Braille Scriptures give visually impaired gathering a taste of ‘the Great Banquet’
Photo: Some of the participants at the 15th Gathering of the Christian Blind in Cuba, which took place in June 2005. The United Bible Societies supplied Braille Scriptures for this event. Photo: Noel Fernández (CUB05DJ-1.JPG)

Some of the participants at the 15th Gathering of the Christian Blind in Cuba, which took place in June 2005. The United Bible Societies supplied Braille Scriptures for this event. Photo: Noel Fernández (CUB05DJ-1.JPG)

CUBA — United Bible Societies (UBS) recently arranged for a bulky consignment of Spanish Braille Scriptures to be sent to Cuba for a special event. The recipient was Rev Noel Fernández, a blind Baptist pastor who heads the ministry of the Cuban Council of Churches to disabled people.

Mr Fernández’s ministry extends well beyond Cuba to South America, where for many years he has been organising events put on for the disabled by the World Council of Churches (WCC). Two years ago the president of the WCC’s work with the blind visited Cuba at his invitation. UBS supplies Mr Fernández with a lot of Braille material and Scriptures on audio cassette and the Rev José Lopez, Secretary of the Bible Commission in Cuba, works closely with him.

The recent Braille consignment was for the 15th Conference of Blind Christians in Cuba, which took place at an evangelical seminary in the central province of Villa Clara during three days in June.

Dependent

To sighted Christians, perhaps, the aims of the meeting may seem modest: Bible study, mutual affirmation, a deepening of Christian commitment, fellowship and worship. The value of these things for blind people, who are dependent on sighted family and friends and are isolated from others who have the instinctive sympathy with their situation, should not be underestimated, however.

Delighted

Part of the success of the event came from the large number of Braille Scriptures that the participants were given. Gospels of Mark, Luke and John and the Acts of the Apostles were distributed to all the visually impaired readers, who numbered about 120 in all. They were so delighted and encouraged that they asked if more copies could be supplied to would-be participants who, for various reasons, had not been able to attend. Copies of Psalms, the Gospels (in two volumes) and Acts – a total of another thousand Braille volumes – were therefore made available.

Afterwards, Mr Fernández was jubilant. “Never before in the 16 years of ministry to visually impaired people and other disabled Christians in Cuba has such a significant number of blind people been able to read the Holy Scriptures together at one event,” he said.

At a session held afterwards to evaluate the gathering, the participants gave their unanimous support to a motion of thanks to UBS for supplying the Braille Scriptures. [1 photo] (WR 397/3 - 11.05)