2019-06 SWM Prayer Letter

May/June 2019 SWM Prayer Letter

Dear Friends,

One of our greatest joys is to share the Gospel and watch a person trust Christ as his Savior! Especially with the visual language of Deaf people, we watch their faces go from questioning to understanding. There is nothing like the big smile that says, “Now I understand! I want to receive Jesus Christ as my Savior.”

In a recent deaf ministry Fantastic Saturday, I presented the Gospel, gave an invitation, and we were dismissed for lunch. A Deaf man came to me after everyone was gone. He asked questions. I showed him verses. After one of the verses he said, “Okay. I am ready to be saved.” Our goal is to reach and to teach. SWM truly reaches and teaches people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Consider these outreaches and rejoice with us.

The Silent Word Newspaper – Every two months we invest two weeks in compiling, editing, labeling, and sending The Silent Word. It is common for people to write us or tell us in meetings how much they appreciate the positive articles, helpful information, and, of course, the news and updates from deaf ministries all over. Every issue has the Gospel, and deaf ministries use the newspaper as a tool in their local outreach program.

Literature and Publications – Each week we have articles authored, pamphlets produced, booklets bound, and manuals made. Volunteers help in the process. SWM is a team effort. Our online ministry offers literature and other deaf ministry materials which can be ordered, read, viewed, and shared. SWM materials are available in meetings such as Fantastic Saturdays and local church missionary presentations. Our purpose is to get good, Bible-based, trusted literature into the hands of people who can use it and share it with others.

News Flash: Anna Brooks, a senior at Pensacola Christian College in Florida, is serving a one-month internship program at SWM. She has a passion for sharing the Gospel with her gift of art. She is working on a much-needed upgrade to some of our Gospel materials. Not only is she learning, she is also teaching us in certain areas where we can improve. Her help is greatly appreciated!

Videos and Internet – It is reported that over 56% of the world’s population has internet access (81% of the developed world). SWM’s video teaching reaches people in places we have never personally visited! It is common to hear that a church is using SWM’s online videos for their Deaf Sunday School. We are grateful SWM can publish trusted Bible teaching videos online — in the visual language of Deaf people.

SWM Mission Board (SWMB) – The SWMB mission team includes 23 members. We say “TEAM” means Together Everyone Accomplishes More. SWMB team members serve regularly in churches and in deaf ministries in the USA. SWMI (led by David and Vicki Bennett) trains foreign national pastors and laymen to reach Deaf people, start deaf ministries, establish deaf churches, and more on foreign fields. Two of our families are preparing to serve overseas and several of our USA missionaries also make short-term mission trips abroad. Our missionaries serve the Lord and GO with the Gospel throughout the USA and in other countries.

The Word of God changes lives (Romans 12:1-2). As you invest in these ministries, you invest in a team committed to sharing the Word of God with needy people worldwide. It is our privilege to represent Christ on your behalf as we carry His Word to others. We want to hear more people say, “Okay, I understand. I want to be saved.” Thank you for your prayers and support!

Please review the missionary reports on the back of this page.

We are excited to report the Asphalt fund-raising project is finished. Soon the paving crew will get started. Thank you for your prayers and support. (Any excess funds will be used in landscaping.) For Deaf Souls,

Jon Barr
President, Director of Operations