Lutheran Braille Workers

PO Box 5000 Yucaipa, CA 92399 • 800-925-6092 • www.LBWinc.org

Helping People Touch thePromises of Jesus

Illuminations

1ILLUMINATIONS Fall 2012

Fall 2012

WHAT’S INSIDETexas Youths Help Produce The Gospel 2Large Print Growth Benefits Ministry 3God Has Brought About A Partnership 3What’s New in Braille 4Introducing Pastor Dave Andrus 4Blessed To Be A Blessing 6Our Dedicated Family! 6

Celebrate With Us; the Two have become One in Christ!From the beginning of time, God established partnerships. Every interaction between God and people always involved partnerships. God established Eve and Adam as the first partnership, Paul’s first missionary journey was a partnership with Barnabas, Jesus sent out Gospel teams “two by two,” God ordained the marriage union, and even the animals on the Ark went in two by two.

As of July 1st of this year, Lutheran Braille Workers (LBW) partnered with Lutheran Blind Mission (LBM), a close partnership akin to marriage. The two have now become one.

Each partner brings gifts to the union. Lutheran Blind Mission has 65 Outreach Centers throughout the United States where about 1,500 people regularly meet for fellowship and devotion; the Lutheran Library for the Blind, the largest Christian lending library in the world;

and a number of publications and books in Audio, Large Print, and Braille.

Lutheran Braille Workers produces the Bible and other Christian titles in Braille and Large Print and offers products in 30 languages. For almost 70 years, thousands of volunteers have been manufacturing these books and providing God’s Word to people throughout the world without cost.

God brought this partnership into existence, but He didn’t just bring only ‘two’ together. The partnership between LBW and LBM is a family partnership, bringing together many faithful people. LBM is being served by about 1,000 faithful volunteers and LBW has more than 5,000; these saints of God are what made these two ministries effective. Now that LBW and LBM are one ministry, volunteers are the blessing from God that will bring the Gospel of Jesus to the 161 million people with visual impairment throughout the world! The partnership is not only between two but is a family of thousands.

The partnership between LBW and LBM includes Rev. Dave Andrus and Rev. Dr. Phil Pledger. Rev. Andrus will focus his efforts on the Outreach Centers and the 1,500 people connected with these centers. He will be the “face” of the ministry as he speaks to congregations and groups throughout the country. Dr. Pledger will oversee the overall ministry, serving as President; he also visits congregations, Work Centers and Outreach Centers to encourage and support our partnership calling. (Cont’d on page 5 )

2

lory Bound was the theme for the Texas District Youth Gathering July 19-22nd. The Woodlands,

Texas was the meeting place for these High School Students.

Lutheran Braille Workers was invited to host a service project. We were in need of completing 44 books of the Gospel of John. This would help fulfill an order placed by the Bible Society of Nigeria for 144 Grade 2 English Bibles (5,328 volumes).

The attending Youth represented the following churches from Texas: Family of Faith Lutheran, Houston, Zion Lutheran, Abilene, and Trinity Lutheran, Klein. Many of

them wrote notes on the inside covers, which will be brailled before they are shipped to Nigeria.

Mission minded Hayden S. encouraged his group of friends to stay and

produce a complete book before they left for dinner; stating, “I don’t want to leave till we

complete the Gospel of John.”

Texas Youth Help Produce The Gospel Of John Books Are Nigeria Bound

G

Producing the Gospel of John are (L to R) Alexis R,

Peter B, Sofia N, and Abby ML to R: Aaron B, Hayen S, Jimmy B, Aaron D, Brandon S

2ILLUMINATIONS Fall 2012

LUTHERAN BRAILLE WORKERS ELECTRONIC GIVING AUTHORIZATION FORM 502738851

Name ______________________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________

Date of first contribution: ______/______/______

Frequency of contribution (check one): Monthly on the 1st Monthly on the 15th One Time

Amount per donation: $

Work Center Number (optional)

CHECKING / SAVINGS Complete only if using checking or savings account. CREDIT / DEBIT CARD Complete only if using your credit or debit card.

Please debit my donation from my (check one): Please charge my (check one): Visa MasterCard Discover American Express Checking Account (attach voided check) Savings account Credit Card Number: Expiration Date:

Routing #: Account #:

Name on Card:

I authorize Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc. and Vanco Services, LLC to process debit entries to my account. I understand that this authority will remain in effect until I provide reasonable notification to terminate the authorization. Signature on bank account:___________________________________ Date:_______________

Billing Address:

I authorize Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc. and Vanco Services, LLC to charge my card for the above dollar amount. Signature (as seen on the card): ___________________________________________________ Date:_______________

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. George Locke - Chair Dr. Werner EssigMr. Kenneth Loeber - Vice Chair Mrs. Julia NeimesRev. Norman Finke - Secretary Mrs. Carol M. ZemkeMr. J. Kelly Tripp - TreasurerRev. Dennis Stueve - Chaplain

Tax ID: 95-6048152

NEWSLETTER STAFF

Rev. Dr. Phillip M. Pledger - PresidentJan Fisher - VP of Ministry OperationsRev. Dave Andrus - Administrator of Christian OutreachRose Jaimes - Braille AdministratorRoy Fisher - Large Print AdministratorKathy Buss - Donor RelationsDavid Crespo - IT Specialist

The Large Print Department has grown by leaps and bounds as a result of the merging of Lutheran Blind Mission (LBM) and Lutheran Braille Workers (LBW). Combining the two ministries’ resources provides an accessible and efficient outlet for Christian Large Print publications. This will eliminate the confusion and frustration some readers have experienced in the past by either confusing the two ministries or by not knowing which materials each one produces.

LBW now has many popular periodicals in Large Print and Cassette Tape, available via subscription. These include in Large Print: The Lutheran Digest, The Lutheran Witness, LWML Quarterly, My Devotions, Today’s Light and In His Hands. These join the Lutheran Hour Sermon, which has been produced by LBW for many years. Now available on cassette tape: The Lutheran Digest, The Lutheran Witness, The LWML Quarterly, In His Hands, Portals of Prayer and the Lutheran Messenger.

Joining our 37 Volume Large Print Bible and other Christian Books and pamphlets as regular Large Print production items are the Lutheran Service Book and Luther’s Small Catechism. Other items are also expected to be put into production soon.

Along with the added publications, LBW welcomes the dedicated LBM volunteers who are instrumental to the success of this endeavor. The growth of our volunteer force means that LBW will be able to provide the message of God’s grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, better than ever before. Thank you all for your prayers and support. – Roy Fisher

Periodicals, Cassettes and More Added

Newly added books and audio cassettes to LBW’s ministry.

3ILLUMINATIONS Fall 2012

God has brought about a partnership that:

• Serves 1,500 people with visual impairment in 65 Outreach Centers• Manufactures more than 275,000 book volumes each year• Is faithfully served by more than 6,000 volunteers• Has Work Centers and Outreach Centers in 38 US States and 3 Canadian Provinces• Offers Library Services from the largest Christian lending library in the world• Has Gospel-centered books and other material in 30 languages• Makes this ministry the largest of its kind in the world

Large Print Growth Benefits Ministry

4ILLUMINATIONS Fall 2012

The Rev. David Andrus was born and raised in Wausau, WI. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in 1981 from Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota (Evangelism and Greek), his Master of Divinity (1985) and a Masters of Sacred Theology (2008) from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO.

Rev. Andrus served as a Pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO, from 1985–98 where the congregation grew even though it was located in a declining urban setting. From 1998–2003, Rev. Andrus served the LC-MS Board for Missions as Director of Lutheran Mission with Blind and Visually Impaired Persons. In 2003, the ministry became the independently funded “Lutheran

Blind Mission Society,” with Rev. Andrus as Executive Director. Lutheran Blind Mission began as a Christian lending library for the blind. Under Rev. Andrus, it has expanded to include Outreach Centers, where blind people reach out to other blind people with social aid and Christian love, and the Christian Blind Institute, a correspondence school that trains blind and visually impaired people to be leaders. With the merger of Lutheran Blind Mission with Lutheran Braille Workers, Rev. Andrus will focus his efforts on serving as Administrator of Christian Outreach. In this role, Rev. Andrus will travel extensively to develop Outreach Centers, train blind and sighted volunteers and to be an ambassador of goodwill to the church. Rev. Andrus is married to Debra (Nee) Plath who is a copy editor at Concordia Publishing House. They are the parents of two great daughters, Victoria and Margaret.

Through the generosity of The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) we now have a new Plate Embossing Device (PED). This is enabling us to add six new titles to our Braille grade 2 catalog, giving new options of Christ-centered reading in Braille. These new titles are ready to be embossed and should be in production soon:

Angels Can Fly, written by Dr. Richard Bimler. This is a happy book. It encourages you to take yourself lightly. It will help you replace boredom and anxiety with the joy of the Spirit.

Heaven, written by George Beiderwieden; is for people who want to know… Is there a heaven? Can the teaching of heaven be true? Where is heaven and how do I get there?

Christ in Your Life (2 volumes) is a devotional, written by Leslie Brandt. Touching the topic of “with Jesus you can get through anything.”

The last three books, part of the LWML Mustard Seed Series are: Living in Praise, Living in Joy, and Living in Spirit. - Rose Jaimes

What’s New In Braille?

PROMISE MAKERS

Honored people who have contributed time, talent and treasure to enhance and advance the ministry of

Lutheran Braille Workers.

Introducing Reverend Dave Andrus

Rev. Dave Andrus

Beloved Ministry SupportersLutheran Braille Workers and Lutheran Blind Mission are now one Powerful ministry! We are working hard to merge these two great ministries with minimal inconvenience to you. This is the first Newsletter that we are sending all LBW & LBM supporters and ask that if you receive more than one copy (and are not in need of more), please contact David at 800.925.6092 or by email at david@LBWinc.org. Thank you for your continued support!

5ILLUMINATIONS Fall 2012

But there is even more to this partnership. Each of these two ministries is also being served by faithful donors. St. Paul made several earnest pleas to various congregations about the financial needs of the people he was called to serve. Through the generous gifts of thousands of faithful saints of God, Paul’s evangelistic objectives were met. In the same way, the costs of providing Bibles and other Christian books as well as the “hands on” ministry of serving people with visual impairment throughout the US and Canada, can only be met by generous and faithful saints of God. Those who financially support this ministry are Gospel missionaries serving on the front lines just as missionaries who are sent.

The greatest partner, however, is our Senior Partner, God Himself. Lutheran Braille Workers and Lutheran Blind Mission serve now as one ministry, under God. We are a “family partnership” along with volunteers, financial supporters and prayer warriors. Together we serve our Lord and work according to His plan in a mission field

extremely underserved.

There is a need for additional partners! Please become a prayer warrior, lifting up this ministry in prayer. If all people with severe visual impairment lived in one

country, that country would be the 8th largest in the world by population. We need your prayers.

This unique ministry also needs your financial support. Please prayerfully consider becoming a Gospel Missionary through financial support. Donations of any amount will help provide the Gospel of Jesus to people often ignored and forgotten. Jesus came to seek and to save, and He loves people with visual impairment

just as He does everyone else.

Finally, who do you know that needs Large Print, Braille, or Audio? Please contact the Home Office and we will send to you and your friend a catalog of Christ-centered books that are available without cost. Through your partnership, people come to know Jesus! - Rev. Dr. Phil Pledger

Celebrate With Us (Continued from page 1)

+ = Touch

Rev. Dave Andrus & Rev. Dr. Phillip Pledger

Over the past year, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has provided eligible benefit members the option to direct Choice Dollars® to the charity of their choice, such as Lutheran Braille Workers, on a recurring basis.

Thrivent Financial’s Choice Dollars program is continuing, but with one important change. As of Jan. 1, 2013, the recurring direction option will be discontinued.

Members who have Choice Dollars for 2012 (which have not already been designated), will have until March 31, 2013 to designate those Choice Dollars.

Thank you for designating your Choice Dollars to Lutheran Braille Workers.

Thrivent Changes Choice Dollars Procedures®

Please prayerfully consider Lutheran Braille Workers in your Estate Planning.

6ILLUMINATIONS Fall 2012

Most readers of Illuminations know that as of July 1, 2012, Lutheran Blind Mission (LBM) became a ministry of Lutheran Braille Workers (LBW). But did you know all that was done by LBM?

The Lutheran Library for the Blind (LLB) serving patrons since 1939, was relocated from St. Louis, MO to Jacksonville, FL. The LLB currently serves about 1,000 people who are blind, providing them with Christian materials. For many, this is their only connection with God. This is the world’s largest Christian Library that offers Braille, Large Print and Audio material (without cost).

Twenty-five Work Centers add to the 183 LBW Work Centers. The books and other Christian faith building materials are received by more than 4,000 people who are blind and visually impaired. They not only receive but depend on these materials—all produced by willing volunteers. Together with LBW, the more than 6,000 volunteers make the Bible and other Christian books available to people who are blind at no cost. In addition to Bible volumes in 30 languages, some of the other familiar titles include: Portals of Prayer; Lutheran Witness; Lutheran Digest; LWML Quarterly; My Devotions; Today’s Light.

Outreach Centers, the core strength of LBM, connect more than 1,500 people to Christ and to one another. The Outreach Centers are a ministry that focuses on people, and provides opportunity for mutual encouragement and Christian fellowship. The merger between LBM and LBW allows me (Rev. Andrus) to direct my full attention to serving the people I have come to love, and, as a person who is also blind, people with whom I can easily relate.

The Christian Blind Institute, central to the Outreach Center ministry, equips people who are visually impaired for leadership positions within the Outreach Centers. Since July, I have conducted three sessions for blind leaders and a fourth is planned for October.

Thank you all for your prayers and much needed financial support! Through your partnership, many people will come to know Jesus, and one day see His face. Together we are helping people touch the promises of Jesus. - Rev. Dave Andrus

Blessed to be a Blessing!

Rev. Dave Andrus leads prayer at an Outreach Center

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit one of our most southern Work Centers in Texas; Work Center #52, located in Texas City, which is led by Margarete Wiggins. Volunteers from Peace Lutheran Church of

Texas City and Hope Lutheran Church of Friendswood, came together to hear about the work of Lutheran Braille Workers, enjoy some refreshments, and take part in presenting Margarete with her 15-year pin during this occasion. There is something really special happening at this Work Center. Margarete and four of her sisters have worked as volunteers for Peace Lutheran Church. Also, Debbie Schkade along with her mother and mother-in-law, are faithful volunteers from Hope Lutheran. It is a blessing to see that many individual

family members are a part of the Lutheran Braille Worker family! Lutheran Braille Workers sends a special “Thank You” to the wonderful and gracious ladies of

the Texas District Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, who recently gave us a grant for $20,600 to continue printing Braille and Large Print books of the Bible. This grant is also going to help expand our ministry by opening another Braille Work Center at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in College Station, Texas.

We give thanks to God for your wonderful support! - Peggy Turnipseed

Our Dedicated Family

Peggy Turnipseed (MA) presenting Margarete Wiggins with her 15 Year Pin.

Alpha Siems, Debbie Schkade, Peggy Turnipseed, and Jinx Schkade