The By Heart recitation ministry is a nonprofit organization that equips people to confidently speak Bible passages from memory.
Books published
by Westbow Press,
a division of Zondervan
8 countries
400+ reciters
12 languages
of reciters will do it again
Articles and videos
published through
By Heart’s social
media channels
As adopted by the National Association of Evangelicals.
By Heart has equipped hundreds of people to speak God’s Word confidently.
“A recitation ministry can heighten people’s love for and engagement with the Word of God by expanding church-wide participation, deepening biblical awareness and understanding, and making new vital personal connections.”
Pastor, Valley Bible Church, Pleasanton, California, USA
“An unparalleled resource for the local church. Tom has done a marvelous job of pioneering this unique and dynamic craft into a ministry that also serves God’s vision for His global Church, namely, making disciples.”
Senior pastor, International Christian Fellowship, Oberursel, Germany
“When my friend Ryan introduced me to By Heart ministry, I was immediately captivated by its mission. With By Heart’s instructions and coaching, Scripture recitation becomes alive. This is truly a heart-touching-hearts ministry. I recommend it to all churches.”
Preacher of the gospel, Nairobi, Kenya
“We have seen life-changing transformation as people engage in the spiritual discipline of reciting scripture. By Heart gave us the pattern to successfully develop our own recitation ministry.”
Lead pastor, Nairobi Baptist Church, Ongata Rongai and director, InCharge Global Missions
“Imagine the joy of seeing people that you might never expect confidently reciting Scripture to edify the church. Instead of a select few reading Scripture, men and women, and boys and girls, from different cultures and even different languages bring God’s Word alive while it is being presented.”
General secretary, International Baptist Convention
“By Heart is doing something unique and wonderful. They inspire and instruct Christians to hide God’s Word in their hearts and then speak it over other believers. I’ve seen in the leadership a desire for this ministry to start a movement — and I can only imagine the impact that would have on the global Church.”
Owner, ConvertCraft Digital Marketing, Greenville, South Carolina, USA
“Every Sunday a different member stands to recite scripture at the beginning of our service. Young, old, new believers and seasoned Christians take turns reciting God’s word. More than once I have listened intently with tears in my eyes. It has become the starting point of every corporate gathering. Scripture recitation leads our people to worship.”
Senior pastor, IBC Köln and board member, Aquila Initiative
“It’s nice to see By Heart growing and inspiring people from all over the world to be closer to God through the Scriptures.”
Érika Blanco
Founder and director, Érika Blanco Designs
“Working with By Heart has been a very fulfilling experience — it’s work with a purpose. Helping people fall in love with God words is one of the greatest things we can do on this earth.”
Founder, Kristian Deriquito Video and media director, Valley Bible Church
The IBC’s ministry leadership conference in Croatia in March of 2021, which included a By Heart recitation workshop, was a groundbreaking event in the development of By Heart and introduction of Scripture recitation to the member churches of the IBC. The friendships and trusting support between By Heart and the IBC continue to grow.
Churches
Schools
Technology creators
Church support organizations
Seminaries and theological institutes
Language translators
Videographers and video production companies
Speech and debate associations
Bible memory organizations
By Heart’s mission is to promote Scripture recitation so that it becomes a natural part of Christian
worship services, discipleship programs, and outreach. If you would like to partner with us,
please send an email to info@byheart.org or call +49 15208645137.
Workshops for reciters, leaders, and schools
Tools for selection, memorization, and study of Scripture
A video library of recitations
Connections to a community of Scripture reciters
Social media channels promoting Scripture recitation
Two books on Scripture recitation
Curated collections of Bible passages
Beneficiary: ByHeart Deutschland e.V.
IBAN:
DE45 5009 2100 0001 8127 00
BIC: GEN0DE51BH2
Bank: Spar- u Kreditbk Bad Hombg
Executive Director
Tom is a technical consultant for a global software and hardware company. Holding a degree and teaching credential from the University of California, Davis, he taught physics and chemistry for 13 years in the United States, Belgium, and Germany before switching to high-tech.
Tom has delivered Scripture recitations for two decades in California, at Valley Bible Church, and in Germany at the International Christian Fellowship. He founded the By Heart recitation ministry and has written two books on the topic of Scripture recitation. Tom and his wife have two grown daughters and reside in Frankfurt, Germany.
Secretary
Jimmy Martin is an international interim pastor whose last assignment, 2003 to 2020, was as General Secretary of the International Baptist Convention, a family of international English-language churches distributed across 25 countries.
Jimmy earned his Master of Divinity, Master of Religious Education, and Ph.D. (Archaeology and Biblical Backgrounds) degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas. He served as a pastor for 20 years in the United States and Germany and currently lives in Texas, USA, having retired in December 2020 after living in Germany for 28 years. He and his wife, Laurie, have three daughters and nine grandchildren.
Media Director
Jessica serves with her husband in the youth ministry at Christlich-Freikirchliche Gemeinde and is a regular contributor to the Danny Forshee Evangelical Association Daily Devotionals. She comes from Texas, and previously served as the University Ministry Director at Great Hills Baptist Church. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Theory and Christian Studies and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Dallas Baptist University.
Jessica lives in Mettman, Germany and is a passionate disciple maker who sees recitation as a powerful tool in discipleship and loves the opportunity to help other churches implement a culture a recitation.
Treasurer
Darren is the founder and executive director of The Restored Leader, a values-based executive leadership organization. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Darren is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) of the International Coach Federation and has a Master of Arts in Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary.
Originally from the Los Angeles area, Darren is a first-generation American citizen. He and his wife and three children currently reside in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before that, the Ho family lived in Asia and Europe for 11 years and, as a result, are passionate global citizens.
Compliance Officer
Ryan founded and runs Elakistos Biosciences, a biology research business working with international clients. He graduated with a doctorate in Biology from the University of Frankfurt in March, 2021, and completed an Afrika Kommt Fellowship at the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Department, Merck Healthcare KGaA in Darmstadt, Germany.
Ryan and his wife and daughter live in Nairobi, Kenya. He is a member of the Nairobi Baptist Church and a former member of the International Christian Fellowship in Oberusel, Germany, where he contributed numerous recitations and assistance in growing the ministry.
Vorstand Mitglieder
Frank hat einen Abschluss als Diplom-Ingenieur im Fach Maschinenbau an der RWTH Aachen. Nach Tätigkeiten als Projektingenieur im Anlagenbau und später als Verkaufsingenieur arbeitet er heute als technischer Berater. Sein Arbeitgeber ist ein führendes, weltweit agierendes Unternehmen der Mess- und Regeltechnik. Seine Schulungen und Vorträge führten ihn in viele europäische Länder sowie nach China, Indien und in die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate
Frank lernte während seines Studiums den Wert des inwendig gelernten Schriftwortes kennen. Die Navigatoren waren ihm dabei eine große Hilfe und haben sein Leben geprägt. Heute lebt er mit seiner Frau Andrea in Flensburg und freut sich über drei erwachsene Kinder sowie zwei Enkel. Frank und Andrea sind Mitglieder der Gemeinschaft in der Evangelischen Kirche.
Vorstand Mitglieder
Markus Hermann ist Ehemann von Jessica Hermann, und gemeinsam dienen sie als Kinder- und Jugenddiakone in der Christlich-Freikirchlichen Gemeinde Mettmann. Er hat Theologie am Theologischen Seminar Rheinland studiert. Sein Herz schlägt dafür, Kinder und Jugendliche für Gott zu begeistern, sie im Glauben zu fördern und sie auf ihrem Weg mit Jesus zu begleiten.
Für Markus ist Rezitieren Anbetung und eine große Bereicherung für die Gemeinden, da es zur Ermutigung, Erbauung und zum gemeinsamen Wachstum im Glauben beiträgt.
