Inspirational speaker Rothschild shows true meaning of blind faith
By Angela Randazzo Special to the Acorn

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers INSPIRED LISTENERS- Lisa Baker, Robin Albanese and Megan Cruz were among the 500 women who attended Christian seminar featuring nationally known speaker and author Jennifer Rothschild.

Jennifer Rothschild's blindness heightens her Christian faith and motivates her to share with others the lessons she's learned in the dark.

Rothschild could not see the 500 women attending her two-day seminar at Cornerstone Community Church. The inspirational speaker lost her eyesight to a rare degenerative disease when she was 15.

"I have no idea what my life would have been like without blindness because this is the way my life is," Rothschild said. "It's through blindness I'm convinced that I'm able to see God in a clearer way and feel his presence in a deeper way."

With more than 4,000 members in the congregation, the Cornerstone Community Church is a growing center for Christian worship and Bible study in Simi Valley. The church's women's ministry sponsored the event featuring the nationally known speaker.

Sandy Schmid, office manager for the church, was the event's organizer.

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers INNER STRENGTH- Inspirational speaker Jennifer Rothschild, blind since age 15, addresses a recent retreat at Cornerstone Community Church, says sightlessness allows her to "see God in a clearer way and feel his presence in a deeper way."

"Jennifer is very motivational and trusting in God. She is totally blind. She has a husband and two children that she has not seen," Schmid said. "She has a great message of faith and I think she's a good example to the women of this church."

During her presentation, Rothschild said that although blindness isn't a life she would have chosen, she's discovered a world that's not limited by her lack of sight.

"My mission is to empower women to have a tenacious faith . . . in order to do that you have to encourage them, inspire them and also equip them," Rothschild said. "In my lectures I say you can do it and here's how."

Church member Adele Martin, a longtime Simi Valley resident, helped organize the seminar.

"I have a son with severe disabilities and so I can relate to how (Rothschild) views the world," Martin said. "It's because of my son that I came to know the Lord. (Rothschild) gives people hope in a world where there isn't much of that."

Rothschild said she first noticed her failing eyesight when she was drawing an art project on a clean bed sheet. The white sheet looked dirty and spotted to her. After undergoing numerous medical exams, she received the devastating diagnosis that she would gradually lose her eyesight.

Rothschild credits her family and her faith for acceptance rather than bitterness.

"I credit my parents for the example of faith, but more than anything God's grace," Rothschild said. "The way that God has graciously led me and taught me has made the difference."

With a video presentation, Rothschild introduced the audience to her husband, Philip, and sons, Clayton, 17, and Connor, 8. Afterward, Rothschild talked about the lessons she learned through faith and sang her own musical compositions.

"The lecture was very encouraging because everybody struggles with trials," said Betsy Gentry of Simi Valley. "This woman is just overcome in the Lord."

Rothschild travels around the country giving seminars based on her best-selling books, "Lessons I Learned in the Dark," on what blindness taught her about faith, and "Lessons I Learned in the Light," on perseverance.

Her new book, "Self Talk, Soul Talk," on how to speak truth to your soul, will be available in September in bookstores and on her website, jenniferrothschild.com.

Rothschild has been on on many radio and television shows, including the "700 Club" and "The Hour of Power." Her appearance on "The Dr. Phil Show" will air on Friday, Feb. 23 on CBS.

"I was invited to encourage the parents of the only known set of blind triplets," Rothschild said. "It was totally heart-wrenching and totally heartwarming."

The women attending the Cornerstone event said Rothschild's message of faith, even under unfortunate circumstances, had revitalized their outlook on life.

"I want women to come away with an understanding of the goodness of God," Rothschild said, "and a desire to believe in more than their circumstances, more than their own abilities, because that's what really allows them to soar."