We are approaching the end of the year with a flurry of activity, some very encouraging, and others not so encouraging. On the encouraging side, we have had a flood of orders for the Audio Bible these past few weeks. That has left us scrambling to produce more Bibles and get them sent on their way as quickly as possible. We are finishing our year on a very receptive and positive note from the professionals who serve the visually impaired and print handicapped community. There is much interest in finding out how they can get Audio Bibles for those they serve.

Because of budget restraints, we have lost some key and dear staff members. This has made a heavy work load even heavier for those of us who are left. However, we are committed to continue to provide a Free Audio Bible to every visually impaired and print handicapped individual who requests one.

We look forward to the New Year and the opportunities God will bring our way. With the help of our ministry partners, we will continue to look for ways we can serve the visually impaired and print handicapped by providing them with their own Audio Bible. The demand and the need have never been greater.

I encourage you to check the different resources available on our web site. The latest is the Christmas CD by Sam Lane, a blind concert pianist. You can download it completely free. You will be blessed by it.

Responses From Recipients

The following are just a few of the many responses we have received in past few days:

Thank you so very much for the Audio New Testament Cassettes. I just received it and have listened to it for 2 hours. I plan to listen to all of it then turn around and listen to all of it over and over again. I really do appreciate it. I am 80 years old.
L S

I received my Audio Old Testament yesterday. I have already gone through the New Testament you previously sent. I sure love my Audio Bible. Thank you so very much.
D L

I love my Audio Bible. I am 91. It is my lifeline.
O D

Thank you so much for the Audio Bible I received today. I shared the information with my friend who is a therapy supervisor in rehab. She is eager to put it to use.
J M

I just love my Audio Bible. You don't know how much it lifts my spirits.
B G

I want to tell you how much I love my Audio Bible. It has been such a blessing. May God bless each one of you dear people for your help in sending to people who can no longer see and miss the reading of their Bible. It has brought many happy hours for me.
P W

All of us at Aurora Ministries/Audio Bibles For The Blind want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessing-filled New Year. Words can never express how we appreciate all of you who help us in this vital ministry to the sight impaired and print handicapped. We cherish your prayers, financial support and words of encouragement.

That is how I see it.

Until Next Time,
Jim

Sam Lane's Christmas Album - 2009

http://audiobiblesfortheblind.org/downloads/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=3

A letter recently came across my desk from the Ukraine. By the time we received the letter and had it translated into English, a few months have passed. It was a blessing to me, and I thought you would enjoy it also. G. Sharovarskij wrote:

The Resurrection Day of 2009 brought double joy to us. Just before the Resurrection Day, we received your priceless gift: the Bible on tape, a player and a generator for which we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We are now able to listen to the precious Word of God without ceasing as you have recorded it in our mother tongue. May the Lord protect you and bless you abundantly. You are in our prayers. May you always be in good health and happy in Jesus.

Blind invalids from Ukraine.

It is a joy for us to join with all of our ministry partners in making God's Word available to those around the world who cannot see to read, yet have a hunger in their heart for the Word of God.

Be sure to check out our latest story of the month. You can find it on our home page. We are also on Facebook, My Space and Twitter. Help us spread the word. We are excited about the opportunities God is giving us to provide His Word to visually impaired and print handicapped people around the world. Thanks for being a part of this vital ministry.

That is how I see it.

Until Next Time,
Jim

Did you know that by 2015 the blind population in America is expected to double?

Some weeks ago we provided our ministry partners thank-you cards on which they could write a personal message of appreciation to our wounded warriors and veterans. We received many wonderful responses of kind words and thoughtful expressions. Those cards have been passed along, and I am sure those messages of love, appreciation and encouragement will bring much joy to those who receive them.
My wife and I had the pleasure this week of visiting a V.A. Hospital and personally delivering a bundle of the thank-you cards to be passed along to wounded warriors and veterans who are patients there. We were also able to bring along some Audio Bibles for the chaplains to give to their veterans and wounded warrior patients. The chaplains were very appreciative of the cards, but most of all for the Audio Bibles. They shared a number of examples of how their soldier patients were blessed by receiving an Audio Bible. One of the chaplains told of giving one of our Audio Bibles to a patient who had lost his sight. The chaplain had been able to spend limited time reading the Scriptures to him, but could not always be available to read to him. With his own Audio Bible he is now able fill his long lonely hours being comforted by listening to the Word of God.

I encourage you to spend spend a few moments browsing our Audio Bibles For The Blind web page. We have posted several new, informative and interesting videos that tell more about our ministry. I think you will enjoy watching them.

Thanks again for your partnership in helping us do what we could not do without your prayers and financial support. Please do not hesitate to contact us when we can be of service.

That is how I see it.

Until Next Time,
Jim

Do you realize that every seven minutes someone in America will become blind or visually impaired?

We are thankful for the opportunity to send so many Audio Bibles to those who are not able to use print Bibles. This is a very busy time of the year for us. Our production staff is going full steam ahead to keep up with the demand for Audio Bibles.

I was on the phone today talking to a veteran who has lost his vision. He is an amazing individual. We had the joy of providing him with an Audio Bible. Another individual wrote us thanking us for the Audio Bible we had sent. She said, "It has been many years since I was able to read the Bible so it was such a treat to relax and listen to the Word of God." Another lady wrote telling us about the illness of her husband and his battle with cancer and the treatment he is undergoing. She said the Audio Bible has been a wonderful blessing and encouragement to him, and he listens to it every day.

I wish you could be with us to meet some of these neat people, or listen in on phone conversations when they call. You would truly be blessed as we are.

I am often asked how we can give the Audio Bible for free. My response is always the same. I tell them we have wonderful caring partners who believe in this ministry and help us financially. Otherwise we could not do it. We have volunteers who come and give us a hand in our production department. We had a group of seniors from a local church who came today and helped us assemble five hundred Audio Bibles. Those Bibles will soon be going out to visually impaired and print handicapped people all across the country.

I say it often, but I can never say it enough. We are wonderfully blessed and so very thankful for our ministry partners. We thank God for you and the valuable caring service you perform.

That is how I see it.

Until Next time,
Jim

Have you ever considered how many people cannot read their Bible because of their visual impairment? The number is staggering! Some estimates put the number at 180 million people worldwide. That is hard for me to grasp, but if all those people were equally spread throughout the United States, it would mean roughly one out of every two people would be visually impaired. That number would equal the combined population of England, France and Italy. Of the 180 million who have visual impairment, 45 million are blind and 135 million have partial sight. Low vision ranks as the second leading cause of disability in America. According to Prevent Blindness America, twice as many people will be blind in 2030 as there are today. It is our passion to provide God’s Word to help bring light into their darkened world.

Responses From Audio Bible Recipients.
We recently received a request from an Activity Director requesting some Audio Bibles for her patients. She writes, "I am requesting the New Testament on audio cassette in the following languages: (1) Haitian-Creole for two residents, both of whom are solely Creole speaking. They are nearing the end of life, and are unable to read at this time. (2) Greek for a resident who has dementia and lost the ability to read. No one here speaks Greek and hearing her language will be familiar and soothing to her. (3) Farsi for a resident who is legally blind with dementia. Thank you so much in advance for the Bible tapes. They will be a great way to improve our resident's quality of life."

A note from the Czech Republic reads, "Oh, what a joy it is to see our blind listening to the Word of God. Most of our blind had no one to read for them so you can only imagine their happiness since you made it possible for them to listen to their Audio Bible any time they want."

We are continually updating our web page. Check out all the links and let us know what you think. Among other things, you will find information about a free service we have recently begun in order to offer help and suggestions about estate planning and planned giving. If we can be of service to you, I hope you will contact us.

We continue to be thankful in these difficult economic times for those who are faithfully standing with us in helping us provide Audio Bibles to those who are unable to read because of their physical limitations. Requests for Bibles are coming to us in even greater numbers. Without the help of our ministry partners, we would not be able to fill the orders. Thanks to all who are part of the team.

That is how I see it.

Until Next time,
Jim

Betty and I had the opportunity to represent Aurora Ministries/Audio Bibles For The Blind as exhibitors at the annual conference of the American Association of Diabetes Educators at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. We received an overwhelming response from the diabetes educators as they learned of the availability of free Audio Bibles for their visually impaired patients.

• Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among most adults.
• More than 21 million people in the United States have diabetes.
• 6.2 million people with diabetes are unaware they have the disease.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults ages 20 to 74.
• People with diabetes are 40 percent more likely to develop glaucoma.
• People with diabetes are 60 percent more likely to develop cataracts.
• 16 million diabetics are prime targets for blinding disorders.
• 700,000 diabetics are presently at risk of blindness.
• 25,000 new cases of blindness are caused annually by complications of diabetes.

When learning about this free service for her blind patients, one health care professional said, "This alone was worth my trip to Atlanta." Another said, "Your booth is the most important one here. Thank you for being here." Another health care provider said, "You have no idea how many Audio Bibles I have ordered for my visually impaired patients. This is a real ministry. The Word of God is the best thing we can give. God bless you for being here."

Responses From Audio Bible Recipients.

"My dad who had terminal cancer was given one of your Audio Bibles. It was such a comfort to him in his last days. Thank you for providing this valuable gift to him."

"I have patients who listen to your Audio Bibles as they walk to lower their blood sugar."

"I recently ordered an Audio Bible for a friend of mine who is a 91 year old woman in a nursing home. Up until last year, she was a very active Christian woman. I brought her the Audio Bible and she was beyond thanks. The Audio Bible made her very happy. Enclosed is my donation."

Have you read our Stories Of The Month? If not, you will enjoy doing so. Just click on STORY OF THE MONTH on the right side bar of our home page and read stories about Wounded Warriors, Mike, Marie, Richard and others.

Thanks again to all our ministry partners. This is a busy time of the year for us. Your prayers and support mean more than I can say. Our staff is working full time to keep up with the requests for Audio Bibles, and to produce and ship them as quickly as possible. We count it a joy and privilege to be able to provide free Audio Bibles to anyone who cannot read print materials because of their physical limitations, and we are so thankful for our ministry partners who help us through your prayers and financial support.

That is how I see it.

Until Next Time,
Jim

Guide dogs were a common sight at the National Federation For The Blind Conference in Detroit, The American Council For The Blind Conference in Orlando, and the Sight Village Conference in England. It is amazing to watch these beautiful and wonderfully trained animals work and help their owners get safely from one place to another. It was a great opportunity for our staff to meet so many visually impaired individuals and share with them about the free Audio Bibles we can provide to them to help guide them in their spiritual life. We were also able to meet many professionals who work for organizations for the blind. Many told us their clients often inquired about Audio Bibles and they were anxious to receive the information to pass along to the visually impaired people they serve. The response we received at these conferences was most gratifying. Audio Bibles are now on their way to visually impaired people around the United States and the United Kingdom.

Betty and I had an interesting experience getting to Birmingham England for the Sight Village Conference. We almost missed our departing flight at the Bradenton Sarasota Airport. We did not notice a change of departure time, and were able to make our flight only because of the kind assistance of a Delta agent. We flew to Charles de Gaulle Airport in France for a connecting flight to Birmingham, England. When we finally arrived in Birmingham some 23 hours later, we had no luggage or display for the conference. We inquired at the baggage counter, and the agent told us that our luggage was still at Charles de Gaulle Airport, and was scheduled to be sent back to Birmingham, Alabama. Thankfully we got that situation turned around and received all our luggage the next day. Oh well, so goes traveling. We were able to get our display set up on time and had a wonderful response from the attendees at the conference. Sight Village does a wonderful job in providing this conference for blind people in the UK. We were able to stop over in London for a couple of days after the conference and meet up with Cettina, who came to the States last summer and volunteered in our office.

From Our Recipients

A social worker for an organization for the blind told us a rather sad story about a blind child who lived with relatives. The family did not have the child enrolled in school. He was very isolated in his dark world. The child loved music and was very talented. The social worker was excited to be able to get a Children's Audio Bible for this child. It would be a prize possession that would open up a new world for this child.

Story of the Month

Check out our Wounded Warriors story of the month. Don't miss it! You can find it on our AudioBiblesForTheBlind home page. We owe a great debt of gratitude to our soldiers. Many of them are coming back home severely wounded. Many have been blinded, or lost arms or legs by IED explosives. Thanks to our ministry partners, we are able to provide Audio Bibles to many wounded warriors. If you would like to bring a little cheer and send a word of thanks and encouragement to a wounded warrior, you may email it to me at jpike@auroraministries.org or mail it to me at P.O. Box 621, Bradenton, FL 34206, and I will see that it is passed along to a wounded warrior.

Thank you for standing with us as we seek to provide God's Word to those around the world who are unable to read print materials. You are indeed a blessing.

That is how I see it.

Until Next Time,
Jim

My heart was really touched by this story.

Last week Betty and I were in Orlando to attend the meeting of the Home Care Association of Florida. We had the opportunity to share with home health nurses from around Florida and some from neighboring states about our free Audio Bibles for their handicapped patients.

A nurse stopped by our booth and shared a remarkable story with us, yet there was a sad note at the end. Her family often goes to Haiti on medical mission trips. They came in contact with a family who had a little girl who was blind and deaf. The family was very poor and had several other children. The nurse was able to bring the little girl to the States and found doctors who donated their services to perform surgery on the little girl. Operations were performed on her eyes to restore her sight and on her ears so she can now hear with hearing aids. The little girl has just blossomed with life.

The sad part is that she is going to have to be returned to Haiti. Her parents don't want her back, and they are going to give her to some relative who lives up in a remote mountain area. There is suspicion that the parents may be selling the little girl to this family, but it is only a suspicion. The nurse would like to adopt the little girl, but she is running into all kinds of resistance and red tape from our government. Government officials are demanding that the little girl be returned to Haiti by the end of July and have not been willing to even grant an extension. The nurse has come to love this little girl and can not stand the thought of what may happen to her if she has to go back to Haiti. She has asked for prayer that something might be worked out so she can keep her and raise her as her child.

From Our Recipients

We often receive braille letters and letters in various foreign languages. We are fortunate to have someone who can translate our braille letters into print and our foreign letters into English. We received the following letter from Helena who lives in Poland:

We had a hot time in Phoenix at the Case Management Society of America Expo. However, they had a cool front come through and the daytime temperatures had dropped down into the 90s. It is equally as hot in Florida, the only difference being the high humidity in Florida compared to the low humidity in Phoenix. Either way, it is hot.

A case manager came by our booth and said she had a story she wanted to share with us. She had given one of our Audio Bibles to one of her patients who had lost his sight. This individual had lived a very active life, and had been very involved in his church. After retirement he was able to do some traveling and even worked in some of the national parks in the summer. He also did various volunteer work, that is until he lost his sight. He did not adjust well, and became very depressed. The case manager gave him one of our Audio Bibles, and she marveled at the change that it made in this gentleman. She said he just came alive since he was now able to again daily "read" his Bible.

In my last blog I mentioned that we are now able to offer assistance in estate planning and planned giving. I was able to be in the audience and hear our representative Marvin Horton give a presentation, and was amazed at the helpful information that was presented. It made me realize even more how important it is for people to take measures to protect their assets and make sure their wishes are carried out and not those directed by the courts or some disinterested party. If Marvin can be of assistance to you or your family, you may contact him by phone at 941-748-4100 or email him at mhorton@auroraministries.org

Recipients

We received the following message from a visually impaired person in Virginia who said, "I am deeply grateful for your sending me this wonderful gift of the New King James Audio Bible. My loss of vision was fairly sudden from dry to wet macular degeneration. God is the light of the world and this gift will help me to make Him my light and life. I have been quite sad and lost having this happen. This gift is truly a sign of God's individual love for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Once again, I say a big thank you to all our ministry partners for all your prayers, encouragements, and financial support. You are a vital part of our ministry. We could not make it without you.

That is the way I see it.

Until next time,

Jim

I am delighted to announce that Aurora Ministries can now offer assistance with estate planning for those who want to ensure their hard earned assets will be protected according to their wishes. Marvin Horton, who comes to us with years of experience, will be able to offer valuable assistance in estate planning and planned giving, and help people avoid pit falls and overcome hurdles that often interfere with the wishes of the estate holder. Regardless of your net worth, it is important to have an estate plan in place. You may contact Marvin by phone at 941-748-4100 or email him at mhorton@auroraministries.org.

Our staff is busy getting out the orders for Audio Bibles. Each day we receive a stack of orders coming through the mail, fax and the Internet from people around the world . Our production staff is working at maximum capacity to keep up with demand.

The coming months will be very demanding with heavy travel schedules, working conventions and keeping up with the demand, but we look forward with great anticipation to getting as many Audio Bibles as possible to those who are visually impaired or print handicapped.

Recipients

Jane, a well educated lady, went blind in just a matter of hours. We were able to provide an Audio Bible for her. Jane's friend wrote on her behalf,

"I am writing on behalf of Jane to thank you for her. She was so elated when the audio Bible came. She cannot thank you enough. If you could have seen her when she received the audio Bible, it would have blessed you so. Many, many blessings to you for the work that you are doing for those who cannot see to read. May you be blessed always. "

Conferences

Our conference schedules are beginning to become very busy. We will have teams in the coming days in Phoenix at the Case Management Society of America conference, in Washington, D.C. at the American Optometric Association meeting, and in Orlando for the Home Care Association of Florida. July will find us in Detroit at the National Federation for the Blind, in Orlando at the American Council for the Blind, and the Florida Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, and in Birmingham, England for the Sight Village Conference. If you are attending one of these conferences, be sure and look us up.

How we appreciate our ministry partners who support us with your prayers and contributions!! With your help, Audio Bibles are shipped out five days of the week to thousands around the world. Without your help, it is likely that many of those would never have an Audio Bible, and that would be tragic. Thank you for caring enough to be involved in this great outreach.

That is the way I see it.

Until Next Time,
Jim

Have you ever received a "real picker upper?" I received a "Picker Upper" a couple of days ago that really lifted my spirits. We have a faithful donor who is blind, and who will be celebrating his 50th. birthday next month. He is asking his friends who attend his birthday party to make a donation to Audio Bibles for the Blind instead of giving him gifts. What a unique and unselfish gesture on his part. In reality, his birthday gifts will provide Audio Bibles for others who are visually impaired or print handicapped.

It is a moving experience to be able to personally meet and talk with people who are so severely challenged and see their positive outlook on life in spite of the difficulties they face. Some of the most touching encounters are those with children and parents of handicapped children. Our heart always goes out to them. We are delighted to be able to provide not only adult Audio Bibles, but also our Children's Bible for the visually impaired and print handicapped children.

Recipients

We received a letter from a lady whose mother is almost blind due to macular degeneration. We had sent her an audio Bible along with some of our Bible studies. She said her mother was thrilled when she received them. She said,

Certifiers and providers are already finding our Rapid Order Service (ROS) helpful in ordering Audio Bibles for their patients and clients. Certifiers and providers can now log on to our web site at http://www.AudioBiblesForTheBlind.org/ROS and place their order on line. By entering their account number, each provider/certifier will be able to place an order for their client or patient. Account numbers can readily be provided for those who do not know their number by emailing us at Bibles@auroraministries.org or calling us at 941-748-3031.


I could not end my blog without once again saying a big thank you to all of our partners who support us with your prayers and contributions. I don't know what we would do without you. I cannot tell you what you mean to this ministry. Together we will continue to reach out to the visually impaired and print handicapped people around the world with God's Word.

That is the way I see it.

Until Next time,

Jim

I am delighted to announce that we have developed a RAPID ORDER SERVICE (ROS) to make it easier and more convenient for all certifiers and providers to place orders for Audio Bibles for their visually impaired and print handicapped patients and clients. Certifiers and providers can now simply log on to www.AudioBiblesForTheBlind.org/ROS.html and place their order on line. Each provider/certifier will be able to enter their account number and place an order for their client or patient. Account numbers can readily be provided for those who do not know their number by emailing us at Bibles@auroraministries.org or calling us at 941-748-3031. Give a look. Click on the web site listed above and check it out. We think it will be a great help. We want to do what we can to make it easier to get Audio Bibles to the visually impaired and print handicapped.

Recipients



You will certainly want to click on our Story of the Month and read about Mike and how his Audio Bible has been instrumental in his transformed life. He is a blind man who went from a punk kid on the drug infested streets of Miami to a minister of the Gospel. With your prayers and support, you are a very important part of our team that is reaching out to those like Mike and to people like Mary whose note is listed above. Thank you for your caring concern.

That is how I see it.

Until next time,
Jim

"I hope the Lord Jesus through your labor of love will wipe away the tears from many sightless eyes and that He will renew their hope and will shorten their loneliness." This is part of a message we received from a Society for the blind in Moldova after sending them Russian and Ukrainian Audio Bibles. What an encouraging message. It makes us want to do even more to get Audio Bibles to those who are unable to pick up a printed Bible and read it for themselves.

This is a very busy time of the year for us. Last week we had exhibits at the 24th Annual Southern Regional Conference on Diabetes at Champion's Gate, FL, the National Federation for the Blind Florida State Conference at Boca Raton, FL and the National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Nurses Expo in New Orleans, LA. We were privileged at these conferences to meet both visually impaired and print handicapped individuals and health care professionals who care for these dear people.

Recipients

The following are some excerpts from communications we received that blessed my heart. I hope they will be a blessing to you as well. One person wrote, "With a thankful heart, first of all I give thanks to God, and then thanks to you for the cassette Bible with which gave us an unspeakable joy. I was so glad when I opened the package, that in my joy I didn't know what to do, should I cry, or laugh, or dance, I did all of them."
Another person wrote, "I received my Audio Bible this week and I was thrilled. I intend to enjoy it every day the Lord gives me. Facing blindness is scary, but I KNOW He never sends anything He doesn't give me grace to face."

We are living in a day when many are hurting. We are so thankful for our ministry partners who join us in helping to bring light, hope and joy into the lives of many visually impaired and print handicapped people. God bless you for all you do.

That is how I see it.

Until next time,
Jim

We are living in difficult economic times. There is a lot of concern and fear concerning what lies ahead. Many are turning to the Bible for comfort and direction. I think that is a good thing, but what about those who cannot see to read their Bible, or those who cannot pick up or hold a Bible because of their handicap? How are they going to be comforted or receive direction from the Scriptures? Some may have a family member, friend or care giver who will read the Bible to them, but most do not. That is where Aurora Ministries/Audio Bibles for the Blind comes in. We will gladly provide them an Audio Bible at absolutely no cost to them. We ship Audio Bibles every day to people who cannot read a print Bible because of their physical limitations. One blind person who is very computer savvy said, "I could not get along without my Audio Bible." You can't carry a computer around with you all the time, but the Audio Bible is very portable. You can take it with you just about anywhere. It is our goal to provide an Audio Bible to every visually impaired and print handicapped person who desires one.

Our staff team members Ben and Steve were well received at the 2009 Nursing Symposium in Orlando. Although the attendance was less than what was expected, they had a wonderful response from the nurses. Nurses are very caring and some of our best resource people. We continually receive orders from people who learn about our service from nurses.

Dr. and Mrs. Musser also had a very good response at the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) conference in Philadelphia. Those orders are being processed and will soon be on their way.

Recipients

We received the following note from a grateful family member.
I recently spoke by phone with a hospice worker who told me, "You will never know what a blessing the Audio Bible is to our hospice patients and their families." Our ministry partners are a vital part of the team that help make all of this happen. We thank the Lord for you. If you could hear the calls and read the correspondence we receive from grateful recipients, you would be blessed indeed.

That is how I see it.

Until next time,
Jim

We had a wonderful time with the American Occupational Therapists (AOTA) in Houston. Even though the attendance was down, we received a very good response. Many therapists were delighted to hear about the free Audio Bibles we can provide for their handicapped patients. One therapist told us that our booth was the best one at the conference, and that what we provided would help people more than anything else.

One woman who is associated with Recordings for the Blind told us that people they serve often asked if they recorded the Bible. She said she would tell them, "No, Aurora Ministries/Audio Bibles for the Blind does it much better than we could." We often get referrals from them.

Dr. and Mrs. Musser represented Aurora Ministries/Audio Bibles for the Blind at the American Geriatrics' Society's Conference in Chicago, and were well received Dr. Musser, a retired physician, and his wife Marian have a special place in their heart for those who are visually impaired and print handicapped. We are blessed to have them as part of the team.

We had a very successful Aurora Ministries board of directors meeting in Bradenton last Wednesday. Our board is made up of members from Ohio, Indiana, California, Washington, North Carolina, and Florida. We are blessed to have a board who has a heart for ministering to the visually impaired and print handicapped and are continually looking for ways we can better serve them.

Recipients
We sent an Audio Bible to an eighty-two year old woman in Texas. One of her friends called our office and said this lady listens to her Audio Bible as much as 6 hours a day. She has listened to the entire Bible in two months. She starts with Genesis and when she finishes Revelation, she begins at Genesis again.

We received a message from someone who said they cried when they received their Audio Bible, knowing that even though being unable to read, they could now hear God's Word.

I am continually reminded of just how important our ministry partners are in helping us get Audio Bibles to people like the 82 year old lady who spends much of her day listening to God's Word, and the person who was brought to joyful tears when listening to the Audio Bible. We can never thank you enough for your prayers and financial contributions.

I encourage you to read our latest Story of the Month by clicking on"Story of the Month" found on the right hand column of our home page.

That is how I see it.

Until next time,

Jim

I came across a note from someone thanking us for the Audio Bible we had sent to one of her parents who had Alzheimer's. That note reminded me of the International Conference on Alzheimer's we attended. The attendees were doctors and researchers who specialized in the research and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. One of the doctors who came by our booth told me they used the Bible with some of their patients to stimulate their memory. There was a marked improvement in the cognitive skills of patients who in the past had some familiarity with the Bible. Of course as the disease progresses, the patient's ability to read becomes less. The doctor was happy to know that a free Audio Bible was available for his patients. This will enable them to continue to use the Bible even after they lose the ability to read.

Responses from Recipients

I was just given a couple of thank you notes we received from two people who had received our Audio Bibles. They were a blessing to me and I wanted to share them with you. The first note is from a lady who recently experienced vision loss. The second note is from someone who spent a number of days in rehab, and found the Bible a great comfort.




I encourage you to check our home page for the Story of the Month. Within the next few days we will be posting our latest story about Marie. Marie is a special lady. Her story will be a blessing to you.

From the Maries and all the others who receive our Audio Bibles, I pass along a BIG thank you for your partnership in this important ministry. Thanks for your prayers, contributions, referrals and words of encouragement.

That is how I see it.

Until next time,

Jim

WOW!
What a rude awakening when we stepped off the plane in Seattle last Wednesday morning! We left Florida very early in the morning amid mild and muggy temperatures. When we dropped down out of the clouds in Seattle the roofs of the buildings were snow covered and we could see snow flakes flying by the window of the plane. That was kind of exciting since we are from Florida. We could almost hear the snow crunching under our feet and feel the snow flakes hitting us in the face. However, when we got on the ground, it was a cold rainy 37 degrees and no snow. The cold rainy temperature outside did not reflect the warm reception we received at the meeting of the Council For Exceptional Children. Once we were inside the convention center and began to meet the people, we forgot about weather outside. Those who work with special needs children are themselves very special compassionate people. What a joy to be able to tell them about the Children's Audio Bible that is available for the special needs children they work with.

One very interesting person we met was Dylan. He was happy to receive an Audio Bible. Dylan actually had an exhibit booth there at the conference. His booth featured his beautiful art work, shown in the picture at the left.


Responses From Recipients

A mother told us that her special needs child loves his Audio Bible. It is very important to him. He listens to it all the time.

Dee wrote in an email, "THANK YOU for the wonderful Audio Bible you sent to my husband. He will spend many days listening to it over and over. Bless each of you as you go about doing the Lord's work."

I echo Dee's words in saying thank you to all of you who pray and support this ministry for you too are helping to do the Lord's work. You are very much a part of getting Audio Bibles to those who can not read from a printed Bible.

As we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord this Easter season, may He fill your heart with the joy of new life. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

That is how I see it.

Until next time,

Jim

Greetings,

I wish you could have been with us in Austin, TX at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine conference. There were doctors, nurses and others in attendance who provide care for hospice and palliative patients. These folks provide such special and compassionate care. When they stopped by our display booth and learned about the FREE Audio Bibles we provide for their patients, a common response we heard was, "Oh,our patients will love this." One nurse who continually uses our service told us, "You will never know what the Audio Bibles you provide mean to our patients." What a blessing to be able to provide the Word of God to these dear folk who are in their last days on this earth.

Response from Recipients

A health care professional wrote, "Thank you for all you do in this ministry. I had you send an Audio Bible to one of my clients. She is thrilled to be hearing God's Word. You are reaching hearts for Jesus. Thanks for offering these at no cost to our clients. Most of our clients live off of $600 - $900 a month."

A friend and partner of our ministry told me about delivering an Audio Cassette Bible and player to a Nursing Home where he occasionally volunteers. It was greatly appreciated by the staff. On his next visit, he saw a gentleman going down the hall in his wheel chair listening to the Audio Bible through his head phones.

I have said it many times before, and I say it again. Thank you ministry partners. You are such a vital part of what we do. I cannot tell you what your prayers and support mean to us.

I hope you have a wonderful Palm Sunday as we look forward to Easter.

That is how I see it.

Until next time,
Jim

Greetings. We are back home in Florida for a couple of days before we leave for Texas. I came home from the C-Sun conference in Los Angeles with a lump in my throat and joy in my heart. I was very moved by some encounters with folk who were blind and some who were in wheel chairs. One person was moved to tears when she found she could request an Audio Bible for her 93 year old grandparents who had been recently moved to a nursing home facility. I was very touched by some of the conditions we saw, but had great joy in my heart by being able to offer them a FREE Audio Bible. We had a wonderful response from the attendees. The orders we brought back will soon be filled and on their way to these individuals. How blessed we are to be able to provide God's Word to these dear people. As happens in almost every conference we work, several professionals came by our booth and expressed their appreciation for the services Aurora Ministries/Audio Bibles For The Blind provides to the individuals they serve.

Our team who worked the National Council on Aging/American Society on Aging in Las Vegas had a great conference. They were approached by a professional who told how she had requested an Audio Bible for an elderly woman of Russian descent. This Russian lady had been displaced in a care facility where no one spoke her language. The professional worker presented her the Russian Audio Bible and as a result saw a tremendous change in this elderly lady.
The exhibit booth was continually a busy place with people stopping by to learn how FREE Audio Bibles could be provided for the visually impaired and print handicapped people they served.

Responses From Recipients

A library coordinator said, "You guys are great! Thanks for all you do--I can tell you first hand that you have made a difference in many people's lives. I send you requests for Audio Bibles for people all the time." Another person writes, "Thank you so much for the Bible on tape. I have been listening to it each day. I am much encouraged by God's Word."

I must say "thank you" to all of our ministry partners who support us with your prayers and contributions. You are such a vital part of this ministry in bringing hope and encouragement to those around the world who benefit from this ministry. I don't know what we would do without you!!

That's how I see it.

Until next time,

Jim

Hello from California,

We have just finished a successful conference with the California Educators and Transcribers for the Visually Handicapped. We had the opportunity to meet a number of educators and other professionals who work with the visually impaired and share with them about our ministry. Many were surprised and thrilled that free Audio Bibles were available for the visually impaired people they work with. We were also able to meet and talk with many of the visually impaired attendees and sign them up for a free Audio Bible.

Ben and Steve reported a great response at the End of Life Symposium in Orlando. The Bible is vitally important to those who are nearing the end of their life here on earth. God's Word offers them much comfort, hope, and assurance. We are privileged to provide this service for them.

Responses From Recipients

An activity director writes, "We are faced with the joy and challenge of helping, loving and assisting others in the best way possible. With so many mental and physical issues, that is not always easy to do. I was faced with providing an activity for a resident who speaks Creole. I must thank Aurora Ministries/Audio Bibles for the Blind. I requested an Audio Bible in Creole and did a program with this resident alone. What happened since then can only be called beautiful. It was such a breakthrough for the resident and myself."

We get letters, emails and calls every week thanking us for the Audio Bibles we have provided for some visually impaired or print handicapped person. I would certainly be remiss if I did not pass along those thanks to all of our partners who help to make this vital service possible. Thank you for your prayers and continued support.

That is how I see it.

Until next time,
Jim

Greetings from warm and sunny Florida with temperature in the low 80s today.

We recently returned from the SECO conference in Atlanta where we received a very good response from optometrists who were happy to learn about our FREE Audio Bibles for their visually impaired patients. One doctor said, "This is great. I have a number of patients with macular degeneration who will love this." Others had glowing reports and told us they have been recommending our service for years and what a benefit it is to their low vision patients.

Our team that attended the AMDA conference in Charlotte received a very good reception. The AMDA group sees many patients who would greatly benefit from the free service we provide. They were happy to take back information to pass along to their visually impaired and print handicapped patients. Many came by our booth to tell what a blessing this service is to their patients.

We often hear comments like "You will never know what this means to our patients," or "Keep up the good work," or "Bless you for what you do."

Macular degeneration is a major cause of loss of vision in our aging population. This condition makes it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces, even though there is sufficient peripheril vision permitting the person to carry on other daily activities. One study estimated 1.75 million U.S. residents have advanced age-related macular degeneration with associated vision loss. That number is expected to grow to almost 3 million by 2020.

RESPONSES FROM RECIPIENTS

An email from a health care provider reads "Thank you soooo much!! ... we just received the Audio Bible and my patient is more than thrilled... I've never seen her so happy...so happy she even got teary eyed...thank you so much for doing this for all of us. We appreciate it greatly."

A gentleman from MN called to thank us for the audio Bible he had just received. He said he had made it a practice to read through the Bible every year since he came to Christ at the age of 20 years. Because of his low vision, he has not been able to read his Bible for the past sever months. He said his Audio Bible would enable him to continue his Bible reading. He is 98 years old!!!

One of the complaints from people who have lost their ability to read is that they can no longer read their Bible. There are thousands of visually impaired and print handicapped who want and need the comfort, inspiration and direction they receive from the Scriptures. We rejoice that we are able to provide these people with their own Audio Bible. Your partnership with us helps to make this possible. Thank you for your prayers and financial support.

That is how I see it.

Until next time,
Jim

Conferences
We are looking forward to exhibiting at the Southern Council of Optometry Conference (SECO) at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta this week and sharing with Optometrists how their visually impaired patients can receive a free Audio Bible. Come by and see us at booth 1556 and visit with Jim and Betty. We will also have a team exhibiting at the American Medical Directors meeting in Charlotte, NC to tell doctors and other health care professionals about this free service for their visually impaired and print handicapped patients. Drop by booth 822 and visit with Steve and Ben.

RESPONSES FROM RECIPIENTS

We received an email from Pat thanking us for his Audio Bible. He said, "It will be a great help as I am legally blind. WOW what a study aid. Again I say thanks."
A social worker from Michigan emailed us to express her appreciation for the service we provide for the clients she serves. She visits with individuals receiving both home and hospice care. She said, "To be able to offer your free resources to these individuals is . . . well, there are no good words to express it. Thank you for what you do."

I say thank you to our partners for what you do in helping to make it possible to continue to offer FREE Audio Bibles to these individuals and many more who are visually impaired and print handicapped.

That is how I see it.

Until next time,
Jim

Greetings from Audio Bibles for the Blind.

It is our wonderful privilege to provide FREE Audio Bibles to those who are visually impaired or print handicapped. Our Audio Bibles are currently available in about 70 languages. We send to recipients in approximately 140 countries. Audio Bibles are provided on MP3 CD Rom and on audio cassettes to anyone who because of physical limitations is unable to read standard print materials, hold a book or turn a page.

RESPONSES FROM RECIPIENTS

We received a recent communication from a man telling how much he appreciated his Audio Bible. It had been his practice for years to read his Bible before breakfast each day. Because of his visual problems caused by diabetes, he was no longer able to read. He was so excited to have an Audio Bible, he said he listened to the first 30 chapters of Genesis before breakfast on that first day. Thanks to the generosity of our contributing partners this man and others like him can now resume the practice of daily Bible reading.

That is how I see it.

Until next time,
Jim
www.audiobiblesfortheblind.org

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