History
In the early 1940’s the Lord began working in the hearts of two significant people in order to begin a ministry to the deaf in Memphis, Tennessee. First, God led Fay Osborne to begin studying theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Second, God gave Dr. Paul R. Caudill, pastor of the First Baptist Church Memphis, Tennessee, a heart dedicated to reaching the deaf with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Though Dr. Caudill had a desire for reaching the deaf, he could not find a skilled, Christian interpreter. In 1945 Dr. Caudill heard of Fay Osborne and asked her about the possibility of interpreting at First Baptist. Fay was very interested and agreed. In October of 1945, Dr. Caudill began flying Fay from Texas to Memphis each weekend to interpret and begin working with the deaf community in Memphis.
Not long after she began working, Fay met Bill Lanham of Memphis, Tennessee and within three months they were married. Fay Lanham now lived in the Memphis area and expanded her ministry to the deaf. She began teaching Sunday School, Training Union, and interpreting services at First Baptist Church. Under her leadership, the deaf ministry produced strong deaf leaders, including deacons, who began to minister to others in the Memphis area.
For the first thirty years, Fay Lanham was the only interpreter at First Baptist Church. In 1975 Fay asked Dr. Benny Cox to begin helping her with the interpreting. In May of 1978, Dr. Cox became the Director of Deaf Ministry. Dr. Cox’s work led First Baptist Church to hire Buddy Burgess as the first Minister to the Deaf in 1982. He served faithfully until 1988. In 1990, Donnie Wiltshire became the second pastor to the Deaf hired by First Baptist Church. In October of 1999, the Lord led a faithful group of deaf Christians to move their membership from First Baptist Church to Kirby Woods Baptist Church. In June of 2003, Chip Penland became the third pastor to serve the Deaf Ministry of Memphis. He served faithfully until 2013. In October of 2014, Larry White became the fourth pastor to serve the Deaf Ministry of Memphis.
Throughout the years God has significantly used this ministry. Deaf Christians have shared the gospel locally, nationally, and internationally. Locally the ministry has worked with interpreting agencies to ensure the advancement of deaf individuals in society. The ministry has also been of service to the local schools and parents of deaf school-aged children. Deaf Christians have also shared the gospel with their deaf neighbors, and many have received the good news of Jesus Christ. The Deaf Ministry has also had a national impact on the gospel. William Leonard Asbridge worked diligently to found the Southern Baptist Conference for the Deaf in 1948. Internationally the ministry has sent deaf Christians to share the gospel in various countries including Gaza, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Russia, Brazil, Portugal, Jamaica, Peru, Honduras, and Israel.
Though Dr. Caudill had a desire for reaching the deaf, he could not find a skilled, Christian interpreter. In 1945 Dr. Caudill heard of Fay Osborne and asked her about the possibility of interpreting at First Baptist. Fay was very interested and agreed. In October of 1945, Dr. Caudill began flying Fay from Texas to Memphis each weekend to interpret and begin working with the deaf community in Memphis.
Not long after she began working, Fay met Bill Lanham of Memphis, Tennessee and within three months they were married. Fay Lanham now lived in the Memphis area and expanded her ministry to the deaf. She began teaching Sunday School, Training Union, and interpreting services at First Baptist Church. Under her leadership, the deaf ministry produced strong deaf leaders, including deacons, who began to minister to others in the Memphis area.
For the first thirty years, Fay Lanham was the only interpreter at First Baptist Church. In 1975 Fay asked Dr. Benny Cox to begin helping her with the interpreting. In May of 1978, Dr. Cox became the Director of Deaf Ministry. Dr. Cox’s work led First Baptist Church to hire Buddy Burgess as the first Minister to the Deaf in 1982. He served faithfully until 1988. In 1990, Donnie Wiltshire became the second pastor to the Deaf hired by First Baptist Church. In October of 1999, the Lord led a faithful group of deaf Christians to move their membership from First Baptist Church to Kirby Woods Baptist Church. In June of 2003, Chip Penland became the third pastor to serve the Deaf Ministry of Memphis. He served faithfully until 2013. In October of 2014, Larry White became the fourth pastor to serve the Deaf Ministry of Memphis.
Throughout the years God has significantly used this ministry. Deaf Christians have shared the gospel locally, nationally, and internationally. Locally the ministry has worked with interpreting agencies to ensure the advancement of deaf individuals in society. The ministry has also been of service to the local schools and parents of deaf school-aged children. Deaf Christians have also shared the gospel with their deaf neighbors, and many have received the good news of Jesus Christ. The Deaf Ministry has also had a national impact on the gospel. William Leonard Asbridge worked diligently to found the Southern Baptist Conference for the Deaf in 1948. Internationally the ministry has sent deaf Christians to share the gospel in various countries including Gaza, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Russia, Brazil, Portugal, Jamaica, Peru, Honduras, and Israel.
Timeline
In October of 1945 - God led Fay Osborne to begin the Interpreted Ministry starts at First Baptist Church in Memphis.
First Letter – Mrs. Franklin (Helen) Willis moved her letter from Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas to First Baptist Church on Linden and Lauderdale on October 2, 1945.
First Baptism – Mrs. Clem (Ruby) Boggan was baptized by Dr. R. Paul Caudill in First Baptist Church on Linden and Lauderdale on October 5, 1945.
First Statement – Robert Biggs joined First Baptist Church by statement on October 7, 1945.
First Baptism – Mrs. Clem (Ruby) Boggan was baptized by Dr. R. Paul Caudill in First Baptist Church on Linden and Lauderdale on October 5, 1945.
First Statement – Robert Biggs joined First Baptist Church by statement on October 7, 1945.
In December of 1948 - William Leonard Asbridge worked diligently to found the Southern Baptist Conference for the Deaf in Memphis.
In February of 1951 - William Leonard Asbridge was ordained as the first Deaf deacon by Dr. R. Paul Caudill at First Baptist Church on February 7, 1951.
In July of 1951 - Rev. Carter Bearden conducted the first Deaf revival at First Baptist Church on Parkway and Poplar on July 26, 1951.
In May of 1978 - Dr. Benny Cox become the Director of Deaf Ministry.
In January of 1982 - Buddy Burgess became the first pastor to serve the Deaf Ministry of Memphis after he received a Master of Religious Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He served faithfully until 1988. Buddy was called to Talladega, Alabama as chaplain at the Deaf and Blind school, and as pastor to the Deaf at Faith Baptist Mission until 1998. He served as pastor to the Deaf and minister to the Recreation at the First Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia until he retired in August of 2015.
In February of 1990 - Donnie Wiltshire became the second pastor to serve the Deaf Ministry of Memphis after he served 12 years as pastor at Canal Boulevard Baptist Deaf Church in New Orleans, Louisiana. He also earned a Doctor of Theology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. He served faithfully until 1999. He currently serves as consultant to the special ministries at the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina in Cary, North Carolina.
In October of 1999 - The Lord led a faithful Deaf Ministry to move their membership from First Baptist Church to Kirby Woods Baptist Church.
In June of 2003 - Chip Penland became the third pastor to serve the Deaf Ministry of Memphis after he received a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry at the Beeson Divinity School of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He served faithfully until 2013.
In October of 2014 - As the fourth pastor, Larry White became the first deaf pastor to serve the Deaf Ministry of Memphis after he served 25 years as pastor to the Deaf Ministry at First Southern Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He received a Bachelor of Religion from Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas.
