[Faith-Talk] Serving in Church and Related Issues

Sun Nov 16 01:37:09 UTC 2025

PJ i am just sad to actually.

On Sat, Nov 15, 2025 at 8:31 PM Pj Navarro via Faith-Talk <
faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> I’m so sad.
>
> On Sat, Nov 15, 2025 at 7:28 PM Ericka via Faith-Talk <
> faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
> > I can’t speak to anything else PJ, but I do know what you’re talking
> about
> > when you say that you feel like you’ve been left out of the Nfb. There’s
> > been a lot of times where I suggested something and got talked over
> before
> > I could share my idea. Blind people aren’t very good at keeping their
> mouth
> > shut and taking turns. Coming to things with a proposal works a little
> bit
> > better but I know the Nfb plays favorites. That’s why I’m not too active
> in
> > a chapter, but I do support advocacy wherever I see it and try to be a
> good
> > advocate and supporter of individuals.
> > Ericka Nelson
> > K E9DYN
> > Proud general class him license owner
> >
> > > On Nov 7, 2025, at 3:28 PM, Pj Navarro via Faith-Talk <
> > faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > PJ here, & the only reason I’m here is because Norma Crosby introduced
> > me
> > > to y’all a couple years ago after getting mad at me. Apparently the
> main
> > > reason we’re all stuck in this private conversation of back & forth
> > emails
> > > is because we’re not allowed to create a public Facebook group for
> > > Christians in the NFB, which is what i tried to do. It was going to be
> > > a group where hundreds & even thousands can benefit & be inspired by
> > > faith-talk. Don’t y’all understand how misleading it is given that my
> > > own local NFB Chapter meetings are held in a church called Love &
> Grace?
> > In
> > > the beginning of last year, after being elected a board member for the
> > > Coastal Bend Chapter over here in Corpus Christi, Texas, I ended up
> just
> > > leaving the group soon after due to poor leadership & the small group’s
> > > lack of enthusiasm. Not to mention I was continuously excluded from the
> > > messages but that’s besides the point. The main point is I tried my
> best
> > to
> > > fix what’s broken in the NFB Andrew, but maybe you have something I
> lack,
> > > use your perseverance & succeed where I failed.
> > > PS- I tried attending the local White Cane Day March for Independence
> > last
> > > month, yet upon my arrival, why was I not surprised to learn that it
> was
> > > cancelled on the spot?
> > > PPS- The main thing our chapter has done was fundraise for everyone’s
> > > attendance at national convention, but even with all that money, even
> my
> > > donations of over $350, not a single member has been able to attend for
> > > years! All of you say we’re not forgotten, BUT SOME OF US MOST
> CERTAINLY
> > > HAVE BEEN!
> > >
> > > For Shame,
> > >
> > >
> > >> On Fri, Nov 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM andrew edgcumbe via Faith-Talk <
> > >> faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Hi all
> > >> The other thing is what if those particular churches don't support
> maybe
> > >> support is the wrong word though but what if  i could say it generally
> > but
> > >> i am keeping it faith based for this groups sake but  most sighted
> > people
> > >> or pastors or people in leadership may side line blind people and how
> > can
> > >> we show pastors we can do stuff because lets say somebody isn't given
> > those
> > >> chances to even try and try over and over again.
> > >> Why and i am being kind of whatever don't we have articles describing
> > what
> > >> blind people can do for or relate to faith community.
> > >> Also there should be you tubes we could send to pastors yes we can
> > advocate
> > >> all day all we want and not get anywhere.
> > >> Sooner or later NFB if they are aware of these issues and yes churches
> > or
> > >> whatever it is or community  NFB needs to come up with documents
> > explaining
> > >> or even you tube footage to show churches that we can do things.
> > >> Why isn't more of that stuff being done  in faith based settings or
> for
> > >> faith based settings.
> > >>
> > >> What if an blind individual doesn't have the tools to work through
> those
> > >> things by themselves when it comes to churches.
> > >> It is a running theme and we need to think of a way as a collective
> > body to
> > >> deal with this or things won't get better If we want the better world
> > for
> > >> christians or blind people there needs to be more consistancy and some
> > >> faith based programs that can teach blind people how to minister and
> > how to
> > >> whatever I am not talking about jobs here i am just talking about
> > >> vollunteer opportunities.
> > >> What good are we doing as an orginization if we don't offer support to
> > the
> > >> blind population more needs to be done then just say to them go
> advocate
> > >> some may not have experience some may not be the most experienced
> blind
> > >> person from a christian point of view.
> > >> After all churches have caused allot of hurt when it comes to disabled
> > >> people.  there is plenty of articles online about even just disability
> > >> people in churches.
> > >> Mom has looked up stuff along those lines because even my Mom has been
> > >> trying to help in find out things to.
> > >>
> > >> Because pastors and ministry leaders in my opinion should get trained
> on
> > >> disability and blindness that is how I feel.
> > >>
> > >> We need to come up with resources specifficaly for churches to help
> > them be
> > >> able to serve disabled or blind people that is the opinion I have
> about
> > >> that.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Fri, Nov 7, 2025 at 3:03 PM Chris Nusbaum via Faith-Talk <
> > >> faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Dear Friends:
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> I have been following with equal parts interest and concern the
> thread
> > >>> started yesterday by Andrew and PJ, which now contains contributions
> > from
> > >>> several people who share widely varying perspectives on ministry, the
> > >>> Church
> > >>> (big C and little c), and even faith as a whole. In some ways there
> is
> > >> too
> > >>> much here to respond to in one message, but I'll try to distill my
> > >> thoughts
> > >>> into something that makes sense.
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> Let me first address Andrew and PJ directly. Andrew, I think you have
> > >>> brought up a problem that far too many of us can relate to. In fact,
> it
> > >> may
> > >>> be true that there are more blind people who have struggled to be
> > >> accepted
> > >>> in a church than those who have easily been accepted in one. Perhaps
> > >> there
> > >>> are even more blind Christians without a church home than with one. I
> > >> don't
> > >>> know if this is also true of other faiths, but I wouldn't be
> surprised.
> > >> To
> > >>> my knowledge, no one has done a study on this to come up with any
> > factual
> > >>> statistics, so anything I say on the subject would be my own
> > speculation.
> > >>> Either way, it's a theme that comes up frequently on this list, and
> we
> > >> have
> > >>> had at least 2 panel discussions about it at recent meetings of the
> NFB
> > >>> Blind Christians Group at our national convention. Furthermore, the
> > >>> underlying purpose of the call we hosted last year with the Prayer
> and
> > >>> Crisis Referral Network was to introduce our members and friends to a
> > >>> ministry that is already interested in including blind people and is
> a
> > >>> perfect fit for those who are having trouble finding their place in a
> > >>> church. The same is true of the Phone Faith ministry previously
> > mentioned
> > >>> in
> > >>> this thread, which I haven't participated in yet but which I probably
> > >> will
> > >>> call into soon now that I've heard more about it. I say all this to
> > make
> > >>> the
> > >>> point, Andrew and PJ, that you are not alone-not by a long shot. In
> > >> fact, I
> > >>> believe the great challenge for blind people in communities of faith
> is
> > >> how
> > >>> to balance our desire to be included as equals with our need to
> > advocate
> > >>> for
> > >>> the accommodations we require. This list, as well as the faith-based
> > >> groups
> > >>> of the Federation, exist as a space where those challenges can be
> > brought
> > >>> into the open and solutions can be developed.
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> Now that I've addressed the problem, let's see if I can suggest a
> > >> solution
> > >>> or two. Back in 2015, I wrote an article for Future Reflections
> (NFB's
> > >>> magazine for parents and teachers of blind children) titled "Finding
> My
> > >>> Niche." Since its main focus was after-school extracurricular
> > >> activities, I
> > >>> won't quote it or link to it here; you can look it up if you want to
> > read
> > >>> it. But the main point of the article applies as much to church life
> as
> > >> it
> > >>> does to after-school life: If our goal is to be included in the wider
> > >>> community, the first step is to find our niche-the part of that
> > community
> > >>> that fits our talents and interests. I got involved in the NFB during
> > >>> middle
> > >>> school and became more involved in student leadership as I went
> through
> > >>> high
> > >>> school and college, partly because I had trouble finding a place in
> the
> > >>> clubs sponsored by the school, even in the music-related activities
> > that
> > >>> should have been where I belonged. As I progressed through college,
> > >>> however,
> > >>> I was blessed to find more acceptance in certain small groups there,
> > and
> > >>> made friends within those groups. I was also in another state, so I
> > >> wasn't
> > >>> as involved in NFB. Now I'm working and have lived in 2 more states,
> > >>> finally
> > >>> coming back to my home state of Maryland. I have been in a variety of
> > >>> churches, sometimes finding a niche, sometimes not. But I'm now back
> in
> > >> NFB
> > >>> again at various levels. So, apparently, the blind community is my
> > >>> niche-or,
> > >>> at least, one of them.
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> The same, I think, is true of a church. Most churches have many
> > >> ministries
> > >>> and multiple small groups and Bible studies. So, I urge you to try
> one
> > >> out.
> > >>> If it doesn't work, try another, and another, and so on. Eventually,
> > you
> > >>> will find your niche. Like any leader, the pastor does not lead a
> > church
> > >>> alone, nor is it the pastor's responsibility to find a place where
> each
> > >>> member belongs. The pastor can provide support and solve problems
> among
> > >>> members, but ultimately one's involvement in a ministry is between
> that
> > >>> person and the ministry's leadership. So, I urge you: Keep trying
> until
> > >> you
> > >>> find your niche, even when it gets discouraging (notice I said when,
> > not
> > >>> if). If it's not at one church, it may be at another. Or it may be on
> > the
> > >>> Prayer Line (shameless plug), in our Christians Group, or in some
> other
> > >>> virtual ministry. Whatever it is, as you pray for discernment and
> keep
> > >>> trying, I believe you will eventually find it.
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> Finally, I want to try to lovingly and prayerfully address the
> > >> expressions
> > >>> of depression expressed in this thread. First, as a brother in Christ
> > and
> > >>> as
> > >>> a fellow member of our blind community, I'm incredibly sorry to hear
> > that
> > >>> you are going through this, and my prayers are with you. I also note
> > that
> > >>> this depression has been solely attributed to the struggles with
> > church,
> > >> as
> > >>> if your challenges in gaining acceptance in a faith community defines
> > >> your
> > >>> life. If you really feel that you are a "failure," that God has
> > >> "forgotten"
> > >>> you, I wonder if that depression really goes deeper than that. I'll
> > just
> > >>> leave that there for you to think and pray on. Let me also commend to
> > you
> > >>> these lyrics from an inspiring contemporary Christian song:
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> "The truth is I am my Father's child.
> > >>>
> > >>> I make Him proud and I make Him smile.
> > >>>
> > >>> I was made in the image of a perfect King,
> > >>>
> > >>> He looks at me and wouldn't change a thing.
> > >>>
> > >>> The truth is I am truly loved by a God who's good when I'm not good
> > >> enough.
> > >>>
> > >>> I don't belong to the lies, I belong to You.
> > >>>
> > >>> And that's the truth." -Megan Woods
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> I have probably gone on too long already, but all of this has been
> > >> weighing
> > >>> heavily on my heart, and I'm grateful for this platform which allows
> me
> > >> to
> > >>> share it. Thank you all for sharing your hearts with us.
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> With prayers that the "peace that passes all understanding" will
> remain
> > >>> with
> > >>> each of us,
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> Chris
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> Christopher A. Nusbaum
> > >>>
> > >>> Assistive Technology Trainer for Blind/Low-vision Students and Adults
> > >>>
> > >>> Board Member, Assistive Technology Trainers Division, National
> > Federation
> > >>> of
> > >>> the Blind
> > >>>
> > >>> Cell: (443) 547-2409
> > >>>
> > >>> Work: (443) 487-6262
> > >>>
> > >>> Personal email:  <mailto:cnusbaumnfb at gmail.com>
> cnusbaumnfb at gmail.com
> > >>>
> > >>> Work email: canaccesssolutions at gmail.com
> > >>> <mailto:canaccesssolutions at gmail.com>  or cnusbaum at ais-llc.com
> > >>>
> > >>> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-nusbaum-274384136> LinkedIn
> > >>>
> > >>> Schedule a meeting with me <https://fantastical.app/cnusbaum/cas>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to
> help
> > >> you
> > >>> and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future."
> -Jeremiah
> > >>> 29:11
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> _______________________________________________
> > >>> Faith-Talk mailing list
> > >>> Faith-Talk at nfbnet.org
> > >>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/faith-talk_nfbnet.org
> > >>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > >>> Faith-Talk:
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/faith-talk_nfbnet.org/rollercoasterman86%40gmail.com
> > >>>
> > >> _______________________________________________
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> > >>
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