International Christian Braille Mission Logo
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. -Revelation 22:4 (NIV)
Picture of Current President of ICBM Thomas Bleemel and Founder of ICBM Michael Smith. They are seated behind a display table at the International conference on Missions in Lexington, KY in November 2024. On the Table are Muffin Tins and tennis balls which are used as a braille learning tool, along with a National Library Services audio player, a perkins brailler, some braille books, a print out of the braille alphabet, the dotted line newsletter, ICBM brochures and business cards. The braille Learning tool is a muffin tin with 6 spaces and placed in these spaces to represent dots are tennis balls. These tennis balls can be moved around the cells to practice braille letters and words. This is an interactive tool for sighted people to be able to spell their name or other words. These tools and using the Perkins Brailler for people to write their name in braille and be able to take it home draw people's attention to the table which gives us the opportunity to share about the Outreach that ICBM does.

Annual Conference Attendance

ICBM attends these conferences annually in an attempt to connect with members and other resources for our outreach. We take our information and braille materials to hand out at these gatherings. We consistently hand out all that we take, as well as add new patrons to our mailing list for consistency of receiving materials to share more of God’s word to the world.

Picture of Mike and Barb Smith with friends Jim and Sue at a round table at the banquet of the National Federation of the Blind Convention in Orlando, Florida in 2013.
ABOVE: Mike and Barb Smith with friends Jim and Sue at the National Federation of the Blind Convention banquet in Orlando, Florida in 2013.

Picture of Mike and Barb standing at the foot of their bed after just getting checked into the hotel room for the National Federation of the Blind in 2008 which was in Dallas, Texas.

  • National Federation of the Blind Convention

    The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the largest membership organization of blind people in the United States, founded in 1940 to advocate for the rights and full participation of blind individuals in society. The NFB works to raise public expectations for blind people, improve lives through advocacy, education, and technology, and transform dreams into reality through collective action.

    National Federation of the Blind logo
  • National Church Conference of the Blind

    The National Church Conference of the Blind (NCCB) is a non-profit organization that holds an annual conference for blind individuals and their families, focusing on spiritual and community aspects. Founded in the context of faith, the NCCB is dedicated to providing a forum for spiritual enrichment, sharing resources, and fostering connections within the blind Christian community. While not as widely known as secular organizations like the National Federation of the Blind or the American Council of the Blind, the NCCB serves a distinct spiritual and fellowship-oriented mission for its members.

  • International Conference on Missions

    International Conference on Missions logoThe International Conference on Missions (ICOM) is an annual event for churches and mission-minded individuals to gather, connect, and be equipped for global evangelism, serving as a connection point for the Great Commission to encourage, equip, and enlist workers for the harvest. Launched in 1948 and a ministry of the Christian Churches – Churches of Christ, ICOM offers an annual conference, an online platform, a gap-year program, and various services to support missionaries and organizations worldwide.

Picture of Mike Smith and Tommy Bleemel with Todd and Davinna Beale while attending the International Conference on Missions in 2025 Atlanta, Georgia.
Mike Smith and Tommy Bleemel with Todd and Davinna Beale at the 2025 International Conference on Missions in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Supporting Churches: ICBM places great emphasis on visiting supporting churches throughout the year to foster strong, ongoing relationships. These visits keep congregations informed about the mission’s latest developments, initiatives, and impact in sharing the Gospel with the blind and deaf-blind communities. Building and nurturing these connections with our dedicated supporters is essential to sustaining and expanding ICBM’s outreach, ensuring that the vital work of providing accessible Christian resources continues to thrive.
Picture of Mike giving the message at Cornerstone Church of Christ in Brownsburg, Indiana in 2019 during their Mission Sunday Rally they host every year.Picture of Mike giving the message to the National Church Conference of the Blind during the 2013 gathering.
ABOVE LEFT: Mike is preaching at Cornerstone Church of Christ in Brownsburg, Indiana in 2019;
ABOVE RIGHT: Mike giving the message to the 2013 National Church Conference of the Blind.
ABOVE TOP: Mike is preaching at Cornerstone Church of Christ in Brownsburg, Indiana in 2019; ABOVE BOTTOM: Mike giving the message to the 2013 National Church Conference of the Blind.
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Po Box 520
Grayson, KY 41143-0520
Phone: 606-474-3411