Deaf Ministry
"Hands for Him"

The deaf ministry (Hands for Him) is under the direction of Tara Noe (see picture) who also serves as interpreter.

Sue Hix serves as assistant interpreter and Sunday School facilitator for the Deaf.John Bagley serves as Wednesday evening Deaf Bible Study teacher

The mission of the deaf ministry at Holly Creek Baptist Church is to provide the deaf and their families with the support and resources they need to become active, knowledgeable, and mature members of the Body of Christ through deaf-led and hearing-led worship services, Bible studies, and fellowship.

About Tara Noe

"I was born in Dalton and raised in Chatsworth. In 1988 I graduated from Murray County High School and went to Dalton College for 2 years to earn my A.S. degree in 1990. I then transferred to the State University of West Georgia where I received my B.S. Ed. in 1992. I began a teaching career in Murray County in 1992 and pursued a M.S. degree from Berry College, graduating from there in 1997. My sign language training began with two friends from Holly Creek- one deaf, one hearing. We learned together in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. I also took sign language classes from Dalton College. Most of my training has been “hands on”, so to speak, by being involved with our sister deaf ministry at Grove Level Baptist church as well as by fellowshipping with the deaf on a regular basis. I came to Holly Creek at the age of 18 with my family. I moved my membership to HCBC after growing up as a child at Smyrna Baptist and a youth at Eton Baptist under the pastorship of great men of God like Grover Broome, Tom Turner, and Erwin Crider. I immediately became involved in the College and Career class at Holly Creek and have been here ever since. The first time I attempted to interpret a service into sign language was in 1990. We had a deaf member in attendance and nobody else was there to sign for her. I signed exact English the best that I could, and continued to interpret signed English until the deaf member left HCBC in 1995 and moved out of town. During those 5 years, we had a few other deaf to come and go. We never had a thriving ministry for them or an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter. We had two women, Sue Hix and myself, who signed Sunday morning worship services and occasionally Sunday school classes. I have been a member at Holly Creek since 1988. I have a son age 6, his name is Aidan."

"God opened the doors for the deaf ministry to begin in full swing during June of 2003. The Lord had strategically placed a mentor in my life prior to that as I was interpreting a Passion Play at another church. Through my mentor, Lynn Ward, I began to learn more about ASL and improve my skills as an interpreter. At precisely the right time, God began a deaf ministry that is now strong and thriving. He has blessed us with an interim deaf pastor, Mike Gahan, from Annistown Road Baptist Church near Atlanta. Mike travels to HCBC periodically to lead Bible Studies and preach in ASL- true deaf language. We have a faithful group of deaf that attend Deaf Sunday School, worship hour, and Wednesday evening Bible study."
Tara Noe
taranoe@charter.net