Kent Kiefer is the CEO & Executive Director of Scriptures in Use (SIU). He has over 20 years of International Ministry experience; in his eighth year with SIU, and previously four years with a faith-based International Missions’ Sending Agency (“ABWE”) and eight years with a faith-based International Parachurch ministry (“Focus on the Family”).
Kent has a heart and passion for “reaching the unreached” and believes strongly that the oral arts, communication bridges training approach designed specifically for the indigenous men and women of peace around the world is one of the most effective means to reach the nations with the Gospel.
Kent is widowed after his wife Melissa (“Missy”) was promoted into Glory in November ‘21 after a 14-year battle with Parkinsons Disease, and has four children (two college age and two teenagers). The Kiefers are involved with two local churches with the body of Christ in Southeast Tucson (“Grace Church of Sahuarita” and “Pantano Christian”).
Helping those who need it most at year-end
/by Kent KieferOur “Bridges” equipping and training approach has been an effective tool overseas in Asia and Africa for thirty years. The Scriptures shared through the oral arts has resulted in the Holy Spirit bringing over 426,000 to believe in Jesus and planting over 77,000 new churches. We believe the Holy Spirit will work in similar ways among refugees and immigrants here in the United States. During a recent stateside orality training one of our refugee brothers shared his excitement for using Scripture storytelling.
Opportunities to reach UPGs right here in the U.S. – We must reach the unreached
/by Kent KieferDid you know that it is estimated that there are about 350 unreached people groups (UPGs) living in the United States? The majority of UPGs learn and pass on their history, heritage, faith and culture through oral communication. “We must welcome the unreached,” as noted in this short video provided by the Global Frontier’s Mission (GFM) group. Please watch:
Oral Learning People Groups in the US: Immigrants and Refugees
/by Kent KieferThere is an incredible opportunity in missions right here in the US, at our own doorsteps! As you probably know, there are many thousands of unreached people throughout our country who have come as refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants from some of the most difficult, dangerous and war-torn regions of the world. Many refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers (often referend to as diaspora) are oral-preference learners. As they relocate their lives to our cities and towns…
Comprehensive Oral Bible Strategies: Essential to Effective Kingdom Building
/by Kent KieferThis month’s post is part of a series about the distinctives of SIU’s church planting and disciple-making approach as developed by our founders, Jim and Carla Bowman. It is a fact that many of the unengaged and least-reached people groups in the world live in hard-to-access places and belong to traditional, oral cultures. Books and printed materials are not part of their everyday experience. People living in oral cultures, many of whom speak three to four different languages in addition to their mother tongue, have always…
Characteristics of “Healthy” Oral Bible House Churches
/by Kent KieferAs the leader of SIU (and to be honest, Jesus is our leader), I often am asked what I consider a success in terms of new church plants. What is a “healthy” oral Bible house church? What SIU calls a new plant in our field reporting with our SIU partners – to which we had 5,843 new in 2018 alone! It’s always good to discuss this topic with our US based leaders but most importantly to seek the Lord and to seek out those who live, breathe and participate in these oral Bible house churches in the field, our indigenous men and women of peace.
Integrating the “Traditional Oral Arts”
/by Kent KieferThis posting is the second in a series on the Distinctive Applications of SIU’s Oral Bible Strategies as written by our founders, Jim and Carla Bowman:
“The Storyteller finishes the enthralling narrative of Elisha the prophet and Naaman, a Syrian commander healed by God of leprosy. The dramatic ending is met with silent reverence when into the story circle steps a woman portraying the slave girl; she is barefoot, wearing a handspun brown tunic. Another actress, Naaman’s wife who meets her slave girl in the circle, wears dangling bracelets, long, silver earrings, and a silk veil. They talk briefly in the native language discussing the dilemma of Naaman’s illness. Other characters come on the scene: the king of Syria, Naaman, Elisha, and the story is now enacted in drama. The drama ends … with song and dance in celebration of God’s miracle.”
Indescribable, Unmerited Mercy and Forgiveness
/by Kent KieferI’ve had enough! How many more wrongs will I allow this person to inflict on me?
Have you been here before? It is frustrating to experience firsthand a pattern of actions that causes great personal pain, especially when the person behind the actions is either blind to the issue or unwilling to listen and change.
BUT, when I am feeling wounded by someone else, I have to remind myself to stop and think about how many times I also have repeated a pattern of failure or disappointment in my relationships.
We are indeed a motley crew, we humans. We are quick to judge and tell others what is “right” from our perspective. It reminds me of when the apostle Peter went to Jesus with this question…
The Dialogue Style of Jesus
/by Kent KieferWe are truly blessed that the founders of SIU, Jim and Carla Bowman, are still actively involved in our ministry by praying for us and providing much-needed guidance and insight. The Lord has led them into a new season of bustling, but enjoyable retirement, still bringing glory to His name. This month’s blog entry is part one of a new series on the distinctives of SIU’s Oral Bible Strategy, developed as the Lord guided our founders to create the foundation of what SIU has now become. The Bowmans share…
Regional Gatherings of Maturing Leaders…
/by Kent KieferEvery once in a while, as the Lord leads our efforts here at SIU, a window of opportunity opens up for one of our Bridges Training Networks, networks of proven ministry partners in Asia or Africa, to bring regional indigenous leaders together for a Round Table or Regional Summit. At these events, attending leaders share what the Lord is revealing in their communities, discuss what local groups of oral Bible churches and fellowships face as they implement the Bridges strategy, pray and seek the Lord together, and encourage one another as they face much persecution …
Lives Transformed by the Gospel
/by Kent KieferLives are truly being transformed by the Gospel through our SIU Field Partners (courageous “Men and Women of Peace”). As they practice Storying and the Oral Arts, they are creating, multiplying and replicating indigenous church-planting and disciple-making movements around the world. What’s amazing is that we believe the numbers reported are conservative.