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”).
Overcoming Fears to Reach Our Neighbors
/by Kent KieferOne of the things our SIU team looks forward to the most is hearing new testimonies of impact from people who attend one of our Bridges training events held around the world. We know these testimonies will be coming, and to be honest, I kind of get giddy with excitement waiting for them to be shared. (Giddy is probably an old school term, but oh well, I am getting up in years.) These new stories of transformed lives…
Simple. Organic. Reproducible.
/by Kent KieferAs I traveled to a number of missions conferences last year, I so enjoyed meeting missionaries with different personality types, ages and lengths of service, with some having served 30, even 40 years in a foreign field. They were each unique and their callings different, yet they had learned many similar patterns in their journey with God to furthering His Kingdom.
“God with Us, Emmanuel” the Greatest Story Ever Told
/by Kent KieferThis Christmas, as we celebrate the Lord coming to earth to redeem His people and be with us for eternity (“God with Us, Emmanuel”), we are so excited to see new movements of local, indigenous leaders in unreached, unengaged regions of Southeast Asia. One recent Bridges For Neighbors training participant shared…
Your year-end gift to reach the lost in Southeast Asia will be tripled!
/by Kent KieferOne of our Bridges training teams just returned from Southeast Asia and reported that their equipping of local grassroots leaders to present Bible stories through storytelling, drama, music, dance and song (i.e., the Oral Arts) was a tremendous success. There was so much excitement during and after their training events, and many of the local indigenous leaders who attended have already …
Getting Resources to the Least Reached
/by Kent Kiefer“I’m shocked and saddened when I hear that less than 1/100 of .1% (which equates to .0001) of the world’s annual charitable giving goes to places in the world needing the gospel the most.
Did you hear that?
That’s less than $1 of every $10,000 of charitable giving dollars going to those people across the world—currently estimated to number 3.1 billion—who have never heard about Jesus and His gift of salvation.
This means that those people groups who are unreached are NOT receiving the resources needed to make an eternal difference in their lives. Please watch this brief video produced by Reality Global in collaboration with the Joshua Project and other mission-focused organizations for an eye-opening look at this serious issue.
Discovering God’s Truth Through Story
/by Kent KieferHave you ever had one of those moments in which you get so excited about discovering a new truth that it causes you to look at things entirely differently? Your pulse quickens, your eyes light up and something that seemed so distant and non-personal suddenly becomes like it was meant … just for YOU! Our missionary trainers love to …
Contagious, Passionate Disciples? Where are They?
/by Kent KieferContagious, passionate followers of Jesus! Have you ever met one? You know it when you do. Recently one of our pioneering SIU partners from Nepal came through town to visit our team and other U.S. organizations that support his overseas ministry. He is a soft-spoken, humble “Man of Peace” who smiles often. The light of Christ and the joy of the Lord are evident in his life. He and his leadership team from Nepal are doing something unique in that they …
Finding rest?
/by Kent KieferAs I write this month’s blog, our SIU missionary families are traveling across the United States, connecting with family, updating supporters, speaking at local churches, and generally trying to find some time to rest and refresh in between all their activities. Whew! It’s tiring! they are finding that with all the excitement of reconnecting with friends and family members, it is very hard, at times seemingly impossible, for finding rest! Our Lord, Jesus often would …
Flipping the Leadership Model “Upside-Down”
/by Kent KieferOne of the most disheartening things I’ve seen in Western missions is leadership that continues to drive an attitude of “I know all the answers” and “I need to be the one making the decisions” and “Nothing happens without my being there, providing my input.” It really shames and dishonors local leaders, especially when the Western leader is trying to build relationships with nationals in overseas cultures with different contexts and social environments. These nationals are extremely bright and intuitive. They sense the arrogance and pride quickly, and they want nothing to do with it. This style of top-down leadership erodes empowerment and trust, and causes so many difficult, long-term issues. It’s the opposite of Jesus’s leadership approach. Let me explain …
A Ride on a Bus with a “Woman of Peace”
/by Kent KieferOne of our recent Bridges trainings in Indonesia revealed a “woman of peace” who had a providential bus ride with a Muslim neighbor …