[Faith-talk] Welcome, and comments

Wed Apr 11 23:57:25 CDT 2007

Hi from Jennifer Hall!  In response to teaching Sunday School, I teach 
1st-3rd grade and every few months I rotate and teach Children's Church.  I 
was more afraid of children's church because of them not being able to read 
at the age of 3 and 4.  I belong to a Southern Baptist Church in Kentucky 
and like Treva, my church was just thrilled someone volunteered period.  You 
can sense some hesitation amongst a few people, but I just do the best I 
can.  The biggest blessing is with CC and the cutest things that come out of 
there mouths.  I usually have 5-10 kids.  For example, two kids in our 
church had their tonsils taken out in February.  Later on, one of my little 
girls  offered her prayer request for the day.  She said, "Miss Jennifer, 
pray for my tonsils because they are sick!"

It can be hard when they are full of energy and really don't want to sit for 
a lesson.  But, I always make sure I have enough to keep us the whole hour. 
The book I use I got at LifeWay Christian Bookstore.  It is a 52 week 
workbook with gobs of lesson plans.  The pages are perforated, so if you 
have scanning software you could easily scan them.

All in all, it is a great blessing to teach these children.  I would speak 
with the members who seem to have reservations about a blind person teaching 
and explain to them what you are capable of and how you plan to execute 
lessons for children or any Sunday School/ Church class.  Thanks for all of 
your time  Everyone take care and God bless!

In Christ,
Jennifer Hall
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Linda Mentink" <mentink at frontiernet.net>
To: "Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion" 
<faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 6:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] Welcome, and comments

> Hi Treva.  Very well said.
>
> Please greet Tony for me!
> Hi Kori and Everyone,
>>My name is Treva Olivero, and I am involved in the East Central chapter
>>of the NFB f Indiana. I don't post very much, but I just wanted to share
>>my experiences. I go to the Fountain City Wesleyan Church in Richmond
>>Indiana. I currently teach Sunday school. Usually I have 8 to 10 second
>>graders. I was so nervous about doing this ministry, but I had wanted to
>>do it for a long time. When I first started, I just told the children's
>>pastor that I don't think that I will have any problems with working
>>with children due to my blindness. I had done my student teaching, so I
>>had experience in the past. However, I had never taught in a church
>>setting. I explained to her how I scan the print lessons and put them on
>>my Braille note PK. I said that I would plan the lesson and if they
>>wanted to get someone else to help me that it would be fine. They
>>weren't worried about it. Usually they don't have anyone there helping
>>me because a lot of people don't want to help with the children's
>>ministry. The kids will ask about my Braille note, and the boys tend to
>>act out sometimes, but I just do what any other teacher would do, and
>>they're fine. At one point, I was working with second and third grade
>>and our "small group" had 30 people at times. It was a little
>>overwhelming for me, but when I had a sighted volunteer helping me, it
>>was overwhelming for them too. :) Now, we have someone to teach third
>>grade, so all of us have the same amount of students. This doesn't have
>>anything to do with my blindness, but the kids tend to have better
>>discussions about our lesson when there aren't as many. Also, all of the
>>classes are in one large room because this is the available space.
>>Fortunately, the church that I go to has always been very willing to
>>work with me. They know that I am very independent, and they expect that
>>I will tell them if I have problems.
>>
>>Maybe it would help your friend if she offered to do the planning of the
>>lesson and there could be someone there with her. She could then show
>>them that she can do it without any assistance.
>>
>>Another thing that I try to do still is go above and beyond what is
>>expected. For example, I'll look at our curriculum, but if I don't think
>>that the lesson will work, I look for other ideas on the Internet.
>>
>>Just keep working to try to change the attitudes of the people in your
>>church. I think that God wants us to do this because he wants us to use
>>our gifts and talents to serve him.
>>
>>I hope this helps!
>>
>>Treva
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Kori King [mailto:koranking at cox.net]
>>Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 1:09 AM
>>To: maryesanchez at grandecom.net; Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith
>>and religion
>>Subject: [Faith-talk] Welcome, and comments
>>
>>
>>Hi, everyone! I'm Kori and I live in Gainesville, Florida, and I want to
>>
>>welcome Anita and any other new members to the list. I'm Vice-President
>>of
>>our local NFB chapter and I attend Oak Park Baptist Church. I really
>>think
>>it's special and a blessing to know that so many other blind people are
>>taking teaching and leadership roles in their churches, because as
>>accepting
>>as the sighted church members are of the three of us blind people who
>>attend
>>Oak Park, I feel and have witnessed the attitude that some of them think
>>
>>that having a teaching role as a blind person would open the door for
>>the
>>children to take advantage of our blindness. I've wished at times that
>>someone who's blind who has a leadership role in their church or
>>community
>>could come and speak to our congregation. I'm not very good at being
>>convincing at times, and even though I feel personally that I wouldn't
>>really be the best teacher, one of my blind friends has wanted to do
>>this. I
>>feel that she would be doubted of her ability to lead the kids in
>>lessons,
>>as someone already did express the concern of being taken advantage of,
>>a
>>while back. Did any of you in various ministries and teaching roles have
>>to
>>overcome skepticism and doubt of your capabilities?
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Mary Ellen Sanchez" <maryesanchez at grandecom.net>
>>To: "'Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion'"
>><faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 11:12 PM
>>Subject: [Faith-talk] THANK YOU
>>
>>
>> > Hello Anita.  My name is Mary Ellen.  I am from Tx and I am currently
>> > a student in college.  I wanted to welcome you to this list.  I hope
>> > you enjoy yourself on this list.  It is a wonderful group of people.
>> > I know some of them personally.  I really hope you feel welcome here
>> > and I would love to know you more.
>> > Your Friend,
>> > Mary Ellen.
>> > Email: maryesanchez at grandecom.net
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> > [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> > On Behalf Of ANITA
>> > Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 12:54 PM
>> > To: faith-talk at nfbnet.org
>> > Subject: [Faith-talk] THANK YOU
>> >
>> > Thank you for the welcome.
>> >
>> > My name is Anita and I would like to find out more about this
>> > discussion group.  I hope to learn more about everyone as well as
>> > share anything of interest with others.
>> >
>> > Again, thank you.
>> >
>> > Your sister in Christ,
>> >
>> > Anita
>> >
>> > --
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>> >
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