Minister to deaf to lead Baptist church in Byron

From: Flint Journal - Flint,MI,USA - May 19, 2007

BYRON
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION

By George Jaksa
gjaksa@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6332

BYRON - The Rev. John Ashley hopes to reach out to the hearing and the deaf in his new ministry as pastor of Antrim Baptist Church.

Ashley, 52, said he accepted the pastorate at the 30-member church, 4509 E. Lovejoy Road, to be closer to Michigan Schools for the Deaf and Blind in Flint, where son John, 20, is a student. He had served as pastor of the deaf at Parkview Baptist Church in Livonia for the past six years.

Antrim Baptist is an independent, fundamental Baptist church established in 1853. In 1954, fire destroyed the original building. A new church was built the same year.

"I am very excited to be part of such a rich history of Bible teaching at Antrim," said Ashley, whose wife, Joann, is an aide at MSD.

The Ashleys have two other sons and a grandson. The family lives in Fenton Township.

- George Jaksa

***

©2007 Flint Journal