Blind, visually-impaired celebrants mark fellowship’s 30th annual retreat in ‘ethnically diverse’ environment

EUSTIS (FBC)—The barrier of being a blind person in a sighted church is a difficult hurdle for Kori King to overcome at times—if and when she finds transportation to attend the meetings.

King, a Gainesville resident and member of the Florida Christian Fellowship for the Blind (FCFB), said she rarely has relationships with Christians outside of the Convention-sponsored group and struggles to find somewhere to mature her Christian faith.

When King learned of the opportunity to meet with other blind Christians at the Fellowship’s April 25-29 retreat at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center, she decided to attend.

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the group’s inception, the annual retreat highlighted the theme “Celebrate God.”

King said she appreciated how Paul Russell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Punta Gorda, led the daily Bible studies, making the scriptural passages applicable to her life. Learning together with other blind Christians, enhanced the learning experience, she added.

“I am not able to participate in a group like this very often,” King said. “I feel I have grown and reached a new, stronger level of faith.” King added that she was able to experience a deeper level of worship because of the Braille music provided for choir participants.

“I felt such a joy and freedom to be able to read along and truly express myself through the songs,” King said.

The fellowship was founded in 1975 by the late Nettie Mae Wynn to provide spiritual encouragement to Florida’s visually impaired and blind residents.

Though initial attempts produced little participation, the 146 persons attending this year’s retreat demonstrated the continued need for this growing ministry, said Don Otwell, the Convention’s deaf consultant.

Otwell worked alongside Wynn—who herself was blind—to establish the local, statewide and national support group before her death.

Spiritual encouragement for Florida’s blind is greatly needed, said Edith Jarriel, a member of Murray Hill Baptist Church and long-time fellowship volunteer.

“So many of them claim to have an empty feeling and desire to fulfill that need in their lives,” said Jarriel. “When they come to the local Fellowship meetings and the statewide retreat, they hear the Gospel message and find a peace and joy that has led some of them to commit their lives to the Lord.”

In addition to spiritual encouragement, the meetings provide an outlet for participants to use their gifts, talents and leadership skills.

In planning the retreat, Denise Valkema, president of the fellowship and member of Wayside Baptist Church in Miami, said she schedules activities that are helpful for participants’ daily activities and enhance their personal and leadership skills.

Though Valkema herself suffers from congenital bilateral hypoplasia, a condition that left her legally blind since birth, her deep concern for blind and visually-impaired persons leads her to advocate on their behalf.

“I am concerned for their whole being,” said Valkema. “Doing so speaks to them and tells them they are loved, wanted and cared for. So often in their own communities they are isolated and left to ask about their own purpose.

“I am concerned for their spirit that they might come to know Christ, grow in their faith and connect in a church or local fellowship,” said Valkema.

But few churches realize the need for their involvement within blind communities, said Brenda Forlines, director of the Convention’s Church and Community Ministries Department and the fellowship coordinator.

“There is a need for associations and churches to help more local chapters of the fellowship to exist,” said Forlines. Noting that the commitment of providing a meeting place and transportation deters involvement, Forlines said, “When people don’t have the heart to help these groups start they just cannot and do not launch.” Sometimes the groups must disband because they lose a church or association’s support.

That reality is troubling to Forlines who said that despite the 15-hour days she commits during the Fellowship’s retreat week, the experience is the “highlight” of her year.

“It is my hardest work week, but I enjoy it because I think it is what heaven is going to be like,” Forlines said. “It is an ethnically diverse environment where people don’t see or judge by skin color. Participants come from a variety of backgrounds and everyone is so gifted.”

During the business meeting of the retreat, members of the fellowship re-elected Denise Valkema of Miami as president. Calvert Durden and Shane Hitchcock, both of Tallahassee, were elected vice-president and secretary.

For information on sponsoring local FCFB chapters contact Brenda Forlines at 800-226-8584, ext. 3113.