2022-09 Prayer Letter
Dear Friends
Thank you for your prayers and support as Diane and I attended the DeafNation World Expo last month. One day a Deaf couple approached me at the Silent Word Ministries booth and said, “I want to give money to your ministry.” What a pleasant surprise! But, the truth is they wanted to give money so they could go to Heaven. After an hour-long Gospel explanation, they each trusted Christ as their Savior. We gave them SWM followup literature, and hope to help a local church in their area start a deaf ministry. At the expo, it was exciting to see three mission teams (Harvest Deaf Ministries, Dr. Reggie Rempel; Romans Road for the Deaf, Brian Palumbo; and SWM) working together to present the Gospel to many Deaf people. There were thousands of Gospel tracts, pamphlets, and videos distributed, with a total of 68 salvation decisions reported. It was a joy to provide followup materials to whose who trusted Christ as Savior.
Other Meetings – We conducted regional SWM ASL Institutes and Deaf Bible Conferences in Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Totals were: Attending: 195 – Deaf: 49 – States: 18 – Salvation Decisions: 2. In August we conducted the annual SWM Missions Retreat. Ted Camp, Jim Bracelin, David Bennett and I taught and challenged our mission team. Recently we began conducting the SWM fall area-wide deaf ministry Fantastic Saturdays, first in Ohio, and soon in Wisconsin, Missouri, and West Virginia. This is a busy travel time. We appreciate your prayers for travel safety and God’s blessing on His Word and the training and encouragement in these special meetings.
Missionaries On The Go – This year Bruce and Amanda Stuart (SWMI) were sent as missionaries to Liberia. They are getting established in a new city and their ministry is off to a good start. Recently, Monique Lindsey (SWMI) also left for Liberia. After many years in the field of special education, the Lord has granted her desire to go to Liberia as a missionary – to minister among the “differently enabled,” as she says. Plans are for Carrie Whaley (SWMI) to join her in ministry once her support is raised, hopefully early next year. Also early next year, Ben and Marie Muldoon (SWMI) plan to move to Romania as missionaries, once their newly born twins are able to travel. These are exciting days for our ministry!
In The Office – As you know, when we are not out in meetings, we are active with local ministry and office responsibilities. As our mission team grows and more missionaries are deployed overseas, Diane has more and more responsibility as Bookkeeper. The outreach of SWM literature, special projects, videos, mission board, and meetings continues to grow. It is a privilege to be used in many different ways.
In The Lord’s Time – We are grateful for the many volunteers who help at SWM. Please pray with us that the Lord would send us more short-term helpers, retirees, and even those who do not know sign language but are skilled in different areas. Many are needed to help with this world-wide, missionary ministry to the Deaf. “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers(for the Deaf) are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38).
Thank you for the privilege of representing you, as we go “into all the (Deaf) world” for Christ!
For Deaf Souls,
Jon and Diane Barr,
Missionaries to the Deaf