Gordon Temple to talk about Torch in Norwich

The Chief Executive of the Torch Trust is the guest speaker at Meadow Way Chapel's Mission Link on Saturday 6th December 2008 at 7.30PM.

"Gordon Temple's visit presents a great opportunity for people to learn about the latest developments in the worldwide and UK work of the Torch Trust for the Blind", says Mervyn Ivany, chairman of the Norwich Torch Fellowship Group, "And we are very grateful to Meadow Way Chapel for hosting this event."

Prior to Dr. Temple's PowerPoint presentation at 7.30PM which is open to all, the Meadow Way group are hosting a four course fellowship meal at 6PM costing £10. Members of the Norwich Torch Fellowship will join diners and be available to talk about their local group for blind and partially sighted Christians

For more details and to book a meal, please contact Paul Smith on 01603 261189 by 30th November

Venue: Meadow Way Chapel,Chapel Court,Hellesdon,Norwich,NR6 5NU
Location Map
Meadow Way Chapel website

John Lambert - A faithful servant of Torch

John Lambert passed away quietly at Whitehall Lodge Residential Home after a long fight against prostate cancer on Sunday morning(26th)

John was involved in helping to run the Norwich Torch Fellowship for many years and latterly served as Secretary and Treasurer. He also used his car to provide transport for those blind and partially sighted people who wished to attend the fellowship from the Norwich area. To keep up to date on developments in Torch work worldwide, he and his wife enjoyed regular visits to Torch House on their Open Days and other occasions.

John worked for Lloyds Bank and in his spare time used his knowledge and experience of finance to help manage several Christian charities in the Norfolk area.

We extend our sympathy to the family and give thanks for his life of faithful service to God's people.

The funeral is at Douro Place Chapel, Norwich, NR2 4BQ at 1300 on Friday 7th November 2008. The retiring offering is in aid of the Torch Trust. If coming by car, please ensure that you avoid the residents only parking bays on adjacent streets.

Reverend Frank Hibberd - an appreciation

The Reverend Frank Hibberd was a regular and popular speaker at the Norwich Torch Trust Fellowship for over thirty years. His booming voice and clear diction ensured that everyone in the room heard the message he had prepared. We also enjoyed the games and quizzes he led at the annual Fellowship Group party on several occasions.

Frank and his wife were on holiday on the South Coast in late September when he had a heart attack and later died in a local hospital. We offer our sympathy to the family of this dynamic eighty year old who never tired of preaching the Gospel.

A Celebration of his Life will be held at the Church on the Way, Thetford at 2PM on Friday 31st October 2008. The family have asked people to wear bright colours as Frank was always full of life!

What are you doing for Christmas?

Many of those with sight loss live alone with nowhere to go at Christmas time.

As part of their aim to provide friendship and support for lonely blind people, for many years the Christian charity Torch Trust for the Blind have run a five day Christmas houseparty at their Holiday and Retreat Centre in Sussex.
Every year it is always heavily overbooked and this year Torch have been offered the use of the High Leighs Christian Conference Centre in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire to enable them to cater for the demand.

Already over 20 blind and partially sighted people have booked plus a dozen or so sighted helpers. To enable them to accept more bookings, Torch need more sighted helpers and are asking for volunteers.

So if you were wondering what to do for Christmas or wish to find out more about the international work of the Torch Trust or know a blind person who would love to spend Christmas with others, please contact our Holiday Centre Manager

Helpers should be in sympathy with the objectives of the Torch Trust for the Blind and self-supporting.

For more details, contact Gail Millar on 01273 832282 or e-mail: Gail

Only a few of our members are totally blind

Only 4% of those with a visual disability are totally blind. This Leonard Cheshire Creature Discomfort animation shown recently on TV mentions a lack of peripheral vision being a problem.

London's Premier Radio launches new show for disabled Christians

In October 2007 Premier Radio launched a show aimed at Christians with disabilities in association with the Torch Trust for the Blind.

Hosted by blind presenter Marilyn Baker, the Insight program is now broadcast Sunday afternoons at 4PM. "I'm very excited to be presenting this new program on behalf of Torch Trust for the Blind," Baker told Premier. "Insight is aimed at people who have disabilities or people who are just interested and want to make a difference."

The first programme was broadcast on the eve of Disability Sunday (October 7) and featured Paul Dicken, the founder of Through the Roof and Disability Sunday and others from Torch Trust and Prospects Causeway talking about how they were raising the profile of disabled people in churches.

"In Britain 9.5 million people are disabled -- that's more than 1 in 7. Few of our church congregations reflect this, " comments Torch Trust's Chief Executive, Dr. Gordon Temple. "Disability Sunday is an opportunity for churches to raise awareness of the needs for disabled people and to celebrate the contribution made by disabled people to the life of the church."

Insight is to be the first program on Premier Christian Radio aimed specifically at listeners with disabilities, but the station has a long history of connecting with disabled people and often receives letters of support from the disabled community. With Insight, Premier has designed a program that it is hoped will appeal to a wide range of disabled Christians.

"We want this to be your show," Baker told her audience during the first programme, "We're going to hear stories of people's faith and their struggles and achievements. We're going to try and address topics that will interest you."

Click here to listen to a sample programme using your computer's media player. There is a delay while the media stream is set up.

The sample, broadcast recently, features Through The Roof Development Manager Tim Wood and Integr8 volunteer mentor, Alan Whetherly talking about the ‘Influence’ mentoring project.


In the Norwich area you can listen online at: http://www.premier.org.uk/player.cfm or by selecting Sky Digital 0123, Virgin Media 968 or Freeview 725 on an appropriate
receiver.

Thanks to Michael Ireland,Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service for the story

Torch launches new "Foursight" campaign aimed at churches

The Torch Trust for the Blind have launched their Foursight campaign to challenge churches into attracting people with sight loss into their congregations.

Just imagine what it would be like to go to your church if you had little or no eyesight.

How would you get there? Would the steward show you to your seat? Would somebody sit next to you and give you any help that you needed during the service? How would you know if your friends are in church this morning? Are the church Bibles, songbooks, order of service and newssheet available in a media that you could use?

How would you join in?

Churches that wish to help those with sight loss can follow "Four Steps" on the Foursight website

Briefly, the Four Steps are:

1. Recognise the Need

National statistics suggest that a congregation of just 30 is likely to have one person who has a degree of sightloss that could make it difficult for them to read the songbook, appreciate the flowers, see the preacher or view the PowerPoint screen.

2. Register to access resources

Visit the Foursight webpage http://www.foursight.org.uk and complete the simple form, giving the name of your church and your contact details. Once registered you will have access to a growing body of on-line resources that will help you and your church make a difference for blind and partially sighted people.

3. Order the Church Pack

The pack includes a welcoming guide, details of publishers of Christian material in braille, large print and audio, and a list of suggestions of how your church can reach out to blind and partially sighted people in the local community and overseas.

4. Prepare for Now and the Future

Just think one in four of us will suffer some sort of sight loss, temporary or permanent during our life times. It could be you!

Norwich Disabled Christians Fellowship

The Norwich branch, which started in October 2007, meet from 2PM to 4PM monthly on the 2nd Thursday of the month at the Witard Road Baptist Church, Norwich. The group which is led by Gail Baverstock arrange a varied programme throughout the year.

To contact the Norwich DCF branch, please call the WRBC Church Office on 01603 701502 or contact them by email office@witardroadbaptist.org.uk

Since 1959 the Disabled Christians Fellowship in the UK has been changing the lives of disabled Christians through the support and fellowship it provides for disabled people. Folk continue to come to faith and trust in Christ through its ministry and by knowing the love and care of other Christians.

DCF branches throughout Britain provide fellowship and support for people with a wide range of disabilities. Some are closely associated with a local church, but most are non-denominational, serving disabled Christians from a variety of local churches.

Typically, a branch meeting involves worship, a Christian message, prayer and, of course, a chat with a cup of tea and cake. Helpers are gathered from local churches, and branches can sometimes provide transport to and from the meeting when required. The branches also seek to reach out into the community, educating churches about disability and access issues and are a positive way of serving disabled people and integrating them into church life

Prospects Group Central Norfolk

Prospects hold a monthly event specifically designed for people with learning disabilities, their friends, family and carers on the last Sunday afternoon of each month at The Well Christian Centre, Swaffham Road,Ashill, near Thetford.

Reaching a marginalised group with the good news about Jesus in a simple and practical way, they offer the opportunity to meet with friends and learn more about what it is to know the love of God.

The two hour programme is different each month and includes a variety of music, teaching, games, art and craft coupled with the opportunity to meet new people in a relaxed setting. Starting at 3pm, refreshments are provided during the afternoon.

For more information please contact Leah Stenning on 07789093756 or e-mail leahstenning@yahoo.co.uk

For 30 years, the national charity Prospects has been committed to providing “access to life” for people with learning disabilities. In addition to presenting Biblical truth in an uncomplicated and relevant way, Prospects is addressing issues faced daily by people with learning disabilities: lack of choice, low expectations, unheard voices. Prospects speaks out for those who have no voice and provides a platform for those who can speak. Prospects stands with people as they make choices, as they discover their gifts and achieve ambitions.