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.
Over the last year we have been working on plans for the future development of the work, seeking God's guidance and consulting internally and externally. Far from Torch drifting into a period of decline following last year's celebration of 50 years, it has become clear that there is more than ever for Torch to do. With lengthening life spans, the prevalence of sight loss is growing. For one thing, each day 100 people learn they are losing their sight - and that's just in Britain. This is devastating news for them, yet few receive any assistance in coming to terms with the loss. Many slip into depression. We sense that God is calling us to mount a Christian response to this need.
Torch started in the Heath's home with a group of young people who had been blind all their lives. Over the years Torch has grown to respond also to the needs of those who lost their sight later in life. Now we seek ways to bless those who may not yet qualify as blind or partially sighted - to 'journey with' those on the sight loss journey.
With a view to the development of the work over the next five years we see the year ahead as one of 'foundation laying'. We need to underpin the vital services and activities Torch runs already - the literature, fellowship groups, holidays and international - while we lay the foundations for new services and activities, especially directed towards those on the sight loss journey. Seeking God's guidance at every stage we aim to develop our programme of work towards fulfilment of the Torch charter.
The theme of our recent Horsham Thanksgiving Service was set by the reading from Matthew 9. A woman touches Jesus' cloak and is healed from a longstanding and stigmatising illness. Would that Torch be like the garment of Jesus that people with sight loss can reach out to and find wholeness in his love and within the community of Christ's followers.
Gordon Temple (Chief Executive)
... that every person with sight loss may have the opportunity to ...
Explore Christian faith and discover Jesus
Grow as a Christian
Enjoy a fulfilling devotional life
Access Christian activities and resources they need
Join a church of their choice
Develop their invaluable God-given gifting
Contribute to the life of the church
Gezim, a blind man from Kosovo, came to the last Torch Christmas houseparty at High Leigh. He is a fluent and avid braille reader working as a translator.
On hearing that Gezim had no means of getting braille in Kosovo, Peter Jackson, long-standing friend of Torch, felt God wanted him to share this challenge with churches through his Keynote Ministries. Churches caught the vision and nearly £5,000 was raised to provide a braille embosser for Gezim. Mike Townsend, Torch's technical director, was commissioned to complete the installation. Do you know where Kosovo is? It was part of the old Yugoslavia and there was a vicious war in 1999, when thousands of men were killed. The Serbs came to Gezim's village. People were forced to form a long queue, although nobody knew what they were queuing for. When they discovered the queue was for the killing of the men, Gezim's sister shouted, 'you wouldn't kill a blind man!' After discussion they decided they would not kill him, but his uncles and male cousins were all murdered.
Soon the embosser was on its way, and although customs at Pristina Airport wanted to tax it, Mike explained that it was a gift for a blind man. After work on the internet and software adjustments, the installation went perfectly. What a look of thrill on Gezim's face as the first braille came pouring out! Kosovo is a poor country where blind and disabled people suffer. On visiting the Blind Society in the area of Gjakova, Mike and Edith Townsend discovered 30 families with blind members who had no food. Mike comments: 'They scrounge and beg for every meal ... their houses are broken down ... winter temperatures are minus 25 degrees. The first ever relief lorry from Blythswood Care arrived in Kosovo while we were there and food has been provided for the first half of the winter. A second lorry is planned for December; this will supply the blind people until spring.'
The Bible Society in Kosovo distributes a fantastic Albanian large print Bible, which Mike was able to purchase and supply in a church he and Edith attended. One older lady ran up to him exclaiming, 'I can read the Bible! Thank you!' The Albanian braille Bible needs authorising by the Bible Society. Kosovo is a forgotten land, not recognised by the United Nations, and abandoned by many aid organisations, but with people God loves.
Are you Prepared for Christmas?
How are your preparations for Christmas coming along? Do you know where you put the decorations from last year? Have you made a list of people to buy presents for? Have you ordered the turkey?
In order to enjoy 25th December we have to prepare; it takes some thought and time to plan how we want it to be. The same is true spiritually. If we want Christmas Day to be a spiritual feast we need to do some preparing. This year why not prepare your heart and mind to welcome the Christ child by reading an Advent devotional. Torch has transcribed two titles new for Advent 2010. Both are available for sale or can be loaned from the library, for those who are blind or partially sighted.
A Handful of Light by Michael Mitton - £7.99. Daily Bible readings for every day from 1 December to 6 January on the themes of hope, light and darkness. Available in braille, giant print, cassette and DAISY.
Advent Hope by Joel Edwards - £6.99. Together we consider Isaiah's prophecies about the Messiah, the transformed lives of Bible characters such as David, Mary, Elizabeth and Simeon, and the fulfilment of God's promises in the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus. The Bible overflows with hope. Available in braille, giant print and DAISY.
Here are some more titles with Christmas in mind to warm your heart during the cold days of December and beyond.
Carol - £5.99. This contemporary retelling of Charles Dickens' classic story A Christmas Carol is funny, moving and ultimately thought-provoking. Available in braille, giant print and DAISY.
A Treasury of Christmas Miracles by Karen Kingsbury - £6.99. A collection of real-life stories about people whose lives were changed by the mystery and wonder of Christmas time. In each of these stories, Karen brings undeniable proof of God's presence in our lives. Available in braille, giant print, cassette and DAISY.
Y Christmas? by Jeff Lucas - FREE. Christmas can be a busy, costly, fun, lonely, pressurised time. We throw ourselves into it all, usually without asking why. What's it all about? What's the reason for the season? Available in braille, giant print and audio CD.
Many more titles are available with a Christmas theme from the Torch Library. We pray that the Lord will bless all your preparations and give you his peace in your hearts, minds and around your table this Christmas.
Torch will be producing Scripture Union's Daily Bread in braille from January 2011 and Bible Reading Fellowship's The Upper Room in giant print from January 2011.
If you would like to receive either of these new publications, please ring Torch on 01858 438260 for further information.
The well known Bethlehem Carol Sheet (55th edition) is now available in braille free from Torch. An 'Extra Large' print version is available from Bible Lands.
From the New Year we will be launching a regular newsletter by email with the aim of keeping praying friends and supporters in touch with us in a more immediate way than is possible in our other magazines. News from the UK regions, from our international ministry, from our holiday programme and from Torch House itself will all be included.
Around 250 people helped us evaluate three pilot issues of Torch eNews and the response was overwhelmingly positive, which has encouraged us to make it a part of our ongoing communication.
If you would like to receive Torch eNews please let us know by emailing info@torchtrust.org
A new edition (Issue 4) of Christian Resources from Torch Trust will be available soon. If you'd like to pre-order the print version, please ring Torch on 01858 438260. News of the accessible versions will be announced on our website and in Torch eNews.
Michael Stafford reports on his recent visit to Malawi ...
I left a lovely sunny England at the end of June to go to a chilly and grey Malawi winter for two months. It was a time for settling the new Administrator - Stanley Moyo - into his job, and to introduce him to some of the Torch Fellowship Groups. He has related so well with the blind people, as well as adapting to the daily life of the Torch House production and office etc.
I had the opportunity once again to teach in the Bible School at Konzere where there were 70 students, including a former prisoner released under a Presidential amnesty but, more importantly, set free spiritually by the Lord Jesus Christ, while in prison.
We were thankful to safely receive two of the three Everest braille embossers which are enabling the production department in Malawi to produce Scripture volumes to order, rather than having to produce and store large numbers of books. The third machine has now arrived in the recently shipped aid container.
There was an opportunity on each of the nine Sundays to preach, and to introduce Torch to the various churches visited. There is a real need to encourage the churches to welcome and include blind people in their services.
Gail Millar (holidays leader) reports that 12 people had a fantastic holiday in the Vendee at Spring Harvest's Le Pas Opton holiday park, western France, in September. Here are some comments from the blind and partially sighted guests:
Ian: 'I have been on lots of Torch holidays and this has been another excellent holiday. I highly recommend it. I love Torch holidays as they are well planned, inclusive and adventurous. For me this week has been an opportunity to get closer to God through fellowship and the great Bible teaching.'
Franek: 'A wonderful experience, run by people who are so committed to the task due to their personal commitment to the Lord. Wonderful worship and Bible study - with accessible media provided. The activities were great, especially canoeing, wine-tasting and visiting a working windmill.'
Chris : 'There were plenty of opportunities for Christian fellowship and spiritual refreshment during our week long holiday. A particularly novel experience featured a return trip along a 10 kilometre section of disused railway line which has obtained a new lease of life as a so-called 'Vélo-Rail', where humanly powered machines are conveyed along the track by means of good old fashioned pedal power. Just one part of a thoroughly enjoyable holiday.'
Francis: 'It's been great fun, especially the canoeing and Vélo-Rail, making new friends, as well as great fellowship within our own group.'
Why not come and join us at Le Pas Opton in September 2011. You can be assured of a great holiday. You need to book early to ensure a place.
Welkom is the word that greets you as you enter a beautiful restored farmhouse just outside of Brugge, Belgium. We are so excited to offer this new holiday being led by Gail Millar (holidays leader) with Patrick and Anja Couchement, Torch supporters who live in Brugge. The week promises to be full of new experiences: river boats through the canals of Brugge, making new friends, and yes - lots of Belgian chocolate!
Our devotional programme is being led by church leaders from Brugge who look forward to being involved in the work of Torch. Transport is available from Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre in West Sussex.
For more details of all Torch holidays and to book, please call 01273 832282 or email holidays@torchtrust.org
This autumn two new Torch Fellowship Groups have started, one in Ballymena, Northern Ireland and one in Desford, Leicestershire.
The Ballymena group is meeting bi-monthly to begin with. At the first meeting, one of the leaders, Zuzana Polackova spoke about her mission trip to China last summer, where she was working with blind children in an orphanage. Some people from the Coleraine group came along to this meeting to offer encouragement. In terms of the future, we look forward to more people joining the leadership team and more connections being made with blind and partially sighted people in the local community.
At Desford 13 people met together and enjoyed getting to know each other. A lady who had recently been registered partially sighted said: 'This has got the potential of being something great ...'
We are always delighted by the number of people or groups that visit us at Torch House. Groups from as far as Northern Ireland visit us and more recently it was the leaders of the Ammanford Torch fellowship from South Wales that made a ten hour round trip by minibus covering 414 miles in order to visit us! Fantastic! Well done Peter and team.
Later in the summer we had a visit from friends in the Swansea Torch Fellowship Group.
We are very grateful for all the work of our volunteer network of coordinators in supporting local Torch groups and promoting our resources in their various regions. We are delighted to announce that we have added three more to our ranks.
Jennifer Merrilees is involved with the Edinburgh Torch group and has readily agreed to act as coordinator in Scotland.
John Seager, involved as the leader of the Basildon Torch group for many years, is the new coordinator in Essex.
David Judson assisting our group in Leeds, is going to help support Ruth Holder in Yorkshire.
We thank God for each and wish them every joy and encouragement in their work.
For further information contact Torch House on 01858 438260.
Our annual thanksgiving celebration, this year, was held in the beautiful newly built Horsham Baptist church. Near 200 people gathered to join in praising God for another year of provision and faithfulness, and to hear of ongoing plans.
The Torch singers were in excellent voice with their customary four-part singing, and Marilyn Baker shared inspired closing thoughts in word and song.
Sheila Armstrong (braille transcription coordinator) reports ...
7th October went off with a bang for me; my alarm had failed - it was 5.47 and I was being picked up for the train at 5.55. But I was by no means the earliest starter of the day. Amongst the 450 people gathered at Friends Meeting House in London, I met a lady who'd taken the sleeper from Edinburgh and a gentleman who'd flown in from Denmark to be there. A wonderful collection of people gathered to consider how the Church could include people, no matter what their disability, as Jesus himself did, leaving an example for us to follow.
The day began with welcome and worship. Everyone was singing from the same hymn sheet, since provision was made for standard print, giant print, braille, speech to text on screen and British Sign Language. People who had never before seen BSL interpretation of the songs received an extra blessing as they worshipped.
Keynote speeches by well-known and not-so-well-known speakers, together with a variety of breakout seminars, allowed us to consider what the Christian approach to disability could and should be. Everyone, with a disability or otherwise, went home challenged and with plenty of food for thought and prayer.
The conference could be compared to a pebble being dropped into a pool. We have no idea how far and wide the ripples will spread.
Gordon Temple comments: 'The speakers, most of whom had direct experience of disability themselves or in their immediate family, dug deep and delivered fresh thinking from a thoroughly Biblical perspective. We aimed to start a conversation on the Christian understanding of disability and that we have surely done. Watch out for more Enabling Church events.'
Enabling Church was organised by Churches for All (a partnership of Christian disability organisations in which Torch Trust is a leading participant) with Premier Christian Radio.
Looking back over the period since Torch relocated from Hallaton to Market Harborough, the mission incurred a financial deficit in four out of five years. As we came to the end of this summer it looked as though, once more, we would dip further into our reserves.
As I said in the previous issue of Torch Family News this promised to be a challenging period, not least due to the likely effects of this autumn's Government Spending Review.
I am so glad therefore to be able to report that after much prayer the draft accounts for the year to 30th September actually show a small surplus - mainly due to some additional legacy income. We praise God for his provision, whilst looking to him for the needs for the coming year.
It is amazing how often we are blessed through supporters and clients who remember the work of Torch in their will and who, through their generosity, enable future generations to benefit from our services and resources.
As we embark on new initiatives we can only get these underway when additional income is available. Perhaps some of those funds will come from grants, some from committed regular giving and some from legacies. Indeed, without a consistent flow of legacy income it would be difficult to maintain our present level of services.
If you would like to know more, please ask for a copy of our information sheet on Making a Will.
Andrew Nicholson (Assistant Chief Executive)
After 35 years of serving the Lord through the Torch Trust, Liz Gould has now retired as a staff member.
Following the formation of the first Bristol Torch Fellowship Group, she gave herself unstintingly to encouraging blind people of all ages in the South West by offering spiritual and practical help. Her daily work involved many and varied tasks: visiting sick or troubled visually impaired people; helping people with Bible study; taking those in need of relaxation out for coffee or a ride; taking people shopping; filling in forms or wrapping Christmas parcels.
Following the formation of further groups in Bristol, including a younger people's one, Liz worked alongside group committees, giving good direction and sound advice. Her 35 years have provided a strong basis on which to continue support for visually impaired people in the Bristol area.
The following comment was made by a blind person in Bristol: 'If every blind person in Bristol who has got to know Liz well was asked to share how she had encouraged them, they would all be able to add something a bit different, because of the diversity of her efforts.'
Liz hopes to continue some of this support in a voluntary capacity. Many thanks go to Liz for devoting all these years of faithful ministry. It was good to have the opportunity at our Thanksgiving celebration to show our appreciation.
Patricia Douglas is a recent graduate with an MA in music. She's a soprano with a particular love of singing classical music, especially opera. She comes from a large family and says her younger siblings are good at making sure she doesn't sing too loudly!
While she was a student, Patricia worked for Torch during her summer holidays and she's excited to be back to help produce Insight, Torch's weekly radio programme with a focus on disability and faith.
Patricia enjoys travelling to other countries with friends, dark chocolate and movies!
Catering and Event Manager - We are so grateful for the work that Richard Clarke did at Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre but due to his forthcoming marriage he has decided to move on to new things. So we now need to find someone to assist our manager, Gail Millar. The work involves catering, administration, housekeeping and supporting our blind and partially sighted guests. This could be suitable for someone with experience or someone looking to develop a career in Catering and Event Management.
Production Team Leader - For family reasons Stewart Fox is moving back to Worthing. So we are looking for someone to lead this section of the work at Torch House. Experience of managing people and the production process is needed, and previous working with 'in house' printing would be desirable.
Software Development - As part of our future plans we need to develop our IT systems. This requires someone with significant experience in IT systems.
For more information about any of these roles contact John Darby on 07747 842 192 or email personnel@torchtrust.org.
Volunteers - there are a number of interesting vacancies at Torch House, such as property maintenance and gardening; hospitality; IT support. If working in a friendly Christian environment is something that would be satisfying for you, please contact Catriona on 01858 438267 or email volunteers@torchtrust.org.