Larry Pitcher President

By the grace of God, Christian Record Services (CRS) has been a light to blind individuals—changing and saving lives for Jesus—for 100 years. At first this light was feeble—a tiny ministry for the blind people located in Michigan. That light grew into Christian Record Services International, with offices in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Oshawa, Ontario. In 1999, 36,548 blind persons in 75 countries benefit from Christian Record Services International publications and ministries.

The birth of CRS was remarkable because of the severe difficulties Austin Wilson faced. Wilson was blind. He had no money, no donor list, no building or braille press. He was a new Adventist who had just arrived in Battle Creek, Michigan. But Wilson had hope born of his love for God’s truth. He wanted blind people to know Jesus as he knew Jesus and began to lobby church leaders with this message: “We need a work specifically for the blind!”

Church leaders responded by giving Wilson a little room in the Review and Herald Publishing Association building. In January 1900 Austin and his wife, Johanna, began printing the Christian Record on a homemade braille printing press. Very soon after, blind people all over the world were learning about Wilson’s faith in the return of Jesus. The work of Christian Record Publishing became our church’s first organized effort to reach blind people.

A LIFE-CHANGING CREATION: Austin Wilson demonstrates his braille press, fashioned from a hand-operated clothes wringer. Wilson converted the wringer into a press and mounted the device on a table, circa 1900.

For the next 100 years various crises confronted Christian Record. First the Review and Herald building burned down, destroying all of Wilson’s work. Then, after he moved the Christian Record office to Lincoln, Nebraska, his health failed, causing him to retire prematurely. Next a decade of poor management almost ended Christian Record’s work. Then came the Great Depression, World War II, the rapid growth of the Canadian and Spanish work, and the terrible debt crisis of the 1990s. Still, through it all, God always enabled Christian Record Services to keep its focus—bringing the light of Jesus to blind people.

Light in Real Life
The testimony of Margaret and Jake Harris provides an example of how God used CRS as a light to the visually impaired. During the 1980s Dick Bramham, a Christian Record Services representative, contacted Margaret. Bramham arranged for her to receive several publications for blind people. When he retired from Christian Record Services, Joyce Shobe, Bramhan’s replacement, took up his work.

COLD WEATHER FUN: An NCBC blind camper enjoys the slopes at a recent winter camp.

Shobe interested Margaret in taking Bible studies that Christian Record produces for the visually impaired. Soon she had completed both the “Life and Teachings of Christ” and “Come Alive With Jesus” courses in extra-large print. Margaret wanted more, so Shobe contacted Pastor Ken Lockwood of the Arroyo Grande Seventh-day Adventist Church in California to ask for help. Soon Art and Marilyn Warner paid a visit to Margaret and her husband, Jake. Every week for the next year and a half the Warners studied the Bible with the Harris family.

In a short time the love of Christ bonded these two couples, and when Art and Marilyn invited Jake and Margaret to attend the NET ’98 NeXt Millennium Seminar, with Dwight Nelson, they accepted. After the meetings ended, Lockwood led Jake and Margaret into membership into the Arroyo Grande church. Later Margaret said, “We praise the Lord for guiding us to His true church. We could not ask for a greater church family.”

Worldwide Impact
Blind people from around the world have shared similar testimony about the ministry of Christian Record Services. Pastor Daniel Mbwe, from Chisombezi, Malawi, wrote, “We are very thankful indeed to see that many of the blind people in villages and nearby areas are enjoying listening to the tapes.”

A blind braille subscriber from Hong Kong, China, Yiu Tak-Hing, finds great help in the Christian Record Services braille publications, exclaiming: “I have to thank you for sending me the Christian Record and The Student. Both of them are good for me. . . . Let God bless you, your workers, and your family members.”

CRAFTY COMPOSITIONS: A young camper, Natalie, works on crafts during a summer camp art session.

Kimberly, of Atlanta, Texas, wrote, “Your tapes that you send have gotten me through the most difficult times in my life. In the depths of depression, I would sit in my room for hours in the dark, listening to those tapes. One set of those tapes gave a message about why we suffer. After my father died I couldn’t understand why. Those tapes gave me examples in the story that I could understand, and in that, I found comfort.”

And Fred, a blind camper from Canada, said this when asked how he enjoyed the first winter camp: “I’m at a loss for words. I’m so content! I love everyone. I just love this camp. I’m coming back next year. Thanks to everyone who donates to Christian Record [Services]. I love you guys.”

Brighter, Still Brighter
The light for those who are blind needs to shine even brighter. Blind people and pastors from Central and South America have requested that CRS increase its Spanish-language

publications. Therefore, Christian Record Services International plans to double its Spanish materials. This means twice as many Spanish magazines and tapes, as well as camps to provide light for blind individuals.

Through the “DoubleIT” Challenge, Christian Record Services plans to double all CRS publications by 2005. This goal can be accomplished only by God’s grace and power, since 98 percent of the Christian Record Services annual budget must be raised from many loyal Adventist and Christian supporters.

SMILES ABOUND: A summer counselor takes a break with a blind female camper.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matt. 5:14, NIV). During the next quinquennium Christian Record plans to be the city of light to those who are blind, shining God’s truth around the world. We have this vision. Because of God’s grace and blessings, Christian Record Services Inter-national is committed to contacting every blind person we can find and offering free Christian publications and services so that they may know that Jesus is the Light of their world.