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Our History

By Paul Weingartner

What do a wringer washing machine, a small farmhouse in Michigan, and a blind girl in Kansas City have in common?

Over fifty years ago, God put a vision in the heart of Mildred Whitney. That vision was to see the Gospel made available to the Blind. With that call of God in her heart, she began her Braille lessons. She hand-punched the "Adult Student Quarterly" into Braille, painted the sheet with shellac, and hung it up to dry to be used as plates. A soaked sheet of paper was placed over the plate and run though a wringer washing machine. These sheets were hung up to dry through out her small farmhouse in Michigan.

This was the beginning of what is now a dynamic ministry.

Over the years there have been many changes:

• The ministry was moved to Springfield, Missouri and named "Blind Ministries".

• When Sister Whitney received her eternal promotion in 1994, the ministry was primarily a library-serving adults. In her honor, the ministry was thus named the "Whitney Library for the Blind".

• In 1994, Paul and Caryl Weingartner were asked to direct this ministry. They continue to oversee it today. This is more then just a ministry assignment to Paul and Caryl. It is personal because Paul is legally blind. They face, first hand, the struggles for Christian literature for the Blind and the lack of understanding that is often reflected in the Church. At one time, the ministry neglected the needs of blind children and the children of blind parents. This was a real burden to both Paul and Caryl. Paul knew what it was like to be a child with no accessible Christian literature. He knows what it is like to be a parent who cannot sit down with any of his five children to enjoy reading a Bible story. Paul and Caryl have carried this burden in their hearts since the first day of their appointment. Christian literature for Blind children and the children of Blind parents has been horribly neglected. The workload and finances of the ministry did not allow for the commitment it would take to bring a children's ministry into existence. "No, we just can't do that now." was the pat answer response to requests for children's Christian literature. Though it was never spoken without tears those painful experiences brought us to our knees giving over to the Lord each time. When a Missionettes leader called looking for help for a blind girl in Kansas City, Paul gave the standard answer: "No, we just can't do that now." However, after Paul got off the phone with her, he poured out his heart to God. "It is not fair, it is just not fair that a girl is not allowed to work on her Honor Star just because she can't see." It was at that moment that God gave the assurance that He saw the needs of this young girl and it was time to start working on the STARS handbook in Braille. Paul and Caryl met Adriene (the blind Missionette) and her family a short time later. It was then that God confirmed to Paul and Caryl that someday their ministry would include blind children.

• The ministry expanded to include evangelism and discipleship, community relations, convention outreaches, and Christian advocacy and education for the Blind. Since the Whitney Library for the Blind did not reflect the full scope of the ministry, in 1999 the ministry was restructured. The parent ministry is now the "Center for the Blind". The Whitney Library for the Blind is now under the Center for the Blind. Through this ministry the Assemblies of God have taken a leadership role in ministering to the Blind. In the words of a blind Christian, after she received the evangelistic material from the Center for the Blind she said: "This is quality and contemporary Christian material! It is the first evangelistic material that I don't have to be ashamed to give a blind, unsaved friend."

• In September 1999, the "Adriene Resource Center for Blind Children" became a reality.

  Adriene

  Adriene inspired Paul and Caryl so much in her efforts to become a Missionette honor star, which they asked to name the ministry to blind children in her honor. This ministry exists to help fill the horrible nationwide void in Christian literature for blind children with quality, state of the art material. Adriene was born with an extremely rare genetic condition (only 40-50 cases in the history of the human race). She was born without eyes and other results of genetics. Adriene is vivacious! She is realistic about her blindness and does not let it or the misconceptions of others determine who she is. She is talented and independent. She is a hard worker and enjoys life. She has a heart for the Lord and for personal development. Adriene also has the great support from her father, Greg, and her sister, Aimee. (Read Adriene's story in the Pentecostal Evangel article, "Through eyes of faith.")

What do a wringer washing machine, a small farmhouse in Michigan, and a blind girl in Kansas City have in common?

The ministry that began over 50 years ago with hand- punched Braille Adult Student Quarterly then duplicated by a wringer washing machine from a small farmhouse in Michigan is now producing top quality cassette, Braille, and tactile graphics for Blind adults and Blind children.