(Letter written by Jon Barr and sent to supporters for month of April)
May, 2010
Dear Friends,
Summer is almost here. As many people begin to think about summer vacations and time off work, Silent Word Ministries is preparing for summer ministry through SWM ASL Institutes, secular Deaf events, and foreign mission trips. Of course, our literature and Internet ministries never stop. SWM materials are used by churches and individuals worldwide. Praise the Lord we are truly a 24/7/365 ministry!
Internet Ministry – Our website, www.SilentWordMinistries.org, has a wide variety of information and resources for Deaf people and deaf ministry workers. In the first three months of 2010, our website had 9,275 visitors using 54 different languages. This year we began emailing the SWM monthly prayer letter, the SWM Insider, and several other email newsletters. You can sign up at lists.silentwordministries.org.
New “Ministry of Helps” Missionaries – Exciting news! The SWM Executive Board has approved Larry & Diana Galyen as new missionaries. This program of “ministry of helps” (1 Corinthians 12:28) involves using God-given abilities to assist churches and ministries in spreading the Gospel. The Galyens will commute from their home in Johnson City, Tennessee, to assist at the SWM office in their areas of expertise. Larry will help with SWM computers, Internet, and other technical needs. Diana will help SWM with proofreading, typing, and Internet needs. They will continue to conduct field evangelism at secular Deaf events and be actively involved in their local church deaf ministry. They are of retirement age, but remain active in ministry. Larry became deaf just a few years ago. They have been volunteering at SWM for several months. Their desire is to use their remaining years serving the Lord in full-time ministry to Deaf people. As they both have other income, they will need to raise only $2,775 supplemental monthly support as approved by SWM. They are very worthy of your prayer and support. For more information about their ministry or to schedule a meeting for them to present their ministry, contact Larry Galyen directly at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or write SWM.
Summer Ministry Plans – As this letter is being written, David Bennett is ministering to Deaf and hearing people in Brazil and Bolivia. In May I will be preaching a Deaf revival and reorganizing a deaf ministry in Belize. In June Ted Camp and I will speak at the Deaf Baptist Fellowship of America. In July several SWM missionaries plan an evangelistic outreach to Deaf people at the DeafNation World Expo in Las Vegas. This is a great opportunity for SWM to present the Gospel to a large gathering of Deaf people from many countries. Please pray with us for all of these summer opportunities.
Literature Ministry – Did you know that SWM now has over 400 literature, video, and gift items in our catalog? Most have been produced through the writing ministry of Ted Camp. We are grateful God is using SWM to make an impact on Deaf people worldwide. Writing and preparation for the new Teaching and Training Bible Institute is progressing well. We are working to produce these lessons as soon as possible.
Enclosed is a SWM trifold pamphlet for you to read and pass along to others.
Thank you for your prayers and support for our unique missionary ministry.
In His Name,
Jon Barr, President Ted Camp, Founder
Special Note From Bookkeeping -- In accordance with the IRS and our local bank, please make ALL checks payable to SWM, and designate for “______” (missionary, ministry, or project).
May, 2010
Dear Friends,
Summer is almost here. As many people begin to think about summer vacations and time off work, Silent Word Ministries is preparing for summer ministry through SWM ASL Institutes, secular Deaf events, and foreign mission trips. Of course, our literature and Internet ministries never stop. SWM materials are used by churches and individuals worldwide. Praise the Lord we are truly a 24/7/365 ministry!
Internet Ministry – Our website, www.SilentWordMinistries.org, has a wide variety of information and resources for Deaf people and deaf ministry workers. In the first three months of 2010, our website had 9,275 visitors using 54 different languages. This year we began emailing the SWM monthly prayer letter, the SWM Insider, and several other email newsletters. You can sign up at lists.silentwordministries.org.
New “Ministry of Helps” Missionaries – Exciting news! The SWM Executive Board has approved Larry & Diana Galyen as new missionaries. This program of “ministry of helps” (1 Corinthians 12:28) involves using God-given abilities to assist churches and ministries in spreading the Gospel. The Galyens will commute from their home in Johnson City, Tennessee, to assist at the SWM office in their areas of expertise. Larry will help with SWM computers, Internet, and other technical needs. Diana will help SWM with proofreading, typing, and Internet needs. They will continue to conduct field evangelism at secular Deaf events and be actively involved in their local church deaf ministry. They are of retirement age, but remain active in ministry. Larry became deaf just a few years ago. They have been volunteering at SWM for several months. Their desire is to use their remaining years serving the Lord in full-time ministry to Deaf people. As they both have other income, they will need to raise only $2,775 supplemental monthly support as approved by SWM. They are very worthy of your prayer and support. For more information about their ministry or to schedule a meeting for them to present their ministry, contact Larry Galyen directly at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or write SWM.
Summer Ministry Plans – As this letter is being written, David Bennett is ministering to Deaf and hearing people in Brazil and Bolivia. In May I will be preaching a Deaf revival and reorganizing a deaf ministry in Belize. In June Ted Camp and I will speak at the Deaf Baptist Fellowship of America. In July several SWM missionaries plan an evangelistic outreach to Deaf people at the DeafNation World Expo in Las Vegas. This is a great opportunity for SWM to present the Gospel to a large gathering of Deaf people from many countries. Please pray with us for all of these summer opportunities.
Literature Ministry – Did you know that SWM now has over 400 literature, video, and gift items in our catalog? Most have been produced through the writing ministry of Ted Camp. We are grateful God is using SWM to make an impact on Deaf people worldwide. Writing and preparation for the new Teaching and Training Bible Institute is progressing well. We are working to produce these lessons as soon as possible.
Enclosed is a SWM trifold pamphlet for you to read and pass along to others.
Thank you for your prayers and support for our unique missionary ministry.
“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Jesus Christ is the Unspeakable Gift! God has given us, as Christians, very much for which we should be thankful. As we remember the birth of Christ this Christmas, we are very thankful for God’s many blessings in our ministry this year.
Meetings - This year we conducted numerous meetings to help and encourage Deaf people and deaf ministry workers. The Silent Word Ministries’ annual Deaf Men’s Retreat challenged Deaf men to serve the Lord. One older Deaf man in our local ministry also gave his life back to the Lord and has volunteered at SWM regularly this year. Diane and I conducted Fantastic Saturdays in 10 cities to encourage and help deaf ministries. Our annual SWM ASL Institute and Deaf Bible Conference was held in 2 locations. Those who attended said this year was the best ever! Our annual SWM missions retreat was challenging and encouraging. I also spoke in several local churches for special occasions, to present our ministry, to report back to supporting churches, or to help their local ministries. -- “Thanks be unto God.”
Literature - We have produced many more tracts, booklets, manuals, and other items for deaf ministries. The Silent Word newspaper, continues to be sent free to nearly 13,000 people every two months. Another great blessing this year was producing the DVD, “Good News For Deaf People,” which presents the Gospel for Deaf people in five different ways. One presentation is international and has already been shown and understood by Deaf people in other countries, including China, Brazil, and Ukraine. We invested hundreds of hours in this worthy project, which was distributed free to over 10,000 Deaf and hearing people at the Deaflympics in Taiwan. There were twenty-one salvation decisions during the event. Only Heaven knows the final results as this DVD has now gone around the world, including to several “closed” countries! -- “Thanks be unto God.”
Teaching and Training - I have also personally enjoyed teaching the Deaf Sunday School Class at our local church, Piney Grove Baptist Church, when not out in other meetings. We have been studying the book of Philippians verse by verse and word by word all year and are now finished with chapter one. In addition, I have been training Deaf missionary intern, Jesse Coleman. God has burdened him to help local churches develop strong and godly Deaf families. -- “Thanks be unto God.”
Technology - Early this year we performed a major upgrade of the SWM website. Please visit us at www.silentwordministries.org. Recently we purchased a digital press valued at $18,000 for only $2,500. We are now able to print higher quality pictures in our materials. -- “Thanks be unto God.”
Upcoming Projects - Foreign Deaf Revival - In April, I will be conducting a Deaf Revival in Belize as a missionary outreach. Pray that several Deaf people will be saved and surrender their lives to the Lord. Deaf Nation Outreach - Next July, David Bennett (SWM International) and I will be taking a team to the Deaf Nation conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The organizers of the meeting are expecting nearly 50,000 Deaf people to attend this worldwide event! We are developing another Gospel DVD to give away there. (Estimated travel needs: Belize: $750 -- Deaf Nation Outreach: $800.) If you would like to contribute to either of these missions projects, please designate “Jon Barr Missions Projects.”
As we close the year, because of the economy and reevaluation of our financial needs, we need to raise an additional $950 per month support. Please pray with us regarding this need. In all, 2009 has been a very productive year at Silent Word Ministries -- Thank you for your prayers and support, and “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”
Summertime has arrived! Now that schools are out, the temperature is hot, and people are looking forward to vacations, we can be thankful the Lord never goes on vacation! God never slumbers or sleeps (Psalm 121:4). He is always active in our lives. He gives us what we do not deserve. That's grace! We are saved by grace and serve by grace.
Productive Summer Planned - The work of Silent Word Ministries is constantly active. Summer is always a busy and fruitful time. This summer we will conduct Sign Language training through our ASL Institutes in Pennsylvania and Georgia. At the same time we conduct a Deaf Bible Conference with preaching specifically for Deaf people. Our missionaries are busy in meetings and conducting field evangelism. The need for deaf ministry literature continues even when we are out in meetings. As we function as a team, we share the load. It is our desire to produce fruit all summer. By God's grace we will. We are grateful for friends like you that help us reach into the world of the Deaf not only during the summer, but throughout the year.
Change - It seems that the changing economy continues to be the number one priority in America today. Gas prices are down from this time last year, which is a blessing to our missionaries as they travel. However, everyone is aware of the increased unemployment and the uncertainty of the future economy. I am sure that the changing economy has affected you and your church, as it has also affected missionaries and ministries. Here at Silent Word Ministries we are conscious of the need to use God’s provision wisely. It has always been our policy to operate the ministry within funds that are provided. Incoming funds actually determine our budget. This past year every need was met and we continued to remain debt free. Be assured your investments in our ministry and missionaries will be used wisely and bring eternal benefits.
