Archives for 'Braille'
Braille Ministry
It All Started in a Shoebox!
Every Wednesday a group of St. John members meet to make Christian materials in Braille and large print formats for the spiritual needs of people who are blind or visually impaired. Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc. an organization founded in 1943 distributes the Bibles and devotional books.
Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc. has grown from producing titles in one language to over 30 languages today, and from a labor force of one volunteer working out of a shoebox in her home to over 7,000 volunteers in over 200 work centers across the United States. The St. John work center is located at the end of the north hallway by the gym.
St. John members, Howard and Jo Martin, started our Braille Center in 1976 after hearing about this ministry at a conference. Mrs. Eala Newman was their first assistant. Mr. and Mrs. Martin continued their faithful service with the Braille Ministry for 27 more years retiring in 2003. Jo is thankful for all the volunteers that helped throughout this time and remembers with fondness the many notes the group received from blind and visually impaired children and adults throughout the world thanking them for their Bibles.
Dan Mikeworth took over the servant work and today leads a group of 15 volunteers. The Braille room has been remodeled; the many improvements include new carpeting, storage shelves, and an air-conditioning unit. Funding was provided by a grant from the South Marion County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. The updates enable the group to produce materials year round.
If you have an interest in this ministry please contact Dan Mikeworth at 862-3928 or stop by any Wednesday morning or afternoon to see the printing presses in action.