the subject of 'Bethlehem'. Marilyn and Tracey kicked the houseparty off with a wonderful concert and we finished the houseparty by going to a musical in Brighton.
Christmas is one of my favourite houseparties. It is a special time to be together celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, to enjoy some fun and laughter, to make new friends and to eat loads of food! A huge thank you goes to our volunteers and helpers who work so hard as part of the team - although I am assured by them they get more back than they give!
This is what the guests had to say:
Gary: Thank you for an excellent Christmas, I really felt the family love. The houseparty was the best so far, lovely atmosphere, cosy, relaxed and homely, it was great to make new friends.
Brenda: Such a lot of hard work goes into all the detail of Torch holidays. Thank you for all the small touches that are so appreciated.
Jim & Rosemary: Tremendous Christmas, lovely to be back at Torch HRC. It is an amazing fantastic holiday that we would not miss. All the home-cooked food made with love was wonderful.
Gill: I have never had a Christmas like it, I never knew Christmas could be so special. This is what real family feels like. The best Christmas I have ever had.
Gezim from Kosovo: Thank you for making it possible for me to come and spend Christmas with my special Torch family. It was so wonderful to be back with you and get to know everyone so much better. Thank you Stuart and Gail for including me in your family and giving me memories I will never forget.
Joyce: Excellent programme. I thoroughly enjoyed the ministry. There was such a variety of things to do and be a part of. The food was amazing, the helpers outstanding; loved using the chapel as our dining room.
This year we are launching two new weekends (dates below) - both being held at Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre in West Sussex. Torch Trust has been working with people with sight loss for over 50 years, learning what needs they have. One of the biggest traumas and adjustments in life is coming to terms with sight loss of whatever degree. Torch is passionate about walking that journey with those affected and offering support in the process of adaptation.
The Moving Forward weekends are designed to support, inform, encourage and enable all in a friendly Christian environment. There'll be practical information, workshops and an opportunity to find out about gadgets and gizmos that can help. Guests will be at different places on their sight loss journey and it's an opportunity to meet others and share experiences.
If you know of anyone who is coming to terms with sight loss, tell them about these weekends and encourage them to come. If you are a family member or friend - come with them for support.
Moving Forward dates: October 14-16 and December 2-4. To enquire or book call 01273 832282.
[Note: The new 2011 holiday brochure, Torch Holidays 2011, is now available in print, giant print, braille, audio CD and email. If you would like one, call or email Torch House.]
Liz Gould, following her retirement from Torch staff employment last year, writes concerning her continued passion for offering fellowship and support to blind and partially sighted people in the Bristol area ...
When God called me into full time service with Torch the catalyst that he used was the isolation, loneliness and lack of Christian fellowship experienced by many of those blind friends with whom I had contact through the local Torch Fellowship Group. This need is still deeply imprinted on my heart, and with a growing visually impaired population, is increasing.
Many are so grateful to be able to share in mutual friendship and maybe to have someone to read the Bible and pray with them. Others greatly welcome the opportunity to get out for a drive and cup of coffee, or tea in someone else's home. Many have specific needs - letters to be read, puzzling forms to be filled in, help with vital shopping and other diverse needs. This can bring so much blessing to all involved.
Praise God for the wonderful band of local TFG helpers who reach out in so many ways, and often form lasting friendships where there is so much mutual encouragement and support. As long as God enables, I hope to continue to serve him alongside this great team.
March 7-11 Torch at Keswick in Devon
March 16 Regional Encouragement Day - Bridlington
March 23 Open Day at Torch HRC for professionals working with blind and
partially sighted people.
March 26 Regional Encouragement Day - Market Harborough
April 5 Torch exhibiting at Sight Village, Edinburgh
April 6 Torch exhibiting at Sight Village, Glasgow
April 9 Torch at Macular Disease Conference, Belfast
April 9-19 Torch exhibiting at Spring Harvest, Skegness
April 14 Torch exhibiting at Low Vision Day, Peterborough
May 10-13 Torch exhibiting at Christian Resources Exhibition, Esher
May 21 Accessible Book Day at Torch House for Transcribers and Reviewers
June 5 Disability Sunday
June 8 Torch Day of Prayer
July 7 Open Evening and BBQ at Torch House
October 22 Thanksgiving Celebration in Leeds
Note: We anticipate having some free tickets for CRE at Esher. If you would like to receive one please contact us.
Heather Williams - is retiring as a trustee. The Trustees are sorry to lose her valuable contribution to their discussions and will miss the experience and wisdom that she brings. Heather has been involved in the support of blind and partially sighted people almost all her life, for some 23 years working with and supporting the work of Torch. Since her retirement from employment she has continued as a volunteer and Trustee. Thank you so much Heather; we are glad you are continuing as a library volunteer - your bright smile will continue to brighten our day!
Dan Whitling - has joined us on a part time basis as Technical Support for Paul Wood. Dan has experience in IT support for schools and small charities. This support releases Paul to focus more on the development of computer and internet systems to enable Torch to develop new services to blind and partially sighted people.
Graham Moody - comes with a history in printing, has run his own company and now joins us in the key role of Production Team Leader. He is married to Rebecca with two children, Joel and Tim, and is an active member of a Baptist Church in the Leicester area.
There are opportunities for people with a heart to serve to come as volunteers at the Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre, situated at the foot of the South Downs, in the Sussex village of Hurstpierpoint.
The Centre and our holidays are specifically designed for blind and partially sighted people. It is a special place for guests to be refreshed in mind, body and spirit as well as being loved and cared for. Our volunteers play an essential role in providing this warm, welcoming and supportive atmosphere - and find it fulfilling themselves.
There are a range of ways in which volunteers can work with Torch. For more information please contact Catriona at Torch House on: 01858 438267, or email volunteers@torchtrust.org.
After much prayer and thought we sent an audio message in December to almost one thousand regular users of the daily Bible reading notes transcribed by Torch into cassette and DAISY CD formats.
We have always had a heart for making Christian material accessible to blind and partially sighted people and much of what we do - including Torch's magazines - is offered free of charge, something that will continue. Apart from a small one-off registration charge, daily Bible reading notes have also been provided free. However, sighted people are in the habit of paying the publisher, church or local Christian bookshop for their print copy.
We felt, therefore, that it was appropriate that blind and partially sighted people should be given the opportunity to contribute directly to the cost of Torch's work in transcribing, copying and packing the notes whether in audio or the newly introduced notes in braille and giant print. And so we sent a message which emphasised that, while cost would never be a barrier to people obtaining Christian resources from Torch, this was an invitation to donate the 'print equivalent price', and that the registration charge would be dropped.
It would be fair to say that we have been overwhelmed by the response. Cheque and credit card donations have flooded into the office. But it's not the amount of money, with some very generous donations, that has so touched us. It's the fresh realisation that all the Bible notes we produce are a devotional lifeline for so many visually impaired people. Perhaps you know someone who would appreciate having such a daily resource. If so, why not ask them to give us a call or, with their permission, ring on their behalf.
Andrew Nicholson - Assistant Chief Executive
Office Team for all general enquiries, donations, literature sales: 01858 438260
Library Team for existing or new library borrowers: 01858 438266
Holidays for all holiday bookings and enquiries: 01273 832282
Prayer Phone items for prayer, updated fortnightly: 01858 438277
Insight Programme for responses to the Sunday Premier Radio broadcast: 0333 123 1255.
Book before the end of March for reduced prices!
Creative Cooking: 28 March to 1 April was £250 now £200.
Musical Melodies: 4 – 8 April was £285 now £230.
Root and Shoots: 9 – 13 May was £285 now £230.
Wales Houseparty: 16 – 20 May was £320 now £260.
France Houseparty: 12 – 19 September was £650 now £590.
And a 7 night option for Torch's amazing Activity Holiday.
Fit for Action: 13 – 20 June was 10 nights £520 now available 7 nights £380.
Prices are full board and fully inclusive
For more information, to request a brochure or to book your Torch Holiday call 01273 832282 or email holidays@tochtrust.org