TL;DR: NBSI January Highlights

• Mark your calendars! The 2026 Summer Conference — Wounded Wholeness: Suffering and Theological Imagination — is July 20–22 in Maryland with keynote Dr. Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby.
• Don’t miss upcoming online learning sessions, including The Bible in Film, Mini Epic: Jonah, and Prepare for Holy Week Stories.
• Check out our featured video from the NBSI Library
• Advancing the Mission Fund winter deadline extended to January 31, 2026.

Wounded Wholeness: Suffering and Theological Imagination

Every year, the NBSI Summer Conference becomes a kind of sacred marker in the calendar — a time when storytellers gather to listen deeply, speak bravely, and let ancient texts meet present realities. In 2026, that gathering comes a little earlier than usual, but with no less depth, imagination, or joy.

From Monday, July 20 through Wednesday, July 22, the Network of Biblical Storytellers International will gather at the Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, for a conference centered on the theme

Wounded Wholeness: Suffering and Theological Imagination.

This year’s theme invites us to linger with stories that refuse easy answers — stories where wounds are not hidden, erased, or rushed past, but held as sites of encounter. Together, we will engage texts such as Jacob wrestling with God, Jesus’ call to radical nonviolence, and Thomas touching the wounds of the risen Christ — stories that insist faith is not separate from suffering, but forged within it.

We are honored to welcome Dr. Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby as our 2026 keynote speaker. With a PhD in Practical Theology and a scholarly focus on the Book of Job, trauma, and biblical interpretation, Amy brings a deeply pastoral and theologically rich voice to our shared work. Her research and teaching invite us to consider how storytelling can name pain honestly while still making space for hope, meaning, and transformation.

In addition to the keynote, the conference will feature:

• A powerful Epic Telling drawn from Ezekiel and Revelation
• Multiple theme story sessions
• Workshops (to be announced later this winter)
• Ample space for connection, practice, and communal reflection

As always, the Summer Conference is not just about learning new techniques — it is about remembering why stories matter, especially in a wounded world.

So take a moment now — yes, July, not August — and mark your calendar. Whether this will be your first NBSI conference or your fifteenth, we hope you’ll join us for these days of story, struggle, and shared imagination.

We look forward to gathering with you — and to seeing what healing stories emerge when we do.

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.

Coming Up

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.

Prepare for Holy Week Stories

Led by: Kathy Maxwell

Thursday, March 5

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.

Featured Video from the NBSI Library

The NBSI Library of Biblical Storytelling continues to grow because storytellers like you are willing to lend their voices to the tradition.

This month, we are delighted to feature a video submitted by Gillian Powis. In this telling, Gillian brings Isaiah 49.1-13 to life.

We are grateful for every story shared — each one reminding us that biblical storytelling is a living, communal practice, passed from voice to voice and generation to generation.

Interested in contributing a video to the NBSI Library? We welcome submissions from storytellers of all ages and experience levels.

All videos are assessed for quality before they are uploaded to the NBSI Library. Here are some helpful tips on NBSI expectations for telling and some handy tips when recording your story.

Bring Your Story to Life

The Advancing the Mission Fund exists to help storytellers and ministries bring the transformative power of biblical storytelling to their communities. Take this opportunity to make your vision a reality!

The winter application deadline has been extended to January 31, 2026, and recipients will be determined at the February board meeting.

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