By Sheila Graham
ATLANTA--"You are our eyes. You are our spiritual lifeline." That's how vision-impaired members responded to Clint and Anita Brantley when they began taping The Worldwide News and other church literature.
"When I was asked to consider taping the church's literature, it took me only a couple of minutes to accept the challenge," said Mr. Brantley, a local church elder in the Jackson, Mississippi, church.
When the Jackson church began taping for the blind last June, headquarters furnished mailers and 300 cassette tapes. The Jackson church, pastored by John Novick, donated $2,300 out of the church fund to buy a tape duplicating machine. Local church brethren donated an additional $800 to buy audio recording equipment.
Donations from those using the tape service help pay for maintenance of the equipment. A congregation in East Dallas also sent in donations.
Member James Miller provided facilities for storage and taping equipment in a building where he is a tool-and-die maker. Henry Eason, who is also a reader, keeps addresses updated on a computer and provides mailing labels to the Brantleys.
"I closed my eyes and listened to one of the tapes," said Mr. Brantley. "I noticed that at times only a scripture reference was given in an article. Our readers now read each scripture so listeners will not have to refer to another tape to hear the scripture and lose the context of the article."
The Brantleys turned one of their bedrooms into a studio. At first only the PT was taped. Then some Worldwide News articles were added. It wasn't long before the Brantleys learned that members were most concerned with keeping up with the news of the church, so they have added more articles from The Worldwide News.
Fourteen readers come over every two weeks to read the publications at their home. "I try to keep personality in mind when assigning articles to read," Mr. Brantley said. "I know how it is when I listen to tapes. If you don't have variety, you can put people to sleep."
The readers are Sarah Bennett, Michael Bishop, Anita Brantley, Henry Eason, Ron Everett, Mary Ann Johnson, Pattie Kurts McGee, Tim Nielander, Briary Nielander, Ronnie Pickering, Ann Quarles, Madelyne Roberson, Alice Torres and Glen Torres.
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