Our History

In the early 1940’s the Lord began working in the hearts of two very important 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. Ben Cox III to begin helping her with the interpreting. In May of 1978 Dr. Cox became the Director of Deaf Ministries. Dr. Cox’s work led First Baptist Church to hire Buddy Burgess as the first Minister to the Deaf in 1981. He served faithfully until 1986. 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.

Throughout the years God has greatly used this ministry. Deaf Christians have shared the gospel both 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 for the gospel. William 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: Ecuador, Russia, Brazil, and Portugal.