Dan grew up in Brazil as the son of SAM missionaries who served among the indigenous peoples. During his college years, he felt a calling to missions. Following his graduation, Dan answered that call when he received an invitation from an Indian chief to minister with the Terena people group in Brazil.
Julie, on the other hand, grew up in the US. Her passion for missions began at the age of 8 when she heard a missionary speak at her church. After completing college, she answered the call to missions and taught at a boarding school in Brazil. This experience fueled her desire to return to Brazil and continue working among unreached people groups.
After meeting at the boarding school’s graduation ceremony, Dan and Julie both recognized that God had called them to work together and reach the unreached tribes in Brazil. They got married and joined SAM in 1991.
Since 1993, the Snyders have ministered among the indigenous tribes of Brazil. For seventeen years, they served at the Ami Training Center in central-west Brazil. Ami seeks to disciple all indigenous believers, helping them grow in the knowledge of Christ and serve the Church with their gifts. Many of the graduates have heard and answered the call to serve cross-culturally.
From 2017 through 2022, Dan and Julie served alongside an Ami graduate in the northwest state of Acre, located in the Amazon region. It’s exciting to see the Indigenous church growing. Plus taking some giant leaps forward to now participate in fulfilling the Great Commission!
From 2022 to 2025, Dan and Julie were living in Dayton, TN and serving remotely with the home office. They are looking forward to a new assignment in 2026 and are headed back to Brazil. Dan will continue to serve as Indigenous Ministries Director and Julie as Care Ministry Director while they serve as a resource to training centers and other SAM ministries in Brazil and neighboring countries. They will also collaborate with CONPLEI in their efforts to see a biblical and authentic Indigenous church in every people group. Pray for fruitfulness and effective ministry outcomes as they serve.
In addition, Dan and Julie have three married sons who live in the USA and are proud grandparents as well.
