Many of you work at a Lutheran Braille Workers work center, making materials available to share the Gospel of Jesus with the visually impaired around the world! Some of you may have worked with LBW in the Servant Connections area at the LWML Convention in Albuquerque. I wanted to share these notes from LBW President, Rev. Dennis Stueve and Janis Fisher.

LWML in Albuquerque
The women at the Lutheran Women Missionary League (LWML) Servant Connections in Albuquerque, NM were energized. What a wonderful opportunity this was for us to witness their love for missions and outreach to others.

Lutheran Braille Workers (LBW) had two projects at the Servant Connections. Our Large Print Department brought 2,900 calendars to be collated, punched and bound. All 2,900 were completed. Each month of the calendar has a scripture and a corresponding picture at the bottom of the page sharing the message of salvation. These calendars will be given to people who are visually impaired free of charge.

The Braille Department had two work stations equipped with Braille presses and plates to produce Volumes 1 and 2 of the Book of Jeremiah. By the end of the sessions they had completed 40 volumes to be sent free of charge to people who are blind.

It was good to see so many familiar faces and friends. Our thanks to the LWML for allowing us to share our ministry. Hope to see you all again in two years!

Janis Fisher, LBW Vice President Ministry Operations

Jesus Christ Above All

The primary work of every Christian is to be Christ’s agent of making Him known in a sinful world. There are lots of ways to do that. For Lutheran Braille Workers (LBW) that means reaching out with the Gospel to people who are blind or visually impaired. That mission spirit was very evident at the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League’s biennium convention as they celebrated their 75th anniversary under the theme, “Jesus Christ Above All.” I, along with many other Lutheran Braille Workers, were excited to join in the LWML convention and celebration. As always, LWML conventions are filled with joy, spiritual growth, and reconnecting with other LWMLers!

LBW was privileged to be part of the Servant Connection at the convention where participants produced Jeremiah and Lamentations in Braille and our faith affirming 2018 calendar in Specialized Large Print.

LBW also had an exhibit at the convention where many gathered and shared their stories and their connections with LBW. Almost every person I spoke with had some connection to LBW. Either they are, or were, Lutheran Braille Workers or their parents or grandparents were Lutheran Braille Workers! It was heartwarming to see these individuals share their stories with a smile on their face knowing that people who are visually impaired had been touched eternally with the Gospel!

LBW was also one of the ministries to be included in the LWML Mission Grants. Over the next biennium the LWML has pledged to provide $100,000 for the production of the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible in both Braille and Specialized Large Print. We praise God and give thanks to the women of the LWML for this mission grant that will allow LBW to touch the lives of people who are visually impaired with God’s saving Word!

LBW also hosted a breakfast on Saturday at the convention and I had the opportunity to thank those who attended for their support and commitment to the ministry of LBW. Others learned about the mission of LBW to reach out with the Gospel to people who are visually impaired who are often very marginalized by society. I noted that 95% of people who are visually impaired are unchurched and that we are called into that mission field.

Rev. Dennis Stueve, President LBW

I volunteer at the Tulsa Work Center and it is a lot of fun! Thank you for being involved in some way with LBW. An offering in your Mite Box will help a blind or visually impaired child of God receive the blessings of His Word.

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth … (John 9:1-41).

Patti