Manuel Cruz recently joined the MOB. He is one of more than 110 Adventists in 30 states, including 13 Adventists in the Pacific Union, who are working with the MOB—and they love it!

Christian Record Services, a ministry of the General Conference to the blind and visually impaired, has created a personal ministries program called Missionaries of the Blind (MOB). Church members throughout the U.S. and Canada are joining the ministry.

Missionaries of the Blind offers church members the opportunity to visit and minister to blind people in their own communities. More than 23,000 blind and visually-impaired residents of the United States—from many different Christian denominations—regularly receive Braille, large print or audio publications from Christian Record Services. The new MOB program is looking for Adventist volunteers who are willing to spend one or two hours a month visiting the blind, building friendships, praying with them and perhaps inviting them to church. Christian Record provides the names. Volunteers provide the visits.

Manuel Cruz, who attends the Poway Church in San Diego, visits with Larry, a 53-year-old blind man who receives Braille books and other materials from Christian Record. Larry also attends blind camp at Leoni Meadows in Northern California.

Cruz also visits Robert, a 73-year-old blind man who receives the Adult Sabbath School lessons in Braille from Christian Record. Cruz says they have wonderful visits together.

"I have good news to share," Cruz recently told Christian Record personal ministries director David Klinedinst. "This Sabbath I am picking up Larry and Robert to go to church." Manuel and Eleanor Dosey, another member of the Poway church, had recently gone to visit both Larry and Robert. After visiting and praying together, Cruz and Dosey invited each one to church on Sabbath and, to their delight, both men said they would like to go.

"I have been blessed by this program," said Cruz. "I was impressed that God wanted to use me. I can't just leave it up to the pastor and elders. God wants me to be willing to share His love."

Cruz said he thinks there must be many church members who would enjoy working as a Missionary of the Blind.

Christian Record Services is looking for more Adventist volunteers. For more information about the ministry, call the CRS Personal Ministries Department at 877-288-1188, e-mail personalministries@christianrecord.org, or visit www.christianrecord.org/pm and click on "Missionaries of the Blind."