Rev. Larry Barnes was born deaf in Shelby, NC on July 22, 1974. He attended North Carolina School for the Deaf and graduated in 1992. He attended Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC, and is currently attending Tristate School of Theology at Ridgecrest, NC. Larry has worked at various mill jobs, such as Cone Mills and Kohler Co until he lost his job in 2004. God called him into ministry at First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC in the fall of 2004 (at the exact same time his unemployment check ended! God is good!). After being a pastor for the Deaf for almost four years, Rev. Larry answered God’s call to begin his own ministry.

Dawn Barnes was born in Hartsville, SC on May 3, 1966. She is deaf but attended public school. She graduated from Dorman High School in Spartanburg, SC in 1984. She also graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, NC in 1989 with a BA in Deaf Education. She taught 4th and 5th grades at the West Tennessee School for the Deaf in Jackson, TN for 4 ½ years. She also taught elementary school students at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind in Spartanburg, SC for 7 ½ years. Dawn is now a full time mom and helps Larry with their ministry.

Larry and Dawn were married on August 3, 1996. They have four beautiful children: Joshua is 17 years old, deaf, and in the 12th grade; Kelli Jane is 11 years old, deaf, and in the 6th grade; Kayla is 8 years old, deaf, and in the 2nd grade; and Landon is 2 years old, hearing, and stays at home with mom.