Story: God’s Provision and Perfect Timing
Have you ever experienced one of those times in your life’s story where you don’t know when or where your next meal or your next paycheck or next source of provision is going to come from?
Kent Kiefer is Scriptures in Use, Executive Director & CEO. He came to SIU with 12 years of International Ministry experience, most recently four years with a faith-based International Missions’ Sending Agency (ABWE) and previously 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.
Have you ever experienced one of those times in your life’s story where you don’t know when or where your next meal or your next paycheck or next source of provision is going to come from?
Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8 NIV)
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
1st Peter 4:10 (NIV)
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
When a new ministry idea comes to me or my team, I often tell my colleagues to first research and see if what they are talking about is already out there and if so, who is doing it well. Why is Partnership so integral to successful ministry capacity building ?
One of my favorite stories of the Bible is God’s testing of Abraham’s trust and faith in Him, when He asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. The Lord asks all of us to not hold anything more important than our faith, hope and love in Him and to not put our faith in worldly things, idols or material provision. This story – Abraham’s family and especially his beloved young son Isaac show this sacrifice clearly.
I love the start of a new year with new beginnings, fresh starts, new energy and “second chances” often aimed at my previous failed attempts of past year’s “New Year’s Resolutions”. Let me tell you, I fail and I fail a lot! BUT thankfully we serve a God who is all about second chances and who separates our sins (past, present and future) as far as the East is from the West.
As the last few days of our calendar year end approaches; we continue to see God’s blessings in 2015 in so many ways. Scriptures In Use is so thankful for new national partners, new believers, Muslims becoming believers, new Master trainers, baptisms, and a number of other “surprise” miracles the Lord likes to delight us with, would you consider…
“After I made the decision to become a follower of Jesus Christ and I began to share the stories of the Bible with those living near me, some of the high-ranking Muslim community members were not happy and decided to burn down my home—not just one time but two times.”
Jesus was a master at choosing and telling his stories and parables with much wisdom and discernment. Each story, seemingly hand crafted for every individual, applies to a multitude of human issues over many generations and cultures past, present and future.
As the rains began to move into Southern Kenya early in October,
Welcome to our new and improved Scriptures In Use (SIU) website!
We have consolidated our multiple websites into one new central location, www.scripturesinuse.org. It’s easier to navigate and get an overall understanding of what we do in carrying out God’s Great Commission to share the amazing, transforming message and power of God’s Word.
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”).
