Manna & Mercy Workshop
A Weekend of Liberation, Sharing, and Radical Love
February 5–7, 2027 at MUMC
What if the Bible’s story is about God’s desire to set people free, make sure everyone has enough to eat, and teach us to forgive radically? Join us for a powerful weekend with South African pastor Alan Storey, whose father, Peter Storey, served as Nelson Mandela’s chaplain.
Through Manna and Mercy, Daniel Erlander’s engaging, illustrated paraphrase of the Bible, Alan will help us explore a fresh perspective on God’s story and what it means for how we live today. Every participant will receive a copy of the book, included in the workshop cost.
This experience is for anyone curious about the Bible, faith, and the ways they intersect with our lives and the world around us! Whether you’re a college student or young adult deconstructing your faith, someone looking to deepen your contextual understanding of Scripture, clergy seeking tools for peaceful dialogue within your congregation, or simply curious about liberation theology, there’s a place for you here.
Rev. Alan Storey is a recently retired Methodist Minister from Cape Town, South Africa. Rooted in the South African context as the son of Peter Storey who was Nelson Mandela’s chaplain, Alan is a Gospel storyteller and facilitator of personal and political change.
Over the years, Rev. Storey has been involved in numerous civil society organizations addressing gun violence, racism; state-capture corruption; xenophobia; homophobia; transphobia; spatial apartheid inequality; sex worker discrimination, and campaign for a universal basic income.
Rev. Storey has an Honors degree in Theology and a Masters in the Philosophy of Applied Business Ethics. He is a recipient of the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship Award and a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative (part of the Aspen Leadership Institute). Over the years, Rev. Storey has been part of the Holden Village Teaching Staff.
Rev. Storey’s lifelong work remains the experimental practice of the Sermon on the Mount. Through presentation and conversation, this session will offer theological depth and imagination to rostered ministers in need of a sustaining and nourishing Gospel word in these turbulent, troubling times.
Those who register for this workshop with Alan Storey will be provided with a copy of the text Alan uses for this workshop from the late Lutheran pastor, Rev. Dan Erlander, Manna and Mercy: A Brief History of God’s Plan to Mend the Entire Universe. This is a 100-page paraphrase of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation that explores the themes of food sharing and radical forgiveness in the Bible through the lens of Jesus. This text by Erlander was written when he worked as a pastor to college students as a solution to what he saw as biblical illiteracy. Alan Storey has taken Erlander’s paraphrase of the Bible and created a video series as well as this unique workshop to show us how the Bible, a double-edged sword, can be used as a tool for healing (surgeon’s scalpel) instead of a weapon (mugger’s knife).
This is great for those interested in learning how to have more peaceful dialogue around the Bible and for those wanting to learn more about the context of the Bible. This is also great for those interested in social justice. Rev. Alan Storey takes the paraphrase of the Bible by Daniel Erlander, called Manna and Mercy, which you'll get a copy of as part of your registration, and shows us the themes of sharing and radical forgiveness for all in the Bible.
Come ready to learn, share meals, ask questions, and discover a vision of faith rooted in liberation, generosity, and love!
Registration
Register here or by clicking the button at the top of the page.
Adults: $75
College students: $25
The workshop cost includes your copy of Manna and Mercy. Meals and refreshments are also provided throughout the weekend as outlined in the schedule below.
location
The workshop will be held at Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S 9th St, Columbia MO 65201. View a map here. Parking is available on-site off of 10th Street, or across the street in the Hitt Street Parking Garage.
Workshop Schedule
Friday, February 5
5:30 p.m. — Dinner provided
6:15 p.m. — Teaching begins
8:00 p.m. — Tea break
9:00 p.m. — Day concludes
Saturday, February 6
8:30 a.m. — Breakfast
9:00 a.m. — Teaching begins
12:00 p.m. — Lunch break
12:45 p.m. — Teaching resumes
3:00 p.m. — Tea break
5:00 p.m. — Day concludes
5:30 p.m. — Dinner provided
Sunday, February 7
7:30 a.m. — Breakfast provided in the MUMC Gym
8:00 a.m. — Alan preaches at the Chapel Service
9:30 a.m. — Alan preaches at the City Service
12:00 p.m. — Alan preaches at the Traditional Service; sandwiches provided in the gym for workshop participants
12:30 p.m. — Workshop resumes and concludes before 3:00 p.m.
Want a preview? Visit mannaandmercy.com to explore this liberating approach to the Bible. Reach out to Becca (becca@moumc.org) for answers to any additional questions!