First Baptist Church, Arnold hosts Southern Baptist Conference of the Deaf

First Baptist Church in Arnold, Missouri, recently hosted the Southern Baptist Conference of the Deaf (SBCD), an event aimed at reaching the deaf community with the gospel. The conference, held in July, brought together leaders and participants from across the Southern Baptist Convention to address the unique needs of the deaf population.

Allison Randolph, a participant, used sign language to communicate with others during the event. Kenny Qualls, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, emphasized the significance of the gathering. “The Deaf are one of the least reached people groups in the world,” Qualls said. “It is heartbreaking that of the 11.5 million deaf in the United States, only 4% claim personal faith in Jesus.”

Brance Long, president of the SBCD and pastor of Charlotte First Deaf Church, echoed Qualls’ concerns. “My wife and I were sitting at the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando and we noticed only three or four other deaf in the huge auditorium,” Long said. He proposed a motion to encourage churches to address the need to reach the Deaf, calling them “the largest unreached people group.”

A major goal of the conference was discipleship, with Long referencing 2 Timothy 2:2. “We want to share with the younger generation, so that they can use what they learn to reach others,” he said. The conference featured three tracks, including information for the deaf and classes for interpreters. “We wanted to encourage continued training because the need is there. Interpreters provide access to life for the deaf. Good communication is vital,” Long explained.

The International Mission Board (IMB) also participated in the conference. Qualls highlighted the church’s strategic global partnership with the IMB and the Deaf in Southeast Asia. “We are grateful at First Arnold that we not only have a deaf ministry in our church, but we also have a strategic global partnership with the IMB and the Deaf in Southeast Asia,” he said.

Doyle Snead, a member of FBC Arnold and coordinator for the interpreters, shared his experience from a mission trip to Southeast Asia with the Deaf. “American Sign Language is not universal, each country has its own deaf language,” he said. “We wanted to spark more people to become church interpreters during the conference. We also offered credit for interpreters earning certification.”

Snead stressed the importance of believers serving as interpreters in church. “It is difficult to get the meaning of Scripture,” he said. “They may be signing c

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