Thanks Jim & Betty for 54 years of combined service!
I had no idea of the exciting adventure I was embarking upon in April 1988 when I sat down with Anthony Rossi and Joe Aleppo for an interview about joining the team of Aurora Ministries. Following that interview, I was invited to join the staff of Aurora Ministries. What impressed me most about Aurora Ministries was their commitment to the Word of God and their dedication to providing free Audio Bibles to visually impaired and print handicapped people around the world.
I have vivid memories of the Monday morning staff devotions in the office of Mr. Rossi, our founder, listening to him talk, often with tears in his eyes, about the ministry of Audio Bibles For The Blind. It was his heart’s desire to place an Audio Bible in the hands of every visually impaired and print handicapped individual who wanted to have a copy of the Word of God in a format they could use. At that time we had the Scriptures recorded in about 40 languages. Since that time 30 additional languages including a Children’s Bible have been added. Although Mr. Rossi went to be with the Lord in 1993, that desire of his heart remains the goal of Audio Bibles For The Blind.
Betty, my wife, had been with Aurora Ministries eight years prior to my joining the staff. Consequently I knew quite a lot about the ministry, but had no idea of the blessings that God would send our way as we were privileged to work and travel as a team. That adventure over the past twenty plus years has taken us to many different countries, and to almost every state in America. We have had the opportunity to meet and share the ministry with literally thousands of visually impaired and print handicapped people and health care professionals and organizations who work with the visually impaired and print handicapped community. We have experienced first hand the joy and excitement of seeing an Audio Bible placed in the hands of people, who for the first time, received a Bible of their very own that they can “read.” Often we have heard visually impaired people say what they missed most was being able to read their Bible, and then to hear the joy in their voice as they expressed their thanks for the Audio Bible they received.
One event that stands out in my mind is working with an American doctor to get an Audio Bible to an ophthalmologist in a country that is basically closed to the Gospel. We met the American doctor three years later and he told us the ophthalmologist received the Audio Bible in his native language and plays it as he operates on his patients. Most recently I had the opportunity to interview Hugo, a hero of mine who was blinded by an improvised explosive devise (IED) in Iraq, and Terry a Vietnam veteran who lost his eyesight due to being mugged and beaten in New York. While listening to his Audio Bible, Hugo came to faith in Christ, and Terry is using his Audio Bible in his studies to prepare for Christian ministry.
In recent years it has been our privilege to communicate with and personally meet many of our ministry partners who support Audio Bibles For The Blind with their prayers and financial support. Our lives have been greatly enriched by the friendships that have been established and the opportunity to join with them in giving out the Word of God.
As of the end of June, after 54 years of combined service, Betty and I are officially no longer employees of Aurora Ministries/Audio Bibles For The Blind. However, we plan to continue to be a part of the ministry on a volunteer basis. It has been a blessing to work with such a dedicated staff, and we look forward to joining the ranks of the volunteers in continuing to help send God’s Word to visually impaired and print handicapped people around the world.
