It’s that time of year again—we’re getting ready to release our 2025 Annual Report in early May. Each year, our team reviews hundreds of testimonials and impact stories, then narrows them down to a clear theme and 7–8 testimonials that represent all our harvest fields. It’s a tough process! There were so many powerful stories that didn’t make the final cut, so we’re excited to share a few of those with you here.
This month began with the United States and Israel attacking the leaders and strategic military assets in the country of Iran. Our country is now fully engaged in war, with our service men and women at the front lines of the Middle East, fighting against Iran and its proxies. Prayers are needed for all impacted by these tragic events. Let me be clear. I don’t like war at all. I particularly don’t like how difficult, challenging, and sometimes deadly it is for all the citizens, the common people, who are seeking peace and freedom from oppression. So, what did our Lord Jesus have to say about this?
It’s that time of year again: Annual Reporting. We are compiling field training reports, stories, and testimonies from our partners and their networks across Asia and Africa from 2025. There are too many stories of transformed lives through engaging God’s Word in Story form to share them all. I have selected a couple stories from Harvest Fields of Asia and Africa to share with you.
The following testimonial is from one of our SIU ministry partners who lives in a country with much persecution. It reveals that the Lord is working in mighty ways to reach the unreached in some of the most dangerous parts of the world:
“Bridges training is the way forward for my country. One day soon the Bridges method will be the only way to share the Gospel here. Persecution is increasing and it is very difficult for ministries to do crusades and big conferences. When people do open air preaching or distribute tracts, they can face persecution. Even carrying or giving out Christian materials can get people arrested.
When we tell stories, no one can say anything. I tell you that storytelling is the best and safest way for reaching the unreached in our country. One day storytelling will be the only way for the church to sustain and multiply here.”
I mentioned in my recent blog that approximately 91% of our Bridges training events include participants who are reaching out to unreached people groups (UPGs). Whoa! Did you catch that? That means nine out of every ten of the hundreds of SIU Bridges training events held each year include those reaching out to UPGs across Africa and Asia! Our partners are pioneering in so many new areas that it feels as though the Lord is saying to them, “Go here, go there, go everywhere!” We are obeying and trusting our Lord, believing He will provide the funding to continue this great work. I am going to share another statistic. Unfortunately, this one is very disappointing.
As we approach the final few months of 2025, I am so encouraged to hear stories of those who have been trained through recent Bridges training events held by our Partners in Africa and Asia. Testimonies and stories of transformed lives come to us all the time. I am thrilled to share a few of these impact stories with you now. Our Lord is truly at work in the harvest fields around the world. Here are handful of these wonderful testimonies: …
I was truly astounded. The other day my International Field and Staff Collaboration director shared with me that approximately 91% of our Bridges training events are being held with those reaching out to unreached people groups (UPGs). Well over half of our existing proven partners are pioneering into these regions without any of our U.S. based trainers being present. This news is so encouraging as these faithful, courageous men and women leaders are being called to go into regions beyond their local communities to share the Gospel through the oral arts: storytelling, drama, dance, music and song.
“Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, He never spoke to them without using such parables.” (Matthew 13:34 NLT). Jesus knew exactly what He was doing when He walked the Judean hillsides over 2,000 years ago telling Stories and Parables as He captured the attention of his immediate audience.
The grant award letter caught me a bit by surprise. As I was reading it, I experienced a combination of emotions; mostly pleasant, and yet also challenging. It caused both a heart of gratitude, and an “oh my that is different, but okay we can do this”’ mindset.
We just released our 2024 Annual Report and it is full of Stories of transformation and impact as we see the Great Commission being fulfilled among oral culture communities around the world. Our trusted partners across Asia and Africa reported 26,410 Bridges training participants, 39,359 New Believers and 4,670 new churches planted in just this year alone! This brings our cumulative total of reported churches planted among oral cultures through oral Scripture engagement, from 1997 through 2024, to 115,319. It also brings our cumulative total of New Believers to 579,946! There are so many who were lost before, but have now been reached and engaged with the Gospel. All for your Glory, Lord! We are seeking to advance your Gospel until all have been reached. Read on for two of our featured Stories and other highlights from 2024.
Kent Kiefer is the CEO & Executive Director of Scriptures in Use (SIU). He has over twenty-three years of International Ministry experience; in his eleventh 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 2021 after a 14-year battle with Parkinsons Disease, and has four children (all college age young adults). The Kiefers are involved with two local churches with the body of Christ in Southeast Tucson (“Grace Church of Sahuarita” and “Pantano Christian”).
