February Online Learning
The Bible in Film
Led by Erin Sams
Tuesday, February 3, 7:00-8:30pm EST
When you think of the Exodus, do Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner automatically come to mind? Or perhaps Donny Osmond occupies the space of Joseph. During this session we will explore the first
question of Phil Ruge-Jones’ Biblical Performance Criticism: “What kind of audience impact have you witnessed with biblical text?” Using various film examples, attendees will consider how film impacts communal biblical knowledge and how storytellers can bridge the gap between film and text.
Erin Sams currently serves as the Family MInistries Director at Aurora United Methodist in Aurora, Nebraska. She also serves as the Children's & Youth Regional Coordinator for the Great Plains UMC Conference. She draws on her experiences as an educator and community resource coordinator to enhance her storytelling.
mini epic: JONAH
mini epic: JONAH
Led by: Eastern Online Guild
Thursday, February 19
7:00-8:30pm EST
The Eastern Online Guild presents a telling of Jonah with a scholarly introduction and talk-back hosted by NBSI and Tonya Eza.
March 2026 Online Learning
Prepare for Holy Week Stories
Led by: Kathy Maxwell
Thursday, March 5, 2025
7:00-8:30pm EST
Dive into the profound Holy Week narratives with expert insights from biblical scholar Kathy Maxwell.
Expert guidance from renowned New Testament scholar Kathy Maxwell.
In-depth exploration of Holy Week stories from the Gospel of John.
Interactive online format allows for Q&A and discussion.
Gain a deeper understanding of the Gospel of John and strengthen your spiritual journey during Holy Week.
2026 Annual Conference
The Network of Biblical Storytellers International invites you to gather for our 2026 Conference, Wounded Wholeness: Suffering and Theological Imagination — a three-day exploration of how sacred story names pain, honors survival, and imagines healing in a fractured world.
Through storytelling, theological reflection, embodied practice, and communal listening, we will engage biblical texts that do not rush past suffering but dwell within it — discovering how wounds themselves become sites of revelation, resistance, and hope.
Conference Details
Dates: July 20–22, 2026
Monday – Wednesday
Location: Maritime Conference Center
Linthicum Heights, Baltimore, Maryland
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby
Dr. McLaughlin-Sheasby holds a PhD in Practical Theology. Her scholarship focuses on the Book of Job, trauma, and biblical interpretation, bringing deep pastoral wisdom and theological insight to questions of suffering, meaning, and faith after devastation.
Epic Telling: Echoes from Ezekiel and Revelation
Bidding opens February 14, 2026.
Theme Stories
Genesis 32:22–32 – Jacob Wrestles with God
Matthew 5:38–48 – Radical Nonviolent Retaliation
John 20:24–29 – Thomas Invited to Touch the Wounds of Jesus
These stories will anchor our shared exploration of struggle, resistance, embodiment, and transformed faith.
Workshops
A wide range of workshops will be offered, engaging biblical storytelling, trauma-aware practice, theology, performance, and communal formation.
Workshop selections will be available by the end of February.
Registration
Registration will open late January.
Early-Bird Registration: $375
Early-Bird Deadline: May 31, 2026
October Virtual Workshop
How Does Biblical Storytelling Affect Your Faith
Led by: Tonya Eza
Thursday, October 23, 2025
7:00 - 8:30 EST
In this workshop, we will share stories about personal experiences of how Biblical storytelling has affected our faith, as well as the faith of others. How did you feel the first time you experienced a Biblical story as a story told to you in comparison to having heard it read all of your life? Does learning Biblical stories make it easier to share your faith with others? How can we use these experiences to encourage others to learn and tell Biblical stories? Through the exchange of these stories and ideas we will encourage one another and hopefully gain new ideas for our storytelling ministries.
Register Here
September Virtual Event
How Ignatian Spiritual Exercises Can Guide Your Storytelling
Led by Mark Wilkinson
September’s workshop is based on a workshop that Wendy and I presented several years ago at the Festival Gathering. The work of St. Ignatius was very important to the fundamentals of Tom Boomershine’s early work in biblical storytelling. Many of us have heard and may practice the technique of putting ourselves into the story and engaging our senses to enrich our storytelling, but Ignatius has more to teach us with several other techniques that will be presented during our 90 minutes together This workshop’s hope is to encourage a more methodical application of these techniques to enrich our storytelling skills.
Click Here to Register
August 2025 Virtual Workshop
How to Lead a Biblical Storytelling Workshop: In Person and Online
Thursday, August 28, 2025
7-8:30 PM Eastern Time
Led by: Barbara Tucker
Have you ever wanted to lead a biblical storytelling workshop and don't know where to start. Tune in on August 28 to learn how to identify and state objectives, present information, and involve your participants in the process of learning and telling biblical stories. You will also learn how to plan for in person and online events.
Register Here
July Virtual Workshop
Orbiting the Text: Exploring How Film Interpretations Shape Audience Background Knowledge and Challenge Biblical Text
July 1, 2025
7:00 - 8:30 PM EST
Led by: Erin Sams
When you think of the Exodus, do Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner automatically come to mind? Or perhaps Donny Osmond occupies the space of Joseph. During this session we will explore the first question of Phil Ruge-Jones’ Biblical Performance Criticism: “What kind of audience impact have you witnessed with biblical text?” Using various film examples, attendees will consider how film impacts communal biblical knowledge and how storytellers can bridge the gap between film and text.
Register Here: JULY WORKSHOP
June Virtual Workshop
Tracing the Epigenetic Effects of Generational Trauma in Isaac and Esau
June 22, 2025
5:30 - 7:00 PM EST
Led by: Cynthia Park
Tracing the Epigenetic Effects of Generational Trauma in Isaac and Esau "Behaviorists have long-wondered at pathological symptoms that do not appear to originate from the client's personal trauma history, or to be related to the client's current family system. Recent scholars, such as Tirzah Firestone and Mark Wolynn, are leading the research into the effects of inherited generational trauma. Learning how to recognize this and respond to it is resulting in individual recovery and healthier family systems dynamics. Biblical storytellers can also trace this phenomenon in the stories we learn and tell. Such increased awareness only strengthens our connection to the Bible's story and offers various collateral learning opportunities to engage audiences before and after a biblical storytelling performance. In this session, we will use this lens to explore generational trauma in part of the Abraham story."
Register Here: JUNE WORKSHOP
March Virtual Workshop
Participants will experience a variety of drama techniques to engage children of all ages (adults too) in exploring biblical stories through movement, sound and props. Carole will also explain the many ways people learn, and knowing that theory, will put into practice ways to involve all learning styles in storytelling and prayer.
February Virtual Event
Studying Greek When I Don't Know Greek
Dr. Cliff Barbarick
February 27, 2025
7:00-8:30 PM EST
Studying the original language of the New Testament can often yield insights for interpretation and storytelling, but too few people have the opportunity to devote the years of study required to comfortably read New Testament Greek. This workshop will introduce two free online tools for exploring the original languages of the Bible: the NET Bible and the STEP Bible. Along with demonstrating the capabilities of these tools, the workshop will include time for hands-on practice and application to biblical storytelling.
January Virtual Workshop
Scripture through the Eyes of a Veterinarian
Led by: Wendy Feaga
The Bible has some amazing scientific truths. Even though the Old Testament was written some 4,000 years before the current understanding of various diseases, observant Jews naturally avoided various diseases which would have been present in Gentiles. We will also explore animal behavior to better understand some of Jesus' teachings where animals are part of the story.
Register Here
November Virtual Workshop
Kingdom and Messiah
November 24, 2024
5:00 PM EST
Led by: Marti Steussy
Christians often hear the terms "kingdom/realm of God" and "Messiah" as reflections of current Christian understandings about Jesus and his message. As we approach Advent, this workshop invites you to explore the terms as they are used in selected passages from Jesus' own scripture, in order to get a better sense of what the Second Testament tellers meant to say and what their first audiences would have heard.
October Virtual Workshop
What Kind of Learner Are You?
Led by: Barbara Tucker
Thursday, October 24
7:00 - 8:30 PM EST
Join us for an evening of fun and discovery as we explore Howard Gardiner's Multiple Intelligences to find ways to help all kinds of people learn biblical stories by heart.
Do you know how to learn biblical stories or need help with those hard-to-learn passages? Do you want to teach members of your congregation to learn these stories in ways that are not intimidating?
To answer these questions by participating in this workshop, you will need:
A copy of the NRSV Bible
8.5" X 11" Blank paper
Colored pencils or pens
The Wonder of God’s Story: Encouraging Children to Learn and Tell Biblical Stories
This 90-minute workshop is for any who wish to engage and support children on their faith journey.