Church-Sponsored BibleTelling Seminars

Published: August 17, 2022  ~   0

Updated: August 17, 2022

Roles and Responsibilities

BibleTelling works with church groups of 20 or more to share an exciting BibleTelling Seminar together! We will work to plan a Seminar to meet your interests, train your travelers to learn and tell Bible stories, and make all reservations (excluding airline transportation to and from Israel).

Sponsoring Church

– 6-10 months prior to the Seminar– plan the Seminar

  • Designate one person as Seminar Liaison (a single point of contact with BibleTelling)
  • Decide what post-tour options to offer (Jordan following Israel or Rome following Turkey & Greece). This affects the Seminar cost and duration
  • Determine the desired level of storytelling engagement. Do you want all the stories told by participants, or do you plan to use audio stories for some of them?
  • Develop info to share with potential participants, such as dates, benefits, costs, and requirements

– 5-8 months prior – promote the Seminar

  • Announce and share the Seminar brochure
  • Find a minimum of 20 participants
  • Each participant should register on the web site of the Tour Agency hosting the Seminar
  • Select a travel agent and make airline reservations for your group

– 3-6 months prior – prepare for the Seminar

  • Arrange BibleTelling training for Seminar participants. Scheduled 2-4 months prior to the Seminar
  • Everyone should begin reading All the Stories of the Bible
  • Raise the funds as needed
  • We will provide Seminar details and cultural/historical/other info. Everyone needs to read this

– 2-4 months prior – personalize the Seminar

  • Identify stories each participant will tell (from the set of stories to be told during the Seminar)
  • Participate in the BibleTelling training. The goal for this training is for everyone to learn the stories they will tell during the Seminar
  • Each person is to tell each their assigned stories at least 5 times to different people

– 6 weeks prior –

  • Follow-up with participants: Reading All the Stories of the Bible?

– 4 weeks prior –

  • Follow-up with participants: Telling assigned stories 5 times?
  • Continue communicating with registered students (welcome, reminder, updates, etc.)

– Seminar in Israel (or Turkey & Greece)!

 

 

BibleTelling (Bloomington)

– Coordinate dates and cost of trip with the Church Liaison and the Tour Agency for Israel (or Turkey-Greece)

– Publish a brochure for the Seminar (including itinerary, fees, expenses include and not included, registration site)

– Provide a 1-day training BibleTelling workshop in the host community (expenses paid by host community)

– Publicize the event on the BT web site and BT Facebook page

– Print Seminar booklets for distribution upon arrival in Israel (or Turkey)

– Work with the Tour Agency to:

– Make hotel reservations (3- and 4-star).

– Provide ground transportation (bus and driver).

– Arrange meals in Israel (3/day) or Turkey & Greece (2/day).

– Arrange for tour guide providing background on sites visited.

Other

– Insurance company (travel, health insurance)

– Travel agent (flights)

For more info, email us at info@BibleTelling.com.

BibleTelling Seminars in Turkey-Greece-Rome

Published: July 28, 2022  ~   0

Why BibleTelling?

BibleTelling Seminars in Turkey-Greece-Rome include several distinctions:

  • Seminar participants will learn and tell ~50 Bible stories on ~20 sites where they occurred
  • Expert commentary on the Biblical significance of each Bible story and site
  • Pre-Seminar BibleTelling training
  • Each participant shares 2+ Bible stories during the tour
  • Optional extension to Rome
  • Each Seminar participant will receive 2 beautiful, full-color booklets:
    • 80-page Footsteps of Paul BibleTelling Seminar Guide with a calendar of events, a daily itinerary (travel stops, titles of the stories to be told), travel maps, Bible study charts, photos, maps, genealogies, and more. 
    • 140-page Imagine Tours Footsteps of Paul Study Guide with background information for most sites visited.

 

Seminar Dates and Fees

October 9-21, 2023 – Turkey-Greece
October 21-24, 2023 – Rome

Includes air fare from Chicago O’Hare to Istanbul, and all other tour flights, tour bus, guides, hotel, entrance fees, and tips.  Buffet breakfasts and buffet dinners are included (drinks are extra). Lunches and Visa to Turkey are not included. 

  • $4973/person Turkey-Greece Only, Double Occupancy
    • $5768/person Turkey-Greece Only, Single Occupancy
  • $1743/person 3-day Rome Extension, Double Occupancy
    • $2138/person 3-day Rome Extension, Single Occupancy
  • $4423/person Land Only, Double Occupancy
  • Small Group Surcharge
    • Turkey-Greece: $295 (if 15-19 registered), $95 (if 20-25), $0 (if 26 or more)
    • Rome: $95 (if 15-19 registered), $0 (if 20 or more)
  • $50/person for Visa to enter Turkey (NOT included, apply individually–see Payment section below for instructions)
  • Registration:
    • Print Form
    • Online Form (Tour Code is BibleTellingG23)
    • Registration deadline:
      • June 15 (to guarantee group flights from/to Chicago)
      • July 11 (not guaranteed, must make own flight reservations)

Payment

Imagine Tours will send an updated invoice to each registered participant in early June.
Full payment is due July 11 (check, money order, cashier’s check or wire transfer–no credit cards):

  • Imagine Tours and Travel
  • 509 W. County Rd. 540A
  • Lakeland, FL  33813

Visa for Turkey

Tour participants also need to obtain their own visa for Turkey (tour agencies are not permitted to provide these visas). Apply online: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ $50 – between July 10 and October 7 (within 3 months of arrival date and at least 48 hours before departure date).

Tips:

  • For the Country/Region drop-down, select “U.S.A” 
  • Entering your parents’ names is optional
  • Completing the on-screen application is only the first step
  • The second step is clicking a link in an email sent to you to “Approve” the info in your application–this must be done within 1 hour of receiving the email
  • The third step is paying $50 for the visa – (you may need to notify your credit card provider in advance of this international charge–to Turkey)

Details

  • Seminar Brochure:
  • Calendar 
  • Story Itinerary (travel stops, titles and tellers of the stories)
    • See Stories to be Told (click for free download) for the scope of each story and a sample narrative to learn)
      NOTE: These are the stories as crafted to be told in the Seminar
      OPTION: Purchase a copy of all stories told in BibleTelling Seminars
    • Send us a note when you’ve selected your stories. info@BibleTelling.com
    • No more than 1 story/day, no more than 3 stories in Turkey-Greece
  • Turkey-Greece Map (daily travel and stops–match to Itinerary) 
  • Rome Extension Map (link)
  • Group Flights:

NOTE: If any flights are delayed or canceled (affecting your arrival time), please email the new flight arrival information to info@ittworld.com (so they can notify your hosts meeting you at the airport)

NOTE: Lufthansa does not support registering our Group Flight booking code or individual e-ticket numbers in their mobile app or on their web site. So check-in and seat assignment is only available upon arrival at the airports (not online). We should still check the status of our flights 24 hours in advance (need to enter the flight # in the mobile app or on the web site) to learn whether the flight times have changed.

From Chicago To Istanbul:
LH431 Monday 09OCT ORD(Chicago Terminal 1)-FRA(Frankfurt) 4:00P-7:20A
LH1298 Tuesday 10OCT FRA-IST 9:05A-1:05P

From Thessaloniki to Athens:
A3121 Wednesday 18OCT SKG ATH 6:00P 6:55P

From Athens to Rome:
A3650 Saturday 21OCT ATH FCO 8:30A 9:35A

From Rome to Chicago:
LH243 Tuesday 24OCT FCO(Rome)-FRA(Frankfurt) 7:00A-8:55A
LH430 Tuesday 24OCT FRA-ORD 10:45A-1:00P (Chicago Terminal 5)

  • Van to/from Chicago (leaving from Central Illinois):

Monday, October 9, from EFree Church to O’Hare Airport Terminal 1
Meet at the church at 11:00AM – 2910 East Lincoln, Bloomington, IL
Van Riders (10): Walsh(2), Andris(2), Maughmer(2), Miller, Kaufman, Sauder, Schmidgall

Tuesday, October 24, from O’Hare Terminal 5 to EFree Church
Pickup around 1:30PM, arrive in Bloomington around 4:30pm
Van Riders (10): Walsh(2), Andris(2), Maughmer(2), Miller, Kaufman, Sauder, Schmidgall

Preparing 

  • Watch the BibleTelling Training videos (recorded July 15, 2023):
    • Part 1 Learning the Epistles, General Storytelling Instruction
    • Part 1 Slides
    • Part 2a Learning “regular” stories
    • Part 2b Discussion of the trip 
  • Practice telling your assigned stories 5 times–to a different listener each time.
  • Review the messages and watch the recommended videos in the Preparatory Archive
  • Packing starter sheet
  • Luggage weight and bag limits – 23KG = 50 Pounds
    • NOTE: The Seminar fee covers tips for porters carrying one bag/person to/from each hotel. If you have them carry more than 1 bag, please consider tipping for the extra bag/s ($1/bag) on your own.
    • Check with your international airline–generally 50 pound limit, depending on ticket class
    • Lufthansa calculator (group flight airline)
    • Turkish Air calculator (Istanbul to Izmir)
    • Aegean Air calculator (Thessaloniki to Athens, Athens to Rome)
  • Hiking advice
  • Electrical Adaptors and Converters
    • Turkey (link) Type F Socket 
    • Greece (link) Types C & F Sockets
    • Italy (link) F & L Sockets
    • NOTE: Plug C adapters are usable in all 3 countries (link)
  • Prescription Meds (link)
  • Weather expectations in October
    • Istanbul (link) – 56-68ºF.
    • Izmir (AKA Smyrna) (link) – 55-75ºF.
    • Thessaloniki (link) – 54-70ºF.
    • Athens (link) – 60-74ºF.
    • Rome (link) – 53-73ºF.
  • Currency exchange
    • You may want to exchange dollars for local currency, but many businesses accept credit cards or even U.S. dollars. 
    • Recent exchange rates 
      • TURKEY – Lira (TRY)
        • 1 Lira = 5¢ USA; 200 Lira = $10.00 USA
        • $1 USA = 20 Lira; $200 USA = 4,000 Lira
      • GREECE / ITALY – Euro (EUR)
        • 1 Greece/Italy Euro = $1.10 USA; 200 Euro = $215 USA
        • $1 USA = .93 Euro; $200 USA = 286 Euro
  • Credit/Debit Cards
    • To avoid unwelcome credit/debit authorization rejections in Israel-Jordan, please contact your card issuers and let them know of your travel plans (may not necessary for some cards).
    • To avoid surprise charges, ask about their foreign transaction fees (sometimes no fee, often 3%, sometimes waived if purchase is made in US$$ rather than the foreign currency).
  • Laundry
    • Some hotels offer laundry service, but we are rarely staying in the same hotel more than 1 night (only in Athens and Rome). So unless they can guarantee overnight service before the bus leaves the next morning (generally 8am), this isn’t likely an option.
    • Consider packing 8-10 days of undergarments in order to make it to Athens for laundry service. Or wear quick-drying garments to wash in the hotel room sink and drip-dry over night?
  • WhatsApp text messaging group
    • We use the WhatsApp smartphone messaging app to stay in touch during the Seminar (and, to a lesser extent, before and after the Seminar).
    • You do not need an international calling program to use it–we will have wi-fi in the hotels, although not likely on buses.
    • If you have a WhatsApp ID, you are included in the “Footsteps of Paul 2023” WhatsApp group. Please let me know if you prefer not to participate (or if you want to only participate during the Seminar). 
    • If you don’t have a WhatsApp ID, please let Roger know if you create one (simply download the WhatsApp mobile app to any smartphone to get started).

Considerations that can hold us back…

  • Cost! Ugh, yes, and it won’t be less expensive next year. Save money with double occupancy and group air reservations.
  • Time! 14 days is less than 4% of the year. Same % next year.
  • International travel! Yes, but there are some experiences staying home and watching YouTube videos just can’t replicate. 
  • Age/Health! The trip does involve a fair amount of walking. Not a lot of climbing. Plenty of time to develop a walking routine before the trip. We will each be 1 year older next year.
  • Risky! Not that life is risk free here at home.
  • Telling Bible stories! What a great (and unique!?) way to experience the Bible stories and the Bible lands. We will each learn (without memorizing) 2 or 3 short Bible stories for the trip. We each probably told more stories (also without memorizing) than that today. Plus, the Bible stories are inspired and true. 😉
Seriously, international tours, including our BibleTelling Seminars, are not for everyone. But please don’t miss the opportunity without an excellent reason.

Time and Temp Audio Files

Published: December 30, 2016  ~   0

Training

Published: November 29, 2016  ~   0

Training Events

  • Our annual Christian Storytelling Conference (normally, Thursday-Saturday noon, last week of June) is now a continuing series of online workshops via Zoom! See the link for the Catalog of available workshops and the Calendar schedule.
  • Specially-scheduled  BibleTelling Training weekends are scheduled in regional locations upon request.

Check the Events page for details on the two annual events as well as for any other special events.

 

BibleTelling: Telling God’s Word (Book)

Creative Communication Skills (Course) and The Art of Storytelling (Book)

The Story Approach (Videos)

How to develop the skill of using the “story approach” for teaching the Bible.

BibleTelling Ministry (Videos)

Training Photos and Video Clips

2016 Hiking Tour in Israel-Jordan

Published: July 7, 2016  ~   0

The first ever BibleTelling Hiking Tour in Israel is scheduled for September 24 – October 7, 2016.

Philemon Tours in Jerusalem is leading this tour–with our collaboration.

Detailed Itinerary and Registration


NOTE: The deadline for this unique and innovative tour is August 1, 2016!

BibleTelling Seminars in Israel

Published: May 23, 2016  ~   0

Why BibleTelling?

BibleTelling Seminars in Israel (and now also in Turkey & Greece) include several distinctions:

  • Participants share ~100 Bible stories on ~45 sites where the stories occurred in Israel (with fewer stories and sites in Turkey & Greece Seminar)
  • Expert commentary on the Biblical significance of each Bible story and site
  • Pre-Seminar BibleTelling training
  • Each participant shares 3+ Bible stories during the tour (Stories to be Told: download  book  eBook)
  • optional extensions to Jordan (Israel Seminar) or Rome (Turkey & Greece Seminar)
  • Each Seminar participant receives 2 beautiful, full-color booklets
    • 25-page Seminar Guide with a calendar of events, a daily itinerary (travel stops, titles of the stories to be told), travel maps, and more. See a recent Seminar Guide here. Click on the “Look Inside” feature to see many of the pages in the sample booklet.
    • ~75-page Reference Guide of Bible study charts, photos, maps, genealogies, and more. See the current Reference Guide here.

Review this Starter Sheet if your group is interested in planning a BibleTelling Seminar. 

 

Preparing for a BibleTelling Seminar

  • Read All the Stories of the Bible  Free (Download PDF)  OR  Purchase (Paperback)
  • Watch Preparation Videos
  • Watch 10 key Story Insight Videos
  • Read the Cultural Awareness article (your Seminar Coordinator will share)
  • Practice telling your assigned stories 5 times–to a different listener each time.

Details from some previous BibleTelling Seminars in Israel

 

2017 Christian Storytelling Conference

Published: April 23, 2016  ~   0

BibleTelling Trainers

Published: August 21, 2015  ~   0

Looking to host a BibleTelling training session in your church or community? Consider this list of experienced BibleTelling trainers!

Bible Story Translation Status

Published: August 11, 2015  ~   0

Work is underway to translate the Bible stories into numerous languages.

# TARGET LANGUAGE STORIES COMPLETED TARGET DATE
(all stories)
1 Spanish Written: 10
Audio:		 Written:
2 Arabic – Palestinian Audio:10 Audio:
3 Mandarin Written:117
Audio:108		 Written:
Audio:
4 Haitian Creole Written: 260 Written:
5 Bengali Written: 72 Written:
6 Chittagonian Written:
Audio:		 Written:
Audio:
7 Krio
8 Themne

All the Stories of the Bible

Published: August 11, 2015  ~   0
How to access 260 simplified but accurate stories of the Bible in text, audio, and video formats. (PDF of this page for printing.)

 

1. Online (Read, Listen, Watch)

On your computer or mobile device web browser, navigate to the www.BTstories.com web site. This site includes text, audio, and video along with story insight videos, timelines, and maps to provide context to the stories.

 

2. Offline (Read)

A. Download the text of “All the Stories of the Bible” at https://www.bibletelling.org/downloads/ (Free).

B. Order a printed and bound copy of “All the Stories of the Bible.”

 

3. Mobile App (Listen, Read, Watch)

Available for iOS, Android, Amazon, and Windows Mobile platforms (phones and tablets). From your mobile device, go to get.theapp.co/547d.

After installing and launching the app, touch the “Podcasts” button at the bottom of the screen to select from 90-second or full-length stories. To listen to the stories offline:

– Select the desired episode (while connected to the internet)
– Select the 3 vertical dots at the lower right
– Select: Download
– Repeat for each episode desired for off-line listening

 

4. Podcast Players (Listen)

Choose one or more BibleTelling podcasts for your preferred platform/s:

A. Macs, iPhones, and iPads using iTunes 

Click on the links below or search for “BibleTelling” in the Podcasts app:

90-second stories podcast
Full-length stories podcast
Mandarin stories podcast

B. PCs and mobile devices not using the iTunes store

Click on the links below to launch your MP3/Podcasts app (e.g., Podcast Addict). Or copy and paste these links into your Podcasts app:

90-second stories: http://www.bibletelling.org/podcastgen-2/feed.xml
Full-length stories: http://www.bibletelling.org/podcastgen-2-260-full/feed.xml
Mandarin stories: http://www.bibletelling.org/podcastgen-2-Mandarin/feed.xml

Podcast Settings

To listen to the stories in sequence and to be able to re-listen to a story, set the podcast settings in your player to:

– Play:  Oldest to Newest
– Limit Episodes: Off
– Delete Played Episodes: Off

To download podcast episodes for listening offline (without an internet connection):

– Select the desired episode (while connected to the internet)
– Select: Save Episode
– Repeat for each episode desired for offline listening

 

5. MP3/Audio Players or CD Players (Listen)

Download either or both of the following (compressed/zipped) MP3 audio files to your computer. Clicking the links will download and decompress the files on your computer. Then move or copy the audio files to your MP3 player (or onto a blank CD).

90-second stories www.bibletelling.org/MP3-Zip/Archive90.zip (0.5GB)
Full-length stories www.bibletelling.org/MP3-Zip/ArchiveFull.zip (1.3GB)
Mandarin Language stories  www.bibletelling.org/MP3-Zip/ArchiveMandarin.zip (1.3GB)