Award-winning author and biblical scholar, Marina Hofman (PhD), champions faith and family as an international speaker, theology professor, frequent media guest, and homeschooling mom.
Dr. Marina Hofman – biblical scholar and author
Known for her warm, authentic voice and deep faith in God, Dr. Marina Hofman offers fresh biblical insight that meets people in everyday life. A survivor of life-threatening trauma, she shares a powerful testimony of God’s redemption and healing in Christ—inviting audiences to trust Jesus in hard places and to cultivate peace, courage, and hope at home.

A seasoned conference keynote and frequent media guest, Marina brings Scripture to life with clarity and heart. She holds a PhD in Theology (University of Toronto) with a postdoctoral certificate in teaching, serves as a theology professor, and is the multi-award-winning author of Women in the Bible: Small Group Bible Study, (with a companion video series). Her forthcoming Everyday Faith At Home equips families with simple, faith-forming rhythms.
READ TESTIMONY

  • “Marina Hofman is the Bible teacher and spiritual mentor we all wish we had. Women in the Bible provides a fresh approach by this seasoned disciple-maker to unlock the scriptural truths of our spiritual mothers. I believe every woman who gathers a few friends and dives into this study will be encouraged, inspired, and transformed.”

    KADI COLE, leadership consultant, executive coach, and author of Developing Female Leaders and Find Your Leadership Voice in 90 Days

  • “This much needed Bible study series opens up the stories of women in the Bible in new and life-giving ways. Hofman’s skills as a careful reader of Scripture stand behind her analysis of each character. Her probing questions push us to think about the significance of the stories of our biblical foremothers for our lives today. This book will be a very helpful resource for small group studies within the church.”

    MARION TAYLOR, PhD, Old Testament professor, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto

  • “Hofman offers a Bible study for women that creates meaningful encounters with women in the Bible whom she presents as dynamic leaders. Through insightful questions, she creates a living experience of stories that encourage us and provide life patterns. We are encouraged by women seeing God coming through in the midst of challenging situations, overcoming obstacles and challenges, and experiencing blessing. We find models for taking risky or bold action, showing self-sacrificial love, waiting patiently for God to answer prayer, influencing and leading people, and being Christ to others.”

    CYNTHIA LONG WESTFALL, PhD, associate professor of New Testament, McMaster Divinity College, and author of Paul and Gender

  • “Marina Hofman, PhD, is a lover of God, of truth, of knowledge and understanding, and of people. She cares deeply about equipping people in their full identity available through God in Christ, and especially on behalf of women. Hofman is a gift to the world and to all who hunger for deeper knowledge of the truth that sets us free.”

    COLONEL JANET MUNN, DMin, Director of The Salvation Army International Social Justice Commission

Marina Hofman speaking at women’s conference
Why Marina Connects
Marina’s passion for Scripture shines every time she speaks! She brings a fresh, engaging perspective to lively, interactive presentations that inspire people of faith. Marina equips people of faith and students of the Word to think deeply, live boldly, and grow in Christ.
What audiences experience
❖ Clear biblical insight from years of scholarship and university teaching
❖ Practical application for everyday life and ministry
❖ Hope & encouragement that inspires courage, growth, and influence

👉 See her style: Women in the Bible video series.

Marina Hofman speaking at women’s conference

Speaking Topics

❖ Courage: overcoming fear & anxiety; standing for freedom
❖ Leadership with integrity
❖ Current events & public life (a biblical perspective)
❖ Women of the Bible—and moms—as role models of faith
❖ Raising children of faith & living counter-culturally with grace
❖ Trauma to triumph: my survival story & the path of recovery
❖ Redemption, healing, and life in Christ
❖ Christmas: hope in Mary’s testimony, the mother of Jesus

Marina available in person and via video (and through a translator).

Past Speaking Engagements (select):
SALEM Media Group (Orlando) Women In Ministry Conference • Phyllis Schlafly Eagles—Collegians Summit (Washington) • CMA National Women’s Conference (Colombia) • Christian Business Association (Palm Beach County) • Resilient Brave Hearts—Women’s Conference (Branson) • Partners for Family Values (Palm Beach County) • Homeschool Expo (Palm Beach County)
Marina Hofman speaking at women’s conference
Education
❖ PhD in theology (University of Toronto)
❖ Post-doctorate certificate in Teaching Higher Education (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education)
❖ MA in Christian Studies (McMaster Divinity College)
❖ BA in Religious Studies (Tyndale University College)
Marina Hofman taught at Southeastern University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Tyndale University College and Seminary, and Classical Conversations+--at the undergraduate and graduate level, on campus and online.
Publications
Dr. Hofman has published academic, peer-reviewed articles in the fields of biblical studies, theology, psychology, trauma, education, ministry, and bioethics . Her awards include Emerging Old Testament Scholar award by the Institute of Biblical Research at the Society of Biblical Literature, and Best Paper by the Canadian-American Evangelical Theological Association.
WATCH PRESENTATION OF "MINISTRY TO TRAUMA VICTIMS"
> Faith-Based Articles (Select)
  • A woman holding a child in a field at sunset with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada logo and the words 'FAITH TODAY'.

    Seeing the Ordinary With Wonder: God's Miracles Can Take Shape in Everyday Life

    “Consider how the story of the midwives in Exodus 1 captures the wonder of a miracle that is accomplished through the everyday …”

    > Read <
  • Book cover titled 'Insight for Living' with subtitle 'The Bible-Teaching Ministry of Charles R. Swindoll'.

    Our Plans, God's Preparations

    “I saw my husband pointing at me and felt relief to finally see him. Oddly, he didn't seem as relieved to see me. Later he confessed that he didn't recognize me.”

    > Read <
  • Person sitting outdoors at sunset with city skyline in background, and text that reads 'Back to the Bible' with a maple leaf symbol.

    Have You Lost the Wonder

    “The uncertainty of the last year, the fear of wading through unchartered territory and the tension that has strained relationships has wearied us ...”

    > Read <
  • Three smiling young women outdoors behind a sign that reads "Love Is Moving," with the EFC logo and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada at the top.

    Celebrating Women in the Bible

    “... courage and determination by ordinary women who played an extraordinary role in history.”

    > Read <
> Peer-Reviewed Articles (Select)
  • Ancient stone ruins with a waterfall or water feature in the foreground, set in a hilly landscape during sunset.

    Females In The Minor Prophets (Canadian Theological Review)

    “While negative portrayals of the female figure are present in the Book of the Twelve these are often counterbalanced by both equally negative portrayals of the male, and positive portrayals of the female. A variety of texts are …”

    > Read <
  • Woman with long hair standing outdoors, looking at a hillside under a partly cloudy sky.

    Retelling Hagar's Story (The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology)

    “Understanding trauma theory provides insight into some of the questions raised by this chapter: Why does Sarah abuse Hagar when her plan to have a child through Hagar is seemingly a success? What makes Sarah so angry? Why does Hagar …”

    > Read <
  • A pink flower growing through the rocky ground with a blue sky and clouds in the background.

    Tamar, Unsung Hero (McMaster University)

    “Despite her powerless status, Tamar achieves heroine status—she courageously risks her life and honor for the good of the community, overcoming major social limitations and procuring the enviable position of matriarch of the …”

    > Read <
  • Close-up of a green grasshopper sitting on a leaf with a blurred green background.

    Ministry to Trauma Victims pt 1 (Intersections: Christian Life+Medicine+Technology)

    “Ministry in the context of trauma can be a challenge. Having survived a devastating traumatic event myself, and having a profession that requires me to respond to students who face trauma every semester, the question of how to …”

    > Read <
  • Dry, cracked land with dead tree branches, under a sunset sky with clouds and distant mountains.

    Ministry to Trauma Victims pt 2 (Intersections: Christian Life+Medicine+Technology)

    “How does Joel’s response to trauma victims give us direction today? How does Joel bring hope while acknowledging the painful reality the people face? Can we follow Joel’s lead and bring hope to trauma victims and those suffering …”

    > Read <
  • Starry night sky with the Milky Way galaxy above a silhouette of trees.

    Old Testament Dream Type-Scene (University of Toronto)

    “Dreams are common to the human experience, and so it is no surprise that dreams have a role in the biblical text. How should we understand and interpret dreams according to the biblical narratives? Do dreams have secret meanings that …”

    > Read <
> Inspiring Christ-Centered Education
Palm Beach Atlantic University -A tropical cityscape with pink and beige buildings, lush green trees, and a waterway in the background. Prominent features include a church with a tower and a cross, modern high-rise buildings, and a partly cloudy sky.
❖ When Personal Trauma Leads to Classroom Transformation by CRU, Faculty Commons
> When we experience a personal trauma, we are faced with a hard decision: do we try to hide our situation, or do we openly share our struggle and pain?

❖ Creating a Safe Space in Your Class During a Crisis in Academic Impressions
> How can instructors create a safe space for students to grow and learn?

❖ Ways to Connect with Students in a (Suddenly) Online Environment by Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion
> With the spike of mental health issues, and the fear, loss, and uncertainty students are facing, connecting with students is …

❖ COVID Creates Unique Opportunity for Christian Faculty by Palm Beach Atlantic University News
> During times of crisis, Christian educators are uniquely positioned to be conduits of hope, encouragement and comfort to students by …
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Peer-Reviewed Chapters

❖ Mary Ellen Chase in Handbook of Women Biblical Interpreters: A Historical and Biographical Guide (Baker Academy)

❖ Handmaiden, Hannah, Let There Be Light, Light, and Widow of Zarephat in Dictionary of Bible and Western Culture: A Handbook for Students (DBWC, Baylor University Press)
> Profile Articles (Select)