What if you couldn’t see to read this magazine? In Michigan, there are more than 116,032 people 18 years and older with vision impairment that prevents them from reading newspapers, books, or magazines. Some of them live in your hometown.

This group includes people with 20/40 (or worse) vision in their best eye even with eyeglasses. Among this group are an estimated 35,552 who are totally blind. And each year, thousands of people lose their sight because of accident, disease, or genetic factors.

“Since 1899, Christian Record Services (CRS) has been providing free library and magazine materials for the sight-impaired public,” says Larry Hubbell, CRS director for the Lake Union territories of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. “We have discovered that thousands of blind people are eager to understand the Bible but do not have one in a format they can read. In an effort to remedy this, we have started a six-month 'Bibles for the Blind' fund-raising campaign.”

Some legally blind can read large print, some can read Braille, and some prefer to listen to audio tapes. These materials are costly. As funds have been available, CRS has supplied Bibles for some blind folks, but since CRS is totally dependent on donations from businesses and individuals, the money always runs out before they can even come close to filling the need. That is why it was decided to run a fund-raiser to provide Bibles for the blind and visually impaired.

CRS also sponsors summer and winter National Camps for Blind Children/Adults (NCBC). When campers hear Bible stories, they often express their desire to have Bibles of their own. One 15-year-old recently pleaded, “I need a Bible so badly!”

Currently, CRS is serving 762 blind and visually impaired people in Michigan with Bible services—Bibles, Bible guides, and periodicals with Bible themes for adults and children in Braille, large print, or on tape. However, this leaves 35,790 without such services, plus hundreds of others under the age of 18.

“We believe the Bible is God’s Word, and that through it the blind can come to know Jesus Christ and find the hope they need,” Larry says. “’Bibles for the Blind’ is so big that it is more than CRS representatives can handle. We’re appealing to the Christian community for help with this campaign—churches, Sunday school classes, youth groups, school classes, Boy and Girl Scout troops, and service organizations.”

Anyone involved with a group willing to assist with this campaign should call Larry Hubbell at (248) 634-4379 or write him at 812 Academy Rd., Holly, MI 48442. He will arrange to meet with your group to present a short history of CRS, explain details of the campaign, and pass out “Bibles for the Blind” kits. They will include a coin collection device, a brochure explaining the campaign, a leaflet describing how to be at ease with the blind, a large Braille card, and a script with a sample appeal.

If you prefer to contact the CRS headquarters directly, phone (402) 488-0981; e-mail info@christianrecord.org; visit the Web site at www.christianrecord.com/bftb; or write P.O. Box 6097, Lincoln NE 68506-0097. And don't forget to give generously to the Christian Record Services special offering that will be collected in your church on April 10.

“Think how you treasure your own Bible,” Larry suggests, “and it will help you realize what a joy it will be for a blind person to have one of her own, too.”

Evelyn Lutz is the Holly (Michigan) Church communication leader.