[Faith-Talk] getting involved in church

Wed Sep 5 04:26:56 UTC 2018

Hi Ana,

This might be difficult, and I don't know a lot about your
circumstances.  But have you tried getting involved in church
activities?  Like, if they have a children's program or some other
activities outside of the church time or something.  That way you
might be able to connect with people who share your interests, and
maybe those people will see what you can do and what you have a heart
for in terms of service, and they will stop seeing you as the blind
girl.

I may curse myself by saying this.  (And I certainly hope not, since
I'm starting a new Bible study soon,) but I have had good luck in
churches.  Once I begin mixing with the musical people, I am usually
accepted because talent and shared interests go a long way for most
people, even when they are unsure about blindness.

I don't know what kinds of things you want to get involved in.  I also
don't know how approachable the leadership of the church is about your
involvement.  But it's worth a try.

Julie

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On 9/4/18, Rob Kaiser via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> It's also good to hear your story as well. I really wonder, however, if
> some
> of what is going in the church regarding people with disabilities is
> because
> the world we live in. People seem to want to be perhaps overly caushus
> today
> regarding meeting or helping out people.
>
>
> Rob Kaiser Email;
> rcubfank at sbcglobal.net
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Faith-Talk [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David
> Moore via Faith-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, September 4, 2018 8:24 PM
> To: Faith-talk, for the discussion of Blindness in faith and religion
> <faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: David Moore <jesusloves1966 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Faith-Talk] getting involved in church
>
> I am so glad you had those great experiences in the Methodist church.
> I went to a Methodist church that actually really concentrated on
> disabilities, and many people with many disabilities were a part of the
> congregation, and really participated.
> That is awesome to hear your story!
> David Moore
>
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>
> From: Rob Kaiser via Faith-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, September 4, 2018 9:00 PM
> To: 'Faith-talk, for the discussion of Blindness in faith and religion'
> Cc: Rob Kaiser
> Subject: Re: [Faith-Talk] getting involved in church
>
> Before I moved to Victorville, I lived in Orange, CA. That Methodist church
> welcomed me with open arms. I sung in the choir there & was treated like a
> human being. The same was the way @ the Methodist Church in Costa Mesa, CA
> where I was on the music committee, &, my churches in Chicago where I grew
> up & spent my life until I was 30 years old & moved out to California.
>
>
> Rob Kaiser Email;
> rcubfank at sbcglobal.net
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Faith-Talk [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David
> Moore via Faith-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, September 4, 2018 4:26 PM
> To: Faith-talk, for the discussion of Blindness in faith and religion
> <faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: David Moore <jesusloves1966 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Faith-Talk] getting involved in church
>
> Hi all!
> My worst experiences with my blindness has been in churches that lean
> toward
> or flat out charismatic churches.
> Right away, after the service, they drug me to the front, laid hands on me,
> some of them even spit on their fingers.
> The types of congregations who see me as a person, and not a blind person,
> seem to be Methodist Lutheran, Churches of Christ, and others.
> Non-denominational churches, or other churches where people get into
> emotions to experience God seem to be the ones who feel so sorry about my
> blindness.
> At a Church of Christ, I teach Sunday School, read the Bible passage before
> the sermon, and do many tasks.
> I am really involved there! The type of church it is, has a lot to do with
> how you are treated as a blind person.
> A Methodist church, for example, would never believe that a sin caused your
> blindness.
> Just keep looking.
> I have walked out of churches many times over the past 30 years LOL!
> David Moore
>
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>
> From: Theresa Taylor via Faith-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, September 4, 2018 3:15 PM
> To: Faith-talk, for the discussion of Blindness in faith and religion
> Cc: Theresa Taylor; Ana Martinez
> Subject: Re: [Faith-Talk] getting involved in church
>
> Oh yes! I think it is safe to say that most of us have experienced this at
> one time or another...smile.
>
> Pray for God to show you ways to educate people about blindness...It might
> also work to talk to the senior pastor or someone else in leadership to
> find
> out why this belief about blindness persists.
>
> My hubby and I founded a nonprofit Seek the Son Ministries, our mission
> isto
> bring the saving power of Jesus to the disabled. We facilitate
> reconciliation between the church and whoever they are excluding. One of
> the
> main reasons we hear from churches on why they exclude blind people is due
> to the misconception that our blindness is caused by a sin in our lives.
> Thankfully, churches want all people to worship so with some prayer and
> discussion these misconceptions are cleared up.
> HOpe this helps...prayingfor you.
>
>
> Be a blessing to someone today
> Rev. Dr. Theresa C Taylor
> Blog: www.seektheson.org/blog
> Website: www.seektheson.org
>
>> On Sep 4, 2018, at 8:39 AM, Ana Martinez via Faith-Talk
> <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> hi all, I have a question about getting involved in church. so,
>> because my
> church is far from my college and the bus doesn't run on Sundays in my
> city,
> I have to depend on rides and other people to go to church. the thing is,
> whenever I go with people the people I go with do not have a positive view
> on blindness. they are overly helpful, and they try to do everything for
> me.
> I feel that because of this, other members of the church also see me as the
> blind girl, and I feel that because of this is harder to get involed in the
> church. has anyone else had simillar experiences?
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
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-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
MM Vocal Performance, 2015; President, National Federation of the
Blind Performing Arts Division; First Vice President, National
Federation of the Blind of Missouri