I started reworking Bible stories for storytelling when I was a parish priest. I frequently had groups of children to tell Bible stories to. One day, I didn’t like any of the versions that I had on my shelves, and so I wrote my own.
I have rewritten lots of Bible stories, and I have a particular method. Each Bible story is accompanied by a set of actions and/or sounds that the storyteller teaches to the audience/congregation before telling the story. Then, when the storyteller gets to particular words, or other cues, everyone listening can join in with the sound or action they have been taught.
I have one published collection of stories, 50 New Testament Stories for Storytellers, and one about to be published, 50 Old Testament Stories for Storytellers. I am blessed to have both books illustrated by the Rev. Amanda Ruston, a parish priest in the Diocese of New Westminster.
Click here to go to the Amazon page for 50 New Testament Stories for Storytellers.
I wrote an article on biblical storytelling for Theology, and you can find a copy here: ‘Power and responsibility: re-presenting the Bible for children in the secular West’ in Theology 128:4 (2025), 284-91.
I have a substack page, and my first post was about the first story I ever rewrote for storytelling in my interactive format. You can find that post here.
Video of the book launch for 50 New Testament Stories for Storytellers, held at a Messy Church at Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver