Braille Circulating Library

BCL 2010 SPRING NEWSLETTER
Dear Friends of the Braille Circulating Library,
As I pen this newsletter, I am overwhelmed by the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord. The year 2009 was a difficult year. There were many questions about the future of the BCL. But by the end of 2009, the Lord once again affirmed that the BCL is HIS ministry. Despite the poor economy, and the many changes and uncertainty in the world, the Lord provided in miraculous ways by touching the hearts of people to provide for the needs of the BCL. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 44 verses 6-8, "For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name forever." For 85 years the Lord has provided for the BCL and I will "praise thy name forever"!!!
Over the past eight years many wonderful things have occurred at the BCL. It is a blessing to look back over these past eight years and see that the things we have prayed for have come to pass. I am blessed to report that with the help of faithful volunteers and your prayers and financial support that the reorganizing and re-shelving by category of the BCL Braille book collection (2000 volumes) is DONE. The uploading of the Braille book information into the BCL library software is DONE. The bar coding of the BCL Braille book collection is DONE. The production of the new BCL Braille Book Catalog is DONE. And the new BCL Braille Book Catalog being sent to all the BCL patrons across the country is DONE. One patron wrote and said, "Thank you for the delightful braille catalog which reached me today. What a treat it is to have this carefully prepared, beautifully bound list! I look forward to ordering from it." Everyday requests for Braille books come to the BCL. What a blessing it is to hear from and to be able to serve these wonderful folks.
As I seek the Lord’s will and direction for the BCL, I continue to believe that the BCL should be a ministry for the blind, of the blind, and with the blind. I believe that the BCL should share the love and grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the blind and vision impaired, to be a resource center to provide Christian and inspirational materials for the blind community, to promote Braille literacy, to support fellowship with the blind and vision impaired through special events, and to encouragement integration, involvement, and discipleship of the blind through the local church. Ultimately, the mission of the BCL should be to bring encouragement to the blind and vision impaired through the Gospel so that some may become discipled followers of Jesus Christ. I am committed to this ministry, its mission, and its future development. I have requested the full support of every board member to see this ministry continue to expand and I am also requesting your full support as well. Please continue to pray for the BCL, but please seek the Lord as to how you can financially support the BCL in a greater way than you have done before. I know that we live in uncertain and changing times, but the Psalmist also wrote in Psalm 46, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea:...The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."
Thank you for your faithful support. Many wonderful things are happening at the BCL because of your faithfulness. May the Lord pour out His blessings upon you as you are being used to bring blessings into the lives of others. Thank you again.
Serving Him,
Rev. Brian J. Barton, Sr.
Executive Director