FBC Montgomery integrates hearing impaired children into traditional VBS

The sounds of Vacation Bible School (VBS) activities at First Baptist Church, Montgomery, in Montgomery Baptist Association took on a different meaning this year with the integration of children who are hearing impaired.

With the help of David Richardson, longtime minister to the deaf, and First, Montgomery, member Martha Davis, three children who are hearing impaired were able to participate in crafts and recreation alongside the other nearly 800 children.

Richardson and Davis signed each day’s Bible story to the three children separate from the large-group Bible story session. These three children would also sing along with the signing.

“Everywhere except [Bible story time], the (hearing-impaired) children were with the hearing children,” Davis said.
“We did games to help them remember what their Bible verse was or what the Bible story was about.”

“Regarding the VBS at FBC Montgomery and the deaf children,” Jay Wolf, pastor of First, Montgomery, said, “David Richardson gets a gold medal. He is using his retirement days to do ministry and missions.  

“David focused on … Uriah Stallworth who gave his life to Christ last year during VBS. This year was a time to water Uriah’s growing faith,” Wolf said. “It was a small group, but like the shepherd who sought the one sheep in Luke 15, we believe that investing in Uriah will yield immense eternal dividends.”

Debra Stallworth, Uriah’s mother, said the VBS experience was good for him.

“He enjoyed (VBS) so much that he wants to go back next year,” she said.

Debra Stallworth, who is also hearing impaired, said there is a need for children with hearing disabilities to be able to go to things like VBS and she would urge other churches to provide similar opportunities for children who are hearing impaired.

“I feel wonderful (that) my child (could) go to Bible school (to) learn how to become a Christian,” she said.

“My child had a wonderful, good time. He learned to make things in craft class (and) played games during recreation time with hearing children.”

Richardson, who hopes to reach out to the deaf community and get more families and children active in VBS and at First, Montgomery, said, “We need to reach out to the parents so they’ll know what is going on, know me and know what we offer at the church.” (TAB)