In Germany, Hope Audio Library Turns 60

For six decades, employees of the Hope Audio Library have been committed to providing blind and visually impaired people with access to Christian literature, according to a press release from Hope Media Europe in Germany. A special ceremony celebrated the resource’s 60th anniversary on June 22.

The success story of the Hope Audio Library began in the 1950s, when pastors of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Germany realized that blind and visually impaired church members lacked access to Christian literature. They initiated a project in which texts were recorded and sent on tape reels, which quickly found favor beyond the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Service Expansion

Soon leaders expanded the range of services offered by the audio library for the blind. Pastoral care discussions were held on the telephone, and from 1981 onward, special preparations took place at Friedensau Adventist University to help the blind and visually impaired participate fully in everyday life.

Sighted people learned how to help the blind and visually impaired. From 1988 onward, the Darmstadt audio library for the blind regularly offered leisure activities at various locations. In addition, there were regional listener and guest meetings, through which the team was able to build a personal relationship with many listeners, resource leaders reported.

The means used to share the audio files have changed over time. Reel tapes were eventually replaced by cassettes. Then, years later, CDs in DAISY format came along. Later, SD cards and USB drives arrived, making it possible for clients to listen to books and magazines on a variety of devices.

“Times change, but the main goal of the Hope Audio Library remains,” ministry leaders said, “which is to accompany blind and visually impaired people in their relationship with God, to strengthen their faith, and to pass on the hope of the gospel.”

The Hope TV Media Library also announced that it will soon release a recording of the June 22 celebration.

About Hope Media Europe

Hope Media Europe is a Christian media center with several media offerings, services, and resources. The network includes Hope TV, Hope Podcasts, Hope Courses, Hope Audio Library, and Hope Media Services. The main topics of the various media channels are faith, family, education, health, safety, and the environment, network leaders reported. Hope TV is part of the international Hope Channel family of broadcasters, which was founded in 2003 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the United States and now consists of more than 80 media centers worldwide.

The original version of this story was posted on the Adventistische Pressedienst news site.