About SWMI
Our History
Dr.
Ted Camp and wife Carlene began Silent Word Ministries in 1966.
However, after several years of ministry as SWM, God led them
to join the Bill Rice Ranch in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. They spent
more than 20 years working faithfully among the Deaf with the
“Ranch”.
They returned to the ministry of Silent Word Ministries
in 1991. But it wasn’t till 1998 that Deaf Evangelist Allen
Snare encouraged Dr. Camp to allow him to become a member of their
ministry. Reed and Donna Condra, hearing missionaries to the Deaf
in the Bahamas returned to the USA and felt God calling them to
also join SWM. Jim and Terry Bracelin were added in the Northeast
USA, and Mike and Kim Green, both Deaf, also came on staff. In
the year 2000 Jon and Diane Barr came on board. Jon is a graduate
of BJU and a Certified Interpreter. Jon is presently the President
of SWM.
In March 2004 the SWM team held a Fantastic Saturday
at Southside Baptist Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina. David
and Vicki Bennett, on furlough from their ministry in Brazil,
and being members of Southside, were in attendance.
During the day Dr. Ted Camp mentioned the need
for missionaries to the Deaf in both China and the Ukraine. This,
of course, burdened the hearts of the Bennetts since they have
been missionaries for 25 years, serving faithfully in Brazil,
South America. David approached Brother Ted several times during
the day and on Sunday about the need for SWM to begin their own
foreign missions program.
This began a chain of events involving the Bennetts,
their sending church pastor, Dr. Ken Walters, Dr. Ted Camp, and
others. God used several people and circumstances to make it clear
to the Bennetts that God wanted to use them to open an International
Missions Department with SWM. David shared his burden with three
of the leaders of SWM. After a period of prayer and consultation
God led Dr. Camp and the SWM leadership to invite the Bennetts
to work with them in reaching the Deaf worldwide under the new
ministry of Silent Word Ministries International (SWMI). SWMI
is presently putting together an Executive Board, an Advisory
Board, and writing the Principles, Policies and Practices for
the new foreign mission board. SWMI seeks to send out American
missionaries to foreign fields as well as train national pastors
and leaders to more effectively evangelize and disciple the Deaf
internationally. Pray for God to lead them as they establish the
basis for this worldwide Deaf outreach.
Our Purpose
Ministries are not defined by
the amount of contributions that they receive, or the number of
workers they employ. The value of a ministry is not seen in the
breadth of its programs or the depth of its resources. The heart
of a ministry can only be measured by what motivates it.
Silent Word Ministries International
is motivated by a heart to serve and glorify our God and a burden
for the souls of this world - men and women for whom Christ died.
By investigating the links at the top of the page, you will learn
about our Vision, Focus
and Values.
Silent Word Ministries International
has a double purpose:
1. To assist fundamental Baptist
churches in their task of fulfilling the Great Commission.
2. To serve missionaries as they
evangelize the lost, disciple the believers, and start churches,
especially among the deaf, in obedience to the Great Commission.
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