| Laurel Jean is pictured here at age seven, reading from her first Braille Bible, presented to her by the Lakewood, IL United Methodist Church. “When this little church by the side of the road made God’s Word accessible to me, I felt truly welcome in God’s house,” she says, “and to this day, Lakewood UMC supports my ministry with prayer and sponsorship.”
Laurel Jean's music and ministry are driven by her passion to shine God's Light, that all may see Him. In 2008, she began a unique Chaplaincy for Blind Youth, which hosted its first Vacation Bible School in July of 2009. During this Accessible VBS, one blind youth was led to Salvation and many others (both blind and sighted) were brought closer to God. In addition to personally mentoring and tutoring the brilliant young people she affectionately calls “her” kids, Laurel Jean has always promoted and supported organizations dedicated to the production of Christian material in Braille, large print and audio formats on behalf of the blindness community worldwide. These organizations help her bring God's Light to those who live in darkness. Laurel Jean continues to actively assist in placing electronic talking Bibles into the hands of others who are blind or print disabled.
Laurel Jean is a determined advocate for Braille literacy and awareness, and her programs reflect this enthusiasm! She often reads selections from her Braille Bible as she shares funny, inspirational and motivational stories from her own personal life experiences.
In church settings, while presenting programs for Worship, Laurel Jean is often asked to deliver the Children's Message. She also speaks to all ages of Sunday School classes, sharing, answering questions and demonstrating Braille. “Everyone enjoys seeing the Braille alphabet, and his/her name in Braille,” Laurel Jean says. “The Sunday School setting offers sighted folks the unique opportunity to ask questions about how we who are blind accomplish things sometimes taken for granted by the sighted community.”
In public and private schools, from pre-K to the college level, Laurel Jean customizes programs that combine music with fun and educational sensitivity and awareness workshops. During these classroom visits or school assemblies, students receive Braille alphabet cards, their names in Braille, and lots of time for questions and answers.
Laurel Jean believes that the key to awareness of and respect for the blind within the sighted community can be found in the increased, active presence of the blind among the community at large.
You can be a part of this ministry and outreach. Simply ask about bringing Music By Laurel Jean to your church or community. Also ask about Laurel Jean's unique Sensitivity and Awareness Programs for God's kids of all ages!
Help keep God's Light shining!
Below is a list of organizations supported by Laurel Jean and her ministry.
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Assemblies of God, National Center for
the Blind
1445 N. Boonville Ave.
Springfield, MO 65802
Phone: (417) 831-1964
blind.ag.org
Bibles for the Blind & Visually Handicapped International
3228 E. Rosehill Ave.
Terre Haute, IN 47805-1297
Phone: (812) 466-4899
biblesfortheblind.org
Braille Bibles International
PO Box 378, Liberty, MO 64069
Phone: (800) 52-BIBLE
braillebibles.org
Christian Record Services, Inc.
and National Camps for Blind Children
4444 South 52nd Street
Lincoln NE 68516-1302
USA
or
PO Box 6097
Lincoln NE 68506-0097
USA
Phone: 402.488.0981
Fax: 402.488.7582
Web site: christianrecord.org
Lutheran Braille Workers
PO Box 5000
Yucaipa, CA 92399
Phone: (888) 215-2455
lbwinc.org
Talking Bibles
PO Box 906
Escondido, CA 92033 USA
Phone: (760) 745-8105
talkingbibles.org
Xavier Society for the Blind
154 E. 23rd St., New York, NY 10010-4595
(800) 637-9193
xaviersocietyfortheblind.org |
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