A survivor of life-threatening trauma, Marina shares a powerful testimony of God’s redemption and healing in Christ. Her passion is to see lives transformed by the abundant life found in Jesus Christ.
Since 2018, she has keynoted leadership and women’s conferences, bringing Scripture to life with clarity, warmth, and hope. Marina holds a PhD in Theology and a postdoctoral certificate in teaching. She is the multi-award-winning author of Women in the Bible: Small Group Bible Study, its companion video series, and forthcoming Everyday Faith At Home.
Follow @marinahofman on Instagram for HOPE and ENCOURAGEMENT!
Speaking Topics
❖ 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 speaks in person and via video to English audiences and/or through a translator.
❖ SALEM Media Group — Women in Ministry Conference (Orlando)
❖ Phyllis Schlafly Eagles — Collegians Summit (Washington)
❖ 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)
❖ CMA National Women’s Conference (Columbia, South America)
Why Marina Connects
❖ Practical application for everyday life and ministry
❖ Hope & encouragement that inspires courage, growth, and influence
👉 See her style: Women in the Bible video series.
Education
❖ 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)
Publications
Faith Magazine Articles (select)
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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 …”
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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.”
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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 ...”
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Celebrating Women in the Bible
“... courage and determination by ordinary women who played an extraordinary role in history.”
Peer-Reviewed Articles (select)
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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 …”
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Retelling Hagar's Story
“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 …”
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Tamar, Unsung Hero
“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 …”
Publications: Peer-Reviewed (select)
FEMALES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS
Portrayal of the Female Figure in the Twelve: A Fresh Perspective in 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 …
RETELLING HAGAR’S STORY
Retelling Hagar’s Story: Reading Trauma in The Other Journal (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 … *
TAMAR, UNSUNG HERO
Tamar as the Unsung Hero of Genesis 38 (McMaster University)
Despite her powerless status, Tamar achieves heroine status—she courageously risks her life and honour for the good of the community, overcoming major social limitations and procuring the enviable position of matriarch of the …
MINISTRY TO TRAUMA VICTIMS - I
Ministry to Trauma Victims: Lessons from the Prophet Joel | Part 1 in Intersections: Christian Life+Medicine+Technology (bioethics)
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 …
MINISTRY TO TRAUMA VICTIMS - 2
Ministry to Trauma Victims: Lessons from the Prophet Joel | Part 2 in Intersections: Christian Life+Medicine+Technology (bioethics)
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 …
DREAMS IN THE BIBLE
Old Testament Dream Type-Scene: Structure and Significance (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 …
CHRIST-CENTERED EDUCATION
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? …
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 …
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 …
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?
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)
Article Sample Topics
- 3 lessons Hannah teaches us about depression and an uncertain future
- Hagar: Encountering God in our darkest moments
- How did women of the Bible respond to the challenges we face today?
- How can we overcome limitations?
- What does Naomi teach us about suffering and God's redemption?
- Why are stories of women in the Bible important for us to study?