Deaf Today: NAMB INCLUDES WORKSHOPS ON MINISTERING TO THE HEARING IMPARIED IN NATIONAL CONFERENCE

May 20, 2004

NAMB INCLUDES WORKSHOPS ON MINISTERING TO THE HEARING IMPARIED IN NATIONAL CONFERENCE

From: Florida Baptist Witness - Jacksonville,FL,USA - May 20, 2004

—Deaf leaders and interpreters can receive training focused on ministering to the hearing impaired at the North American Mission Board Connection Conference: “Preparing for Kingdom Growth 2004” in Orlando July 26-29. Conference coordinators are asking deaf workers, state, associational and missionary personnel to attend the conference and learn to implement Kingdom Growth strategies in their particular ministry context. The conference offers over 50 workshops. Topics specific to working with hearing impaired persons are: starting a deaf ministry; strengthening and expanding a deaf church; and understanding the role of the church interpreter. “Having deaf ministry workshops at the Connection Conference raises an awareness of the hearing impaired community and the need for ministries that reach deaf persons,” said Don Otwell, Florida Baptist Convention deaf ministry consultant. Keynote speakers of the event include Bob Reccord, president of NAMB, Alpharetta, Ga.; Ken Whitten, pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church, Tampa; Pat Williams, senior vice president of the Orlando Magic and a member of First Baptist Church, Orlando; and Johnny Hunt, pastor, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga.

The national conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency, Orlando International Airport. Check-in begins Sunday at 3 p.m. The conference concludes Wednesday at 9 p.m. Cost for the event is $35 per person through June 30 and includes breakfast, lunch and conference materials. After that date the conference fee is $75. Registration is available online at www.namb.net/connection. Participants are responsible for lodging. A negotiated rate of $85 is available by calling 800-233-1234 or visit http://orlandoairport.hyatt.com/groupbooking/namb. Indicate “NAMB” as the group code when making reservations. For additional information call Don Otwell at 904-266-0025.