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Tgriffin8066 (talk · contribs) This user has declared a connection. (Although I am the founder of By Heart with its seed idea, the growth of the organization, resulting in a unique and powerful mission, has been due to numerous contributors providing content and advice. I will endeavor to keep my comments impartially factual and will submit my contributions for review)

By Heart recitation ministry

By Heart
Regions with significant populations
	Germany (Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia); Kenya (Nairobi); United States (California);
Key information
Classification	Protestant
Type	Religious Nonprofit organization
Focus	Scripture recitation
Origin	1997
Incorporated	2021
Tax status	501(c)(3) organization
Tax ID (EIN)	87-4161552
Founder	Thomas Griffin
Publications	The Art of Reciting Scripture ; The Art of Leading Scripture Recitations; Speaking the Bible ;
Website
	byheart.org

By Heart is a nondenominational Christian nonprofit ^[1] organization that promotes Scripture recitation by providing training, coaching, and resources.

History

Initially created as a one-person response to poor lectionary readings. The recitation ministry at the International Christian Fellowship in Oberursel, Germany began in the Fall of 2018 due to the encouraging support of its senior pastor, Carsten Lotz (son of Denton Lotz), and by the start of 2021, 65 participants had recited passages of Scripture.

By Heart gained attention in March 2020 due to a last-minute presentation delivered at the International Baptist Convention Ministry Leadership Conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Craig Pennuto, a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Wiesbaden, Germany, attended the presentation and responded by developing a recitation ministry at his church in Wiesbaden.

Jessica Herrman, at the time a member of the International Baptist Convention church in Bonn, Germany, witnessed a few recitations and started a recitation ministry in Bonn in mid-2020.

Ryan Awori attended the International Christian Fellowship in Oberursel and, after earning his doctorate in Frankfurt, returned to Nairobi, Kenya, in 2022 and began a recitation ministry at Nairobi Baptist Church, Ongata Rongai.

Practices

Participants select a Bible passage that will complement the worship music or a biblical teaching that will occur some time in the future. They memorize the passage, study it using Bible study techniques to understand the intent and meaning of the message, apply public speaking techniques^[5] to know how to accurately express the message, practice speaking the passage, and then recite the passage aloud to an audience. The preparation takes a month or more. The goal is for speakers to use their natural expressiveness (tone of voice, body language, vocal dynamics) to convey an accurate understanding of the passage--without commentary or added words.

Recitations of holy scriptures and prayers are common in the liturgies of Abrahamic religions. All the major religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, practice recitation of their sacred writings, however, the form of the recitation and its purpose vary by each religion's oral tradition.

By Heart encourages expressive recitation using one's natural communication style rather than dramatic affectations. The intent is to speak sacred text aloud publicly in such a way as to convey the original intent of the written word. Expression in a recitation^[6] includes physical gestures and vocal variety such that there are variations in rhythm, tone, tempo, emphasis, and phrasing.

This pattern aligns with how Dr. Bernhard Oestreich describes^[5] how the Pauline letters were transmitted to their audiences.

Beliefs

By Heart aligns with the National Association of Evangelicals confession of faith.^[7].

Products

Workshops

Scripture recitation workshop - two ninety-minute sessions delivered either on the same day or on two separate sessions
Scripture Recitation Leader workshop

Presentations

The Case for recitation - 45-minute presentation of the logical argument in favor of reciting Scripture

Publications

Speaking the Bible: Foundations
Speaking the Bible: Activity Guide(s)
The Art of Reciting Scripture^[8]
The Art of Leading Scripture Recitations^[9]

Organizational structure

By Heart operates as a federation of interdependent national offices governed by a commitment to common standards and values on fundamental issues. By Heart provides the global oversight and sets global standards, and is the operating entity in some countries. In other countries, By Heart operates through a locally incorporated NGO, with a local board of directors (e.g., By Heart Deutschland e.V.). Most of the workforce in each country are citizens of that given territory. By Heart's board of directors oversees the By Heart partnership. The full board meets four times a year to appoint senior officers, approve strategic plans and budgets, and determine international policy. The current chairperson of the international board is Thomas Griffin.

External links

https://byheart.org, https://byheart.org/passages/

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Tax Exempt and Government Entities. Letter 947 (Rev. 2-2020) (Determination letter of exemption).
^ Griffin, Thomas (2020). The Art of Reciting Scripture. Speaking the Bible. Bloomington, Indiana: Westbow Press. pp. 5, 88. ISBN 978-1-6642-0796-7.
^ Griffin, Thomas (2020). The Art of Leading Scripture Recitations. Speaking the Bible. Bloomington, Indiana: Westbow Press. pp. 22, 123. ISBN 978-1-6642-2936-5.
^ Speaking the Bible, [1], speaking_the_Bible, United States, retrieved September 17, 2024
^ ^a ^b Boomershine, Thomas E. (2015). The Messiah of Peace: a performance-criticism commentary on Mark's Passion-Resurrection narrative. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books. ISBN 978-1-625-64545-6.
^ Oestreich, Bernhard (2016). Performance criticism of the Pauline letters. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books. ISBN 978-1-4982-9831-5.
^ National Association of Evangelicals, Beliefs, nae.org, Germany, retrieved September 17, 2024
^ Griffin, Thomas (2020). The Art of Reciting Scripture (1st ed.). Bloomington, Indiana: Westbow Press. ISBN 978-1-6642-0795-0.
^ Griffin, Thomas (2020). The Art of Leading Scripture Recitations. Bloomington, Indiana: Westbow Press. ISBN 978-1-6642-2936-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
^ Charity Navigator Profile, [2], charitynavigator.org, United States, retrieved September 17, 2024
^ Charity Vest Profile, charityvest.org, United States, retrieved September 17, 2024
^ NCF Profile, [3], ncfgiving.com.org, United States, retrieved September 17, 2024
^ GuideStar Profile, Guidestar, guidestar.org, United States, retrieved September 17, 2024

[Determination_letter-1] Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Tax Exempt and Government Entities. Letter 947 (Rev. 2-2020) (Determination letter of exemption).

[Art_of_Reciting-2] Griffin, Thomas (2020). The Art of Reciting Scripture. Speaking the Bible. Bloomington, Indiana: Westbow Press. pp. 5, 88. ISBN 978-1-6642-0796-7.

[Art_of_Leading-3] Griffin, Thomas (2020). The Art of Leading Scripture Recitations. Speaking the Bible. Bloomington, Indiana: Westbow Press. pp. 22, 123. ISBN 978-1-6642-2936-5.

[4] Speaking the Bible, [1], speaking_the_Bible, United States, retrieved September 17, 2024

[messiah_of_peace-5] Boomershine, Thomas E. (2015). The Messiah of Peace: a performance-criticism commentary on Mark's Passion-Resurrection narrative. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books. ISBN 978-1-625-64545-6.

[6] Oestreich, Bernhard (2016). Performance criticism of the Pauline letters. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books. ISBN 978-1-4982-9831-5.

[7] National Association of Evangelicals, Beliefs, nae.org, Germany, retrieved September 17, 2024

[8] Griffin, Thomas (2020). The Art of Reciting Scripture (1st ed.). Bloomington, Indiana: Westbow Press. ISBN 978-1-6642-0795-0.

[9] Griffin, Thomas (2020). The Art of Leading Scripture Recitations. Bloomington, Indiana: Westbow Press. ISBN 978-1-6642-2936-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

[10] Charity Navigator Profile, [2], charitynavigator.org, United States, retrieved September 17, 2024

[11] Charity Vest Profile, charityvest.org, United States, retrieved September 17, 2024

[12] NCF Profile, [3], ncfgiving.com.org, United States, retrieved September 17, 2024

[13] GuideStar Profile, Guidestar, guidestar.org, United States, retrieved September 17, 2024

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