By Heart in Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor

By Heart has found a home in Hawaii at Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor (CCPH).

Craig Pennuto, after starting a By Heart recitation ministry at Immanuel Baptist Church in Wiesbaden, took the idea with him as he and his wife of 40 years, Debbie, moved back to live in Hawaii. Craig explained the By Heart ministry to anyone who would listen. The worship pastor, John Akana was eager to listen. As Craig describes it, “When we moved back to Hawaii in 2024 I naturally had it on my heart to start the ministry here. My home church for many years, CCPH, focuses on the Word each Sunday. Consequently, it was an easy decision for the pastor, Derald Skinner, to support. Pastor John Akana, our worship leader, was also very interested in the ministry. So together we did a couple of demonstrations on Sunday morning, set up two workshops to introduce people to the concept, and now we are off and running.”

The power and energy I feel when reciting is hard to put into words. It is not just reading Scripture, or memorizing, it is speaking it into life in a way that others may not have heard and letting God’s power use it in a way that is for His glory and purpose.

By Heart in action at CCPH

Watch this video of Craig Pennuto reciting Romans 8:1-17.  You’ll also enjoy his video of Pastor John Akana reciting Ephesians 2:1-22.
>CCPH just delivered a “duet” recitation of Psalm 1 by two young men in the high school, and have recitations planned for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday services. By Heart in Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor also plans to have weekly Calls to Worship recitations for the men’s Bible study, special events and as many Sunday morning services as possible.

Craig and Debbie first came to Hawaii in 1985 working with the US Dept of Defense. Hawaii has been their home ever since. They have lived in Hawaii permanently since 1995. Craig worked in Germany twice, from 2012-2015 and from 2021-2024. Both times he attended IBC Wiesbaden with Pastor Nick Howard and his wife Susan.

During an IBC Ministry Leadership Conference in 2022, Craig attended a By Heart workshop. The idea of speaking Scripture to people in this manner really resonated with him. He had recited previously and remembered how that experience was such a blessing. After the workshop, Craig talked to Pastor Nick to see if he would be interested in starting a By Heart ministry at IBC Wiesbaden. “Auf jeden Fall”! (Of course!) was the response! Craig led the charge and had some great experiences with not only single person recitations, but also group recitations, and recitations that include all ages.