Center for the Blind allows Blind to “see” Narnia

By Matthew T. Polites

Nearly a decade ago, Paul Weingartner began a journey that eventually would lead him and the Assemblies of God Center for the Blind to Narnia.

After years of waiting and wanting to produce a Braille version of C.S. Lewis’ classic, The Chronicles of Narnia, with tactile pictures, Weingartner and the CftB are close to completing the voyage.

The CftB version of Narnia is not actually the first time the works have been transcribed into Braille, but it is distinct in at least two other ways.

First, a tactile picture accompanies each chapter, and allows Blind readers to “see” what Lewis describes. Then, the CftB intends to never again let the work be “out of print,” unlike the other Braille translations in existence.

The process to produce one edition is no simple task for the CftB. In all, one book in the series takes approximately 15 weeks to complete.

Twelve weeks are devoted to preparing the normal print book for transcription, a process which includes manually keying in the entire text and then the proofreading process. Then, it takes three weeks to convert each picture into a tactile graphic.

Sarah Sykes, the project translator and tactile graphic creator, tells of what God has showed her through a few of the more arduous points of the project.

“In the moments when things keep going wrong, like when I couldn’t find a graphic for transcription, and I just wanted to quit,” Sykes tells, “God proved Himself faithful. He continues to teach me the value of persevering and trusting him for what I need next.”

Weingartner knows that even though it takes so long to make one edition, that the time is well spent. He tells that not much literature is currently available for Blind young people.

“If your child is sighted, there is almost no limit to the variety of Christian literature available,” Weingartner says. “However, if your child is Blind and you don’t know of this ministry (CftB), it is very likely your child will grow into adulthood without Christian literature.”

Ensuring that the Blind youth have Christian literature has proved to be a key motivator for Weingartner.

“I am thrilled to see the joy in the hearts of children and adults as they get their hands on these,” Weingartner says. “Hearing Blind adults shout for joy and watching parents of Blind children cry after getting these works, spurs me on to do more.”

Sykes and Weingartner both have vested interests in the CftB.

In 2001, Sykes began volunteering at the CftB, and eventually joined the staff a little more than a year ago. She says she has a “connection” to the people she serves.

“These are not some people who need Christian literature,” she continues. “These are my people who need Christian literature.”

Sykes is Blind. And, speaking of her own blindness, she is not about to use it as an excuse to keep her from ministering to others. In fact, she almost views it as a blessing.

“If Christ is willing, He can heal me of my blindness,” Sykes says. “But also, if He is willing, I would much rather see Blind people come to know Jesus because of my witness among them, than have the miracle of sight for myself.”

The director of the CftB since 1994, Weingartner was also born Blind. As a parent of five children, he knows the pain of not being able to read a story to his kids.

Weingartner, Sykes and the CftB staff are not going to be satisfied until the last book is completed — a goal that is less than a year away.

Each CftB member is looking forward to claiming the victory for the Lord by completing works that secular organizations could not. Also, Weingartner says he “is anxious to squelch the skepticism in the hearts of those who thought a tactile Narnia for the Blind was not possible.”

Works completed thus far include The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The remaining works in the Narnia series are underway and targeted for a July 1, 2008, release date.

Beyond Narnia, the CftB is also working on such titles as Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan; Jesus Freaks by DC Talk; Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper; and a series of children’s books by Bill Myers.

The AG Center for the Blind is a ministry of AGUSM. Since its beginning nearly 50 years ago, the CftB has grown beyond a library of Braille materials. It now includes discipleship resources, evangelism tools and is a Christian advocacy group for the Blind.