Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega was once again the setting for Deaf Baptists from all over the state to come together March 8–10 in order to worship, fellowship, learn and take care of Southern Baptist business during the annual Alabama Baptist Conference of the Deaf gathering.
This year the sessions for adults were led by Larry White, pastor of Kirby Woods Baptist Deaf Church in Memphis, Tennessee, and co-founder of the Deaf Men’s Conference. The worship leader was Martise Colston, American Sign Language instructor and interpreter from Sorrento, Florida.
The theme for the weekend was “Love and Forgive,” based on Colossians 3:12–14.
Guiding principles
White first laid the groundwork, discussing how Christians can tell if they haven’t truly forgiven others. He mentioned how 1 Corinthians 13 shows that true love isn’t based on feelings, and he continued by teaching how the Pharisees religiously followed the law while also looking down on others.
Although he shared principles that apply to every Christian, White also made it personal.
“If someone hurts a deaf person and you say, ‘You’re finished,’ and can’t forgive, is that Christian or Pharisee behavior?” White asked.
White further shared an example of forgiveness using Joseph’s life, and he invited attendees to sign parts of Joseph’s story. Then White explained about how Joseph had to love and forgive repeatedly.
“Through everything Joseph went through over 22 years, he could have been bitter. God allowed those things to happen. Joseph could have easily let these events take over his life. He learned to love and he learned forgiveness,” White said.
At the end of the morning session, White asked if anyone had questions or specific examples of how they are either having a hard time forgiving someone or a time when they had been able to forgive even when it was hard. Many attendees shared their personal experiences.
While the adults were learning from White and worshipping with Colston, the teenagers in JrABCD, the teen track of the conference, had their own sessions about love and forgiveness led by Tony Tiano, a member of the Deaf ministry at Eden Westside Baptist Church in Pell City.
Group effort
The most exciting news shared at this year’s conference was the new Deaf church plant in northern Alabama.
Teresa Sheppard, one of the members of the new church, said it’s “awesome, great!” She loves the Bible study and worship times and is excited about how it’s “growing and growing.”
It started when Steve Dye, Deaf ministry catalyst consultant for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, and his wife, Mandi, felt led to move to northern Alabama because there was no thriving Deaf ministry in the area.
After moving in May 2023 and meeting with deaf Christians in the area each month, they began the new Deaf ministry at The Grove Church in Madison. Voting to call themselves “Deaf Koinonia,” their first service was Jan. 14 and had about 20–25 people, with their highest attendance so far doubling that.
“From June 2023 to December 2023, we had many fellowships at our home, coffee shops, mall socials and other places. The Deaf here have shown one thing that was different from all of the other places we have served in Alabama. They showed a hunger for God’s Word and for fellowship.
“[They] know the importance of accountability and support throughout the week, not just Sundays. We have truly become a family among our Deaf group, and we are proud of our church family!” Dye said.
Volunteer help
This plant was a group effort. Morgan, Madison and Limestone Baptist associations, along with Fairview Baptist Church in Athens, all provided support. The pastor and staff at Eden Westside Baptist Church in Pell City, where Dye and his wife had been leaders, “were a blessing to us and still are to this day,” Dye said.
However, it wasn’t all easy.
“We visited six different churches. The biggest hurdle of all was finding willing volunteers to help interpret those visits to the different churches. But we have been blessed to have a wonderful group of people who have helped us monthly with our needs. Without those interpreters, we wouldn’t have been able to feel the Lord leading us to our current church, The Grove Church,” Dye said.
Dye sometimes wonders why God didn’t move him and his wife to north Alabama years ago, feeling that they could have reached more unchurched deaf people by now by starting sooner.
However, he recognizes that the experiences he and Mandi had while ministering in Birmingham, Talladega, Oxford and Pell City have molded and shaped who they are.
“I have been extremely blessed to be able to share about Deaf ministry work up here in north Alabama more than I have in the past five years elsewhere. Many churches are still uneducated about the need and why it’s important to break down those barriers to allow the Deaf to have access to God’s Word.
“There are an estimated 4,000 deaf people in the north Alabama area among the six major counties, but only about 10 [of them] had access to worship. [Since starting] at The Grove Church, we have added much more to the number of deaf (people) having access to God’s Word.
“And we are just getting started.”
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