November Newsletter

This month, we’re celebrating the impact of the Advancing the Mission Fund with storyteller Jason Chestnut’s reflection on how it “radicalized” his call to biblical storytelling. There’s still time to apply for both the Advancing the Mission Fund and the Academy for Biblical Storytelling (applications close November 15), plus exciting news about our 2026 Annual Conference in Baltimore and details for the November 20 Virtual Event with Richard Swanson and Pam Faro.

In this issue:

How the Advancing the Mission Fund "Radicalized Me"
ABS Applications Close November 15
Save the Date for Annual Conference 2026
November Virtual Event

Each year, the Advancing the Mission Fund provides financial support for projects that strengthen the mission and vitality of our member congregations and leaders. Thanks to generous gifts from supporters, NBSI invests these funds to yield annual interest—resources that are then reinvested into the work of our members through small but meaningful grants.

For storyteller and filmmaker Jason Chestnut, the Network’s grant program was more than financial help — it was a turning point. "The grant program has been a lifeline for me,” Jason shared.

When I first encountered the Network in 2004, I had the limited resources of a college student. (In the years following, I had the limited resources of a college grad.) The only way I could have attended any Conference at all was with help. That help made it possible for me to be exposed to this weird, wonderful, holy world of biblical storytelling. It encouraged me to attend later conferences even without financial assistance – because I was now committed to encouraging everyone I met to learn and tell biblical stories. The grant radicalized me, in the best way possible. And for that, I’ll be forever grateful.

Jason’s experience is one of many stories that reveal what the Advancing the Mission Fund makes possible. Each grant is more than a scholarship; it’s an investment in storytellers who bring the Bible to life in communities around the world.

If you’re feeling called to grow as a biblical storyteller — or to help others discover the power of story — consider applying for an Advancing the Mission grant today.

Apply

There is still time to apply!

Online applications for the 2026 Academy for Biblical Storytelling are now accessible at https://nbsint.org/academy#apply.

Applications will be accepted until this Nov. 15.

If you’ve ever thought about going through ABS to improve your biblical storytelling abilities, increase your story repertoire, and hone your skills for teaching others how to perform the many amazing passages of scripture, now is your chance.

For more information about the Academy, click here: https://nbsint.org/academy.

Help the Network come closer to achieving its mission of encouraging everyone to learn and tell biblical stories.

Apply today!

Save the date!

July 20-22, 2025

Baltimore, MD

Wounded Wholeness: Suffering and Theological Imagination

Keynote speaker: Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby, PhD

Dr. Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby is an assistant professor in the College of Biblical Studies at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, where she specializes in practical theology, homiletics, and wisdom literature. She is anticipating the release of her first book, The Suffering of Job and an Enfleshed Homiletic: Bearing the Body’s Witness, in November 2025.

We are so exicted to see you next year!

Registration Now Open for November Virtual Event

Thursday, November 20, 2025

7:00-8:30 EST

Led by: Richard Swanson & Pam Faro

The Women in the Bible All Know Each Other

One of the things we love about the biblical storytelling tradition is that the stories know each other. Every character hangs out with all the other characters.

In this workshop we will consider who in the tradition Mary might know. With Pam’s storytelling and Richard’s provoking of the texts , we will explore together which of the women in the Bible she might have learned from. As it turns out, the women in the Bible are not particularly submissive. In this workshop we will bring Mary into the company of Puah and Shiphrah, and of Hagar and Sarah. As it turns out, she is a lot like them.

Richard W. Swanson

Richard Swanson is Professor of Religion (Emeritus) at Augustana University. He has written several books, all of which have the phrase “provoking the gospel” in the title. His most recent project was the creation of a play (with Grace Ahles and Hanna Beshai). The title of the play is This Is My Body, a phrase that shows up in sacramental theology and in every #MeToo story you have ever heard.

Pam Faro

Pam Faro has performed and taught storytelling since 1988, across the US and overseas. Her diverse repertoire includes multicultural folktales, bilingual cuentos, biblical storytelling, interfaith storytelling, and personal/historical narratives including the true story of her great-uncle surviving the Titanic. Having received her MDiv from Iliﬀ School of Theology in Denver, she serves as a consultant/workshop-leader in using storytelling in ministry settings, in addition to her work as a performer and educator.

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