Christian Record Services, Inc. (CRS) is pleased to announce the opening of its new office space dedicated to the production of braille resources. This expansion marks a significant commitment to serving the worldwide visually impaired community and enhancing access to braille literature for all.

CRS celebrated a soft opening during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, held after a recent board of directors meeting. Board members had the opportunity to tour the new expansion, and G. Alexander Bryant, board chair and president of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (NAD), had the honor of cutting the ribbon. 

“We are so grateful to God for the new expansion project at Christian Record Services and for the exponential impact it would make for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Bryant said. “I believe many more souls will be in the kingdom as a result of the work that will be done from here.” 

Earlier in 2023, CRS received US$597,000 from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists to increase its braille production capacity. While the ministry already had capacity to fulfill member requests from within the United States and its territories, more requests are coming to expand production capacity worldwide.  

“We were incredibly grateful to be the recipient of these funds and are excited about the opportunity to expand our production,” CRS president Diane Thurber said. “With this expansion, we will contribute to braille literacy and address the book famine that currently exists, with less than 10 percent of published works available in accessible formats in developed countries and less than 1 percent in undeveloped countries.” 

The new office space is equipped with technology designed to streamline the braille production process. From high-speed embossers to specialized software for transcribing written text into braille to workspace to assemble the braille books, every detail has been considered to ensure efficiency and precision.  

With the new production space open and operating, CRS is poised to embark on a new chapter of service and impact. The organization hopes this expansion not only will meet many of the immediate needs of the visually impaired community but also inspire other institutions to prioritize accessibility in their outreach efforts. 

Christian Record Services is an official ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the NAD. Its mission is to empower people who are blind to engage their communities and embrace the Blessed Hope. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, CRS serves nearly 18,000 members throughout the nation and in countries around the world, with approximately 9,000 members outside the NAD. Membership and services are free to anyone who is legally blind. Outside the U.S. and its territories, CRS partners with division leaders, Adventist Possibilities Ministries, and Canada conferences through contracted service agreements. 

The original version of this story was posted on the North American Division news site.