SWM Mission Board • SWM International
Short-term Missions • Regional Directors
Ministry of Helps • Mission Team Trips
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Ministry of Helps
God touches some qualified people to serve in ministry, although they are not ordained minsters. You can help SWM fulfill the Great Commission using your area of expertise. SWM can help you with training and experience that will better prepare you for further ministry.
Has God touched your heart to help Silent Word Ministries? Has He burdened you for another area where we could serve the Lord together? Will you help?
Come serve the Lord with us! Together we can serve, sow, and reap for the Lord.
Together we can accomplish more.
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Include
Deaf People
SWMB believes The Great Commission, “Go into all the world,” also includes the Deaf world. SWMB has a unique team of likeminded missionaries, both Deaf and hearing, working together to reach the Deaf world for Christ. Silent Word Ministries was started in 1966 as a literature ministry to Deaf people. The burden of SWM has always been simply to tell the Deaf “More About Jesus!”
Called To Deaf
SWM Mission Board (SWMB) specializes in helping hearing and Deaf missionaries reach the Deaf World for Christ. If God has called you to the deaf missions, you should consider SWMB.
Qualified missionaries are needed throughout the USA, specially in areas with fewer deaf ministries and deaf churches. Needs include planting deaf churches and deaf ministries, evangelizing Deaf people, conducting Fantastic Saturdays, assisting deaf ministries, and more.
International
SWM International (SWMI) specializes in foreign missions and special “team” mission trips. Up to 80% of deaf people worldwide have no access to education* or the Gospel. If God is calling you to foreign missions, please consider the needs of the Deaf. Deaf people live in every country.
*World Federation of the Deaf, wfdeaf.org/human-rights, Sept. 9, 2016.
Ministry of Helps
SWM “Ministry of Helps” provides ministry opportunities for likeminded people to HELP SWM in their areas of expertise, on their schedule, and, in some cases, in other locations without relocating to our area. Those in the Ministry of Helps are not missionaries, but “Helpers” in ministry. Do you share our ministry burden? Come help us!
Local Church
SWMB is a serving agency, not a sending agency. Each SWMB missionary is required to be sent from a local like-minded church. SWMB assists and acts as an extension of the local church to reach the Deaf for Christ. Although some churches are able to send missionaries from their own established church mission board, most churches only have a mission program, not a mission board. Many churches are not able to offer their missionaries the help and support needed. The SWMB can help.
SWMB does not circumvent or replace the authority of the local church. SWMB simply provides a mission board to assist local churches in their worldwide mission program, especially with the Deaf. SWMB helps local churches ensure adequate screening of missionary candidates and supervision of missionaries regarding finances, character, doctrine, integrity, calling, and accountability. Missionaries are required to practice Biblical standards of moral, financial and doctrinal integrity. In the event of a missionary failure, sin or ministry problem, the supporting church is notified. If a missionary family needs personal counseling, they are referred to their sending church and pastor for restoration. The goal is to work with the local church to restore the missionary to productive service.
SWMB and the Missionary
SWMB seeks to help each missionary reach his fullest potential for the Lord. Each missionary is given freedom to fulfill his God-given vision. Each missionary is required to be accountable to his supporters, mission board, sending church, membership church, and God. He and his family are to maintain a good report and to be faithful in all areas of the ministry, including his home church when not involved in other ministry. A sound, solid work ethic is expected from all missionaries.
Missionary Finances
SWMB maintains integrity and credibility at all times within the ministry by providing financial accountability to the IRS, the SWM Board of Directors, supporting churches and individual supporters. A CPA reviews all financial statements and submits an annual report to the IRS. Missionaries receive 100% of funds designated for their ministries.
SWMB also has a program for newly- appointed missionaries to have supplemental employment early in their deputation. SWMB advises each missionary to become debt free before serving as a full-time missionary, and can help with advice and methods to that end.
SWMB Specializes
SWMB missionaries can receive immediate exposure through a trusted and respected ministry with credibility in the Deaf world. SWMB has the expertise and programs to help missionaries serve in all areas of the Deaf ministry. Naturally, there are many good boards that can help in other areas, but SWMB specializes in deaf ministry. This is a ministry of leaders training leaders to minister to Deaf people and Deaf ministries worldwide. Please feel free to visit our home office or visit our website for more helpful information. “Come help us!”
Silent Word Mission Board
SWM Missionary*
Qualifications
Qualifications include, but are not limited to the following:
- Clear Testimony of Salvation
- Testimony of Separated, Consistent Christian Life
- Definite Call from God to Deaf Missions
- Membership and Active in an Independent Baptist Church
- Adequate Bible Training
- Agreement With SWM Articles of Faith and Guidelines
- Your Pastor’s Letter of Recommendation
- Local Church Ordination
- Your Local Church Commissioning
- SWM Interview and Acceptance
More
Information
God calls a missionary. The local church sends a missionary. SWM assists the local church in enabling the missionary to accomplish his or her calling. Missionary candidates must agree with the SWM Articles of Faith and Ministry Guidelines. Candidates must depend upon God for their financial, material, and spiritual needs. Also, candidates should consistently demonstrate a testimony of humility and service.
Educationally, candidates must have graduated from high school and an approved Bible school, college or seminary. Upon review by SWM, higher education requirements could be waived because of specialized training or life experience.
* The SWM Ministry of Helps requires some, but not all of these qualifications. The Ministry of Helps provides a way for non-missionaries to serve the Lord and help SWM using their skills and expertise.
Begin
Your Journey
SWMB opens the door for those qualified and burdened to reach the Deaf and serve the Lord with us. Whether you are burdened to reach Deaf people in the USA or foreign countries, or to help SWM through the “Ministry of Helps,” SWM has a place for you. “Together” we can reach the Deaf for Christ.
Has God touched your heart to become a missionary to the Deaf (foreign or USA) or to help in the SWM Ministry of Helps? We should talk. Contact us for more information.
– Jon Barr, SWMB Director
Silent Word Ministries
SWM is an Independent Baptist ministry specializing in reaching Deaf people worldwide through many varied ministries. Dr. Ted Camp began SWM in 1966 by publishing The Silent Word newspaper and literature for Deaf people. It has grown to a nonprofit, missionary, 501(c)3 organization with a board of directors which includes successful businessmen, pastors, missionaries, and deaf ministry leaders. SWM serves churches and deaf ministries worldwide. Since 1966 the Lord has blessed SWM with a unique, trustworthy outreach to Deaf people and deaf ministries. Silent Word Ministries includes…
- Silent Word Mission Board
- SWM International – Foreign Missions
- Ministry of Helps
- Deaf Bible Institute* – Free Bible Courses
- The Silent Word* (Free Christian Newspaper)
- Area-wide Fantastic Saturdays & Deaf Days
- Annual Short-term Mission Trips
- Gospel Tracts (Free as Lord provides)
- Literature and Video Ministry
- Silent Word Ministries Northeast
- Links to Leaders – TC@SilentWord.org
- Missions Conferences – Camps
- Deaf Awareness Presentations
- Ten-year Bible Study Program
- Establishing or Organizing Deaf Ministries
- Silent Word Publications
- Over 400 Deaf Ministry Products
- Follow8Steps.org (Discipleship)
- SignTheBible.com (Teaching)
- BibleSayWhat.com (Doctrine)
- DeafVitalSigns.com (Devotions)
“Serving Churches and Deaf Ministries Worldwide”
SWM Mission Statement…