Deaf Ministry

For 47 years, the Deaf Ministry of Woodland Baptist Church has served Winston Salem's deaf and hard of hearing community.  In 1961, Former Pastor, Reverend Zeno Groce and Mrs. Nancy Ashley both had a vision to share the message that Jesus Christ died on Calvary, was buried, rose on the third day, and today stands with open arms to embrace, not only the hearing people, but also the deaf, into the family of God.  Though both founders have since retired, their vision lives on.  Our current Pastor, Reverend Tim Gammons, supports the Deaf Ministry by ensuring the spiritual needs of the deaf are met, adequate resources are available for the ministry to thrive, and that the deaf understand that they are an integral part of the church services.

Since the beginning of the Deaf Mininstry, each service at Woodland Baptist Church has been faithfully interpreted for the deaf.  Presently, our church has four seasoned interpreters, each with a passion for reaching the deaf for Christ.  The members of Woodland have been privileged to serve the Lord with many deaf who, through this ministry, accepted Christ as Savior and have since gone on to be with the Lord.  We look forward to seeing them in Heaven, where there will be no need for sign language!

A growing Sunday School class, known as the Silent Class, is provided for the deaf and their families to foster spiritual training, serve as an outreach to the lost deaf, promote Christian fellowship, and provide a support structure for each member.  We invite you to join us each Sunday in our Sunday School class, which meets at 10:00 a.m.  Just come to the Welcome Center at the front of the church for directions on how to get to the class.  The deaf, along with the hearing, meet in the main auditorium at 11:00 a.m. for our Sunday Morning service and at 6:00 p.m. for our Sunday Evening service.  We also meet on Wednesday nights in the main auditorium at 7:30 p.m.  If you would like to visit with us but have no way to get here, please contact the church office and we will do our best to provide transportation for you. 

As the Sunday School Teacher for the Silent Class, and on behalf of Pastor Tim Gammons, the interpreters, and the deaf and hearing members of Woodland Baptist Church, I extend to you the warmest of welcomes.  Our prayer is that you will soon visit with us and find out why we've made Woodland Baptist Church our home!

Mrs. Claudia Crawford

Interpreter / Silent Class Teacher

Isaiah 29:18 "In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the Book..."