[Faith-Talk] Serving in Church and Related Issues

[Linda Mentink]

Good evening All,

First, I'm starting a new message because you all have forgotten to delete old stuff when replying, and the string is WAY too long!

I have been busy and have not had time to respond. So here goes from me!

First, Andrew, we have tried to help you on this list many times. There's absolutely nothing we can do from here to help you. Again you've been given some ideas of things you can do. My suggestion is that you work on being content with where the Lord has planted you, and do your best to improve what you can in yourself. Concentrate on being a faithful church member and on making friends with people there who will learn to understand you and your needs as a blind/learning disabled Christian. Complaining to us here without making any changes is not productive.

PJ, I was surprised to read your  post about things like drinking beer and being a loser. That doesn't sound like the same person with whom I corresponded a couple years ago. I had sent you my telephone number so that we could talk about things like a Facebook page, but you never followed through. There are plenty of good leaders in the TX affiliate with whom you could talk about the issues with the local chapter with which you were involved. Also, you should learn some skills of blindness so that you don't have to be frustrated with tunnel vision. By staying at home, you are isolating yourself—never a good idea.

I remember that you sent me a link to something in your church. It sounded like a good church, and I find it shocking that you seem to have dropped your relationship with your Lord. Being blind is no reason to give up on life! Please get out of the beer and into the Bible!

As Chris shared, we are working on a multi-faith toolkit for clergy and congregations to help with inclusion of blind/low vision individuals. Coloborators are by invitation of the executive director with the Faith and Inclusion Network. There were some categories in the outline where we didn't have much written, so, with his permission, I sent an email to the members of the NFB Blind Christians Group a couple weeks ago. It is a work in progress, and I hope it will be a done project soon.

I must get back to things I need to read for a meeting tomorrow morning, so I will sign off. I wish you all a good weekend and a blessed Lord's-Day!

In Christ's Service,

Linda Mentink