Jennifer Holloran American Bible Society CEO President ABS IllumiNations Trauma Healing Center Finish Line Podcast
Finish Line Podcast Episode 144

Jennifer Holloran, President & CEO of the American Bible Society, on the Life-Changing Power of the Bible to Heal Communities

You want to steward God’s resources faithfully. But questions about generosity, calling, and impact are rarely simple.

In this conversation, you’ll hear from someone who has walked through these kinds of questions and learned along the way. Listen for the next step God may be inviting you to take.


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Meet your guide

Jennifer Holloran, President and CEO of the American Bible Society, is an avid lover of Scripture and an expert in strategic leadership, operational excellence, and innovation. Jennifer was raised in a Christian home with lots of exposure to the Word, but it was in college that she learned to approach Scripture as a source of grace instead of condemnation. Jennifer’s career took an unexpected turn after college when God led her to combine her professional skills and love for the Scriptures at Wycliffe Bible Translators. She spent over twenty years there, starting as a typist and eventually becoming Chief Operating Officer before taking over as CEO of the American Bible Society.  

The American Bible Society has a rich history dating back to 1816, and is involved in nearly every aspect of Bible work, from translation to global distribution to engagement and advocacy. Jennifer has an amazing perspective on the power of God’s Word, how it is moving in the world today, and how the Church can help people everywhere be transformed as they get more engaged with the Scriptures.

What you’ll gain

  • Jennifer’s faith and career journey
  • How she fell in love with Scripture
  • Her surprise introduction to Bible translation through Wycliffe
  • Leadership principles in unexpected Bible stories
  • How God prepared her for work at American Bible Society
  • An overview of American Bible Society’s 209 year history
  • Helping people engage in the Scriptures 
  • ABS’s framework of access, engagement, and advocacy
  • Various aspects of Scripture access
  • Their “end-to-end” process—a multimodal approach to Bible access and engagement
  • The story and heart behind the ABS Trauma Healing Institute 
  • Helping people overcome barriers to Scripture
  • Finding solutions to inspire younger generations to engage with Scripture
  • AI as a tool for Bible engagement
  • How to move from Bible engagement to advocacy
  • Creativity in Bible distribution in hard-to-reach places
  • Effectiveness of a collective impact alliance in reaching Bible distribution goals

Inspired? Take your next step

Try the Game of Life Simulator

Step into a four-minute interactive experience and see what unfolds as you decide how to manage your resources.

Start the Game
Game of Life Simulator Mobile Screenshot
Game of Life Simulator Mobile Screenshot

Inspired? Learn how to partner with ministries well.

A compelling ministry story can inspire you to respond. But wise partnership often begins with better questions.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Focus

What is the ministry really seeking to restore?

Learn to look beyond visible needs toward people, context, relationships, and flourishing.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Fruitfulness

How do you recognize meaningful impact?

Consider how ministries learn, evaluate their work, and pursue lasting change.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Faithfulness

What does genuine ministry partnership look like?

Explore how to foster trust, alignment, and shared mission in your giving.

In our Intervention Series on the Applied Generosity Podcast, we’ll help you become a more thoughtful, discerning, and faithful partner.

Start the Series

Quotes to Remember

  • “It wasn’t long after I finished college that God brought me to Wycliffe Bible Translators, and that opened up a whole world of understanding Scripture in a completely new way.”
  • “I found that the more that I began to dig into Scripture, the more there was to discover.”
  • “We want to move people from that place of just having access to the Bible and have them step into engagement, and that starts with curiosity.”
  • “Today, we at the American Bible Society still get to be involved in translation and distribution, but we’re looking at the whole Scripture engagement journey and how we can come alongside the Church to support the ministry of helping people to take the next step with Scripture.”
  • “We need to understand where Gen Z and Gen Alpha are coming from and what speaks to them as unique groups with unique values, preferences, and barriers that might keep them from Scripture. Then we can work together with the Church to help co-create solutions to reach that generation.”
  • “There’s something amazing about having the Bible as a foundation that we can come together and have conversation around and learn from one another across faith traditions.”
  • “Our vision is ‘God’s Word transforming all people.’ That’s what I want to see happening, and I think the more we can get the Church engaged and we can work together on this, I believe that it’s possible.”

Links from the Show

Bible References from the Show

Matthew 13:1-23 | Parable of the Sower

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Free Guide

Have you considered the ways you are uniquely called into generosity? We’re not all called into the same adventure.

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Use Our
Free Guide

Have you considered the ways you are uniquely called into generosity? We’re not all called into the same adventure.
Generosity Profile Image
Enter your information below and we’ll send you our free PDF guide to explore the specific adventure you were called into.
Generosity Profile Image

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