[Faith-talk] sound equipment and the blind

[Everett Gavel]

Hello Andrew, and all,

Unfortunately, Andrew, your worship pastor sounds 
typically ignorant in their lack of any real 
understanding of the situation.  Please print out and 
share with him these replies you have gotten from some 
of us here. Or forward them to him via e-mail so he can 
ask his own questions if he'd like.  Be careful though, 
as he might be surprised to know blind people can use 
computers, too.  ;-)

Sarcasm aside now, though, of course you can do the 
sound board if you wish, and if anyone there is loving 
enough, caring enough, and doesn't let their typical 
pride get in the way of truly helping.  All they need 
do is show you the first and maybe second time, same as 
they would a sighted member of the church.  It's your 
job, of course, to record or remember what you're 
taught, and to put labels or markings, and whatever 
else you need, to get the job done.  It's their job to 
give you a chance and show you just as they would 
anyone new they brought in.  Or should I say to remind 
them, anyone that God brought in to them.  God is 
sovereign.  We are all exactly where He wants us at 
this moment.  We are here to work with all those around 
us, whom God has also placed there.

Andrew, this is of course more for your pastor and 
sound guy than you, but, there are lots of people who 
happen to be blind, that are computer users, and 
computer trainers.  There are ham radio experts, radio 
station employees and even on-air, radio DJs.  The guy 
here on WDOK 102.5 out of Cleveland on the Morning show 
happens to be blind.  It's his show, he's the main 
dude.  So what if he's blind?  He's found ways to work 
with all the equipment, as does anyone who is serious 
about working.

Right now at Akron U I'm aware of at least one totally 
blind student going through the radio/TV part of a 
Communications degree.  She's currently learning how to 
use, and how to access and make accessible, all the 
necessary equipment that is used these days.

Additionally, Andrew, there are sound mixers, recording 
personnel and recording artists, all who happen to be 
blind.  Beyond that there are Ph.D's who are blind. 
There are also engineers, logicians, statisticians, 
college professors, and teachers all of whom happen to 
be blind.  There are parents who are blind, that have 
raised kids and are raising kids.  There are blind 
college students every year getting their degrees with 
a higher grade point average than either of those guys 
in your church probably had, if they went through 
college.  Blindness has nothing to do with ignorance or 
ability, as your church members just proved once again. 
Now, they may not be ignorant on any other point except 
blindness, but they sound as if they surely are at the 
moment, on this subject.  And so it's our job, our 
challenge, to share the truth with them in a way they 
'get,' and absorb. I hope they do not push their own 
current level of ignorance on blindness onto others. 
God help them.  May He bless them with His wisdom, 
enough so that it overpowers their own supposed 
knowledge on this topic.

Don't be stubborn or prideful in stating your case, 
Andrew.  But please don't bak down from the simple 
truth of it all, either.  And may God bless your 
efforts on this front. Hold yourself well, and 
follow-up and follow through, and show them you're 
capable - if you believe yourself to be.  I  mean no 
disrespect here.  But truly, there are some who just 
aren't capable, though it has nothing really to do with 
their blindness.  But some just give a poor showing of 
themselves - more often than not - as a person who is 
blind.  Many people let themselves be taken care of too 
much, and so it's as much our fault in those times as 
anyone's that others around us may not think us 
capable, y'know?  Though you've only thus far given a 
few messages here, you don't seem like such a person, 
thankfully.  But it is easy for us to take the easier 
way out and let others do too much for us simply 
because they too often try, thinking we probably can't. 
And when we give in and take that easy way out, it 
lessens our level of capability in others' minds, I 
believe.

Anyway, Sir, God bless your efforts, and the 
relationship between all of you there.  We'll be 
praying on this for you, and for them.  I have no doubt 
it wil ultimately turn out for His Glory.  Our God is a 
sovereign God.  Thank You Jesus, for your love and for 
your grace.  Please help us to have more of both, for 
eachother and all around us.

God's in charge!  Thank You, Jesus.


Paul said it well...
"I long to see you that I may impart to you some 
spiritual gift to make you strong--
That is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by 
each other's faith."
~ Romans 1:11-12


Strive On!
Everett
www.everettgavel.com



----- Original Message ----- 
>
> I have been wanting to do sound at my church but  my 
> worship pastor
> said no  because of the visual Q's.
>
> Ifirst asked one of the men to do some sound stuff 
> with me and to show
> me some things.
> As fr as he has gotten was he showed me what the 
> board felt like.
> But the worship pastor is not  letting me do anything 
> in sound because
> of the visual Q's thing.
>
> How evera man who does sound and plays guitar with me 
> he said it could
> be worked around.
>
> Do any of you guys know any blind people who are 
> doing sound in churches?
>