[Faith-Talk] Serving in Church and Related Issues

Sat Nov 8 06:44:54 UTC 2025

Hello Andrew,
I will write more tomorrow since I need to sleep now but checked email before that.

For now, I'll say, yes you do come across as complaining to us as Linda said when the tone is so negative.
I also struggle to go forward and I know how it is PJ to feel like you cannot move forward when you cannot find employment and having no adapted sports for the blind and low vision community around you makes you feel stuck with lack of fitness and something fun to do.

But Andrew, You also have received many suggestions from Judy, Ericka, and others and I think they were very nice to you without judgement. 

At this point, it seems like you keep replying to messages with only more complaints.

I know the pain and feeling of not belonging because I've struggled to find even volunteer jobs, let alone paid jobs.
As for church, it’s a small one so I've not really tried to fit into the ministry group. But I think I  would find a place if I tried.

We as listers can only give suggestions. Its up to you to take them. 
You said there needs to be education to pastors and faith leaders. There is an effort to do this in the US already with what Linda said, the Faith inclusion network, I think its called.

Yes, I think more training and resources to include the Christians who are blind or other disabilities is a good idea but we already have some.

We cannot speak to Canada since we are not there.
We do have articles about volunteering already and a few relate to church. I'll post some links this weekend to such articles when I find them.

But, as Judy said so well, its up to you as an individual advocate to advocate and fit into your individual church. 
Every church is different.

I just thought I'd reply quickly.
To those who replied with supportive comments to Andrew such as Judy, thanks. You actually have already given him the advice and some of the suggestions I would give. I've been busy and then fell sick with a respiratory infection, but did want to reply quickly since I've seen so much of Andrew's posts and just wish to say I know how it is to be lonely and shut out of volunteer options but you do have to keep trying and advocating.
I just found a volunteer option as a phone outreach volunteer for a nonprofit doing simple outreach calls to their students.

Thanks all,
Ashley

-----Original Message-----
From: Faith-Talk <faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of andrew edgcumbe via Faith-Talk
Sent: Friday, November 7, 2025 9:50 PM
To: Faith-talk, for the discussion of Blindness in faith and religion <faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: andrew edgcumbe <rollercoasterman86 at gmail.com>; donnajwood at cox.net
Subject: Re: [Faith-Talk] Serving in Church and Related Issues

PJ is right I should not be told I am complaining and stuff like that Like I said  I have tried and tried and tried that is the thing and nobody for the likes of them is trying to understand me.
I am not complaining so  people need to just start giving me some understanding for a change.
 you might say you do but i am accused of complaining when i am giving my true feelings maybe if you don't like us sharing our frusterations me and PJ will go else where to start our own thing simple put.

On Fri, Nov 7, 2025 at 9:36 PM Pj Navarro via Faith-Talk < faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> I don’t recall speaking with a Linda Mentink a couple years ago so 
> sorry about that. A lot has changed since then because my one goal was 
> to assist in getting more blind folks out of their homes, up until 
> I’ve become trapped myself. I took my dog for a walk earlier for the 
> sake of just getting the body moving. Nothing has changed over here in 
> Corpus Christi, nothing ever happens for the blind community in this 
> town whether it be adaptive sports or the goals of our local chapter, 
> it’s depressing & with great shame, i have to say I’ve given up. My 
> brains already fried & so now there’s not much else I can do but pray 
> I don’t become homeless, the last job I had was paying too much so I 
> made the mistake of canceling SSI, after being laid off late February, 
> I was unaware that I won’t be receiving my first disability check for 
> about a year or 2. Thank God my family has been assisting me 
> financially since no other employer is hiring me. Andrew & I are 
> simply laying down the obstacles we’ve come across to perhaps find 
> some clarity in overcoming them. I’m not sure how old Andrew is but we 
> should never tell another adult that they’re just complaining when he 
> or she is trying to open up. Even his mom has been doing her best to 
> help out, like how my mom is the reason my utilities have been paid 
> for. I used to be strong, energetic, & optimistic, but then life 
> happened when I tried over & over to get a life. People who I thought 
> could help ended up bailing, Jesus Christ is the only one I could 
> depend on now. Everyone in my family drinks beer so I was just tired of being alone. It’s only with them when I drink, it’s not like I can afford to get my own beer.
>
> Is the information in this link still accurate?
> If so, is there Blind Christian Group Meeting coming up on Thursday of 
> next week at 7:00pm?
> https://nfbks.org/chapters-divisions/blind-christian-group
>
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 7, 2025 at 6:54 PM Linda Mentink via Faith-Talk < 
> faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> > 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
> > _______________________________________________
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