In June 1986, a family with a deaf child joined Annistown Road Baptist Church (ARBC). The child was mainstreamed into a Sunday School class with an interpreter. Interpreted worship services were also provided. At that time a Deaf committee was formed to help direct and plan for the activities of this ministry. By the Fall of 1986, we had three deaf children attending.
In the winter 1987, two deaf adults joined ARBC. At first they were mainstreamed with an interpreter. Three months later a Bible Study Class, specifically for deaf adults, was offered on Sunday mornings. As we continued to grow in all areas we added a Deaf children’s and teenagers Bible study class on Sunday mornings.
In October 1989, a deaf Sunday School department was organized. Deaf Adults are being trained to take positions of leadership and teachers on a continual basis. This department consist of deaf children, teenagers, their parents, and deaf adults. Classes provided are two deaf children’s classes, deaf teenagers, deaf adults, and parents of deaf children. At this time 25 were enrolled in this department. At present we have 41 enrolled with an average attendance of 30. We are looking to add a singles and a preschool class this fall.
In the fall 1989, the church voted to support a part-time staff person for the Deaf Ministry with money from the mission budget. This person would be the liaison for the deaf ministry overseeing the organization and coordination of deaf ministry programs with chuch wide activities. In addition would investigate the possibility of this ministry becoming a mission.
Since January 1990, once a quarter, we have a separate deaf worship service. We have guest speaker from the Atlanta area. We would like to have this opportunity more often, but there are very few deaf preachers in the state of Georgia. The only deaf preacher, in our state, that I know of is Carter Bearden, who is with the Home Mission Board. Among the Southern Baptist hearing preachers that can communicate with the deaf, there are approximately 4 that are local. Of these four, one is with Home Mission Board, another is pastor of deaf church, and another is with the Georgia Baptist Convention. As you can see, the resources are limited.
In April 1990, the deaf ministry had a weekend Deaf Revival that averaged an attendance of 65. In May 1991, a Deaf Group lead a week long Revival averaging and attendance of 80. I would estimate one-third or more who attended were unchurched.
In the fall of 1990, a Deaf Council replaced the Deaf committee. It has a Chairperson, a Sunday School Department Director, a Deaf Sunday Department Outreach Leader, a Social Chairperson, a purpose is to allow the deaf ministry to have a part in the decision making process, organize programs for the deaf ministry, and to develop and utilize leadership from within the deaf members and the deaf ministry membership. Also, during this times period a deaf deacon was ordained.
For the past three years, we have maintained an average deaf membership of twenty-five members. Keep in mind that during this time period, families have moved out of state, so the membership has fluctuated between twenty to twenty-five. On Sundays, our average attendance is twenty-five to thirty deaf people. On Wednesday nights we offer Deaf Adult Bible Study and mission programs with an attendance that averages about seventeen deaf persons. Also, you must realize that these deaf members have hearing family members. This makes the total involvement with the ministry about fifty-five. Our membership has been primarily established from other denominations, and the unchurhced population. In the past four years, we have had sixteen public professions of faith and fourteen baptisms. At present we have a prospect list of about fifty unchurched families within a ten mile radius from our church.