Women of Legacy Summer Newsletter 2026

Letter from Jackie | Women of Legacy Foundations 2026 Highlights | Debbie Ramsey Interview | Museum Exhibits | 4 Millionth Guest | Engage with the Museum from Home | Partner with Us

Happy Summer, everyone! 
 
Can you believe we are nearly halfway through 2026? This year has just flown by and our great nation’s 250th birthday is just around the corner! Museum of the Bible has been in preparation for this historic event for quite some time, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors from all over the world to DC. 
 
From America's earliest days, no text has left a deeper mark on the nation's ideals, laws, and culture than the Bible. As America marks its 250th anniversary, Museum of the Bible invites you to explore this story like never before, with events throughout the year and new exhibits that trace the Bible's profound influence on American history from its founding era to today.  
 
Last month, we launched an incredible lecture series focusing on the Bible’s role in founding our country and what that means for us today. This month, we will open the Sacred Liberty  exhibit for anyone to experience free of charge. This special exhibit will explore how the Bible shaped and inspired the founding generation of our country. We will also open The Bible in Times of War  exhibit, which reveals how the Bible has remained a consistent presence in the US military. Lastly,  From the Vault: Art About America is already open, containing never-before-seen objects from our collection. This exhibition offers a glimpse into the connection between Scripture and civic duty through rare and remarkable early colonial portraiture and printed propaganda that served the patriotic spirit of a young America. Click on the exhibits or keep reading to find out more!  
  
Seeing the impact of the Bible on the founding of our nation reminds us of the continued importance of thoughtfully shaping our own legacy. By inviting all people to engage with the transformative power of God’s Word, we set the stage for the next 250 years of impact in our nation and beyond. 
 
Gratefully, 

A community of women encouraging Bible engagement generationally.

It was a joy to encourage one another and focus on generational legacy through Women of Legacy Foundations 2026 at Museum of the Bible. Staying at the stylish Pendry hotel provided the perfect setting, overlooking the Wharf, to host our welcome dinner. Gabby Pisani led us in worship, Steve and Jackie Green laid the foundation of the history of the museum, and Lauren Green McAfee shared about legacy.

On Thursday, everyone traveled to Museum of the Bible to see many extraordinary Bibles, scrolls, artifacts, and displays. The VIP tours showcased exquisite exhibits, including the Megiddo Mosaic, Dead Sea Scrolls, the Hebrew Bible Experience, and presentations about the Bible’s impact on the world.

The fun did not stop at the tours. Our guests were also able to watch The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, presented by The Logos Theatre, in the World Stage Theater.

Friday ended with two inspirational panels. May the insight, laughter, and love that was shared continue in the lives of those who were able to attend. We were blessed to hear several attendees say that the event was altogether “life-changing,” which is the best compliment of all. Our prayers for you are that you went home enriched by the fellowship, teaching, educational tours, and overall experience, and that you will join us again and bring others to Museum of the Bible.

Thank you for your continued support of the mission of Museum of the Bible. 
We hope to see you back at the museum sometime soon!

Many of you have had the joy of Debbie Ramsey leading one of your tours while at Museum of the Bible. Her depth of knowledge and kind smile have been a treat for many throughout the years. Debbie retired from the museum in April. We were so sad to see her leave our team, but she will forever be a part of our family. We wanted to share a fun interview with her so you can learn more about her time at the museum and see what adventure she’s taking next!

/ 
 
1. How long were you on staff at MOTB? 
Answer:  
 
I served the museum for eight and a half years. I began as a volunteer docent in September 2017, two months before the museum opened. After volunteering for almost six years, I decided I could best serve the museum as an employee and worked on the Education team and then the Development team for three years.

/ 

2. How did you first find out about the museum? 
Answer: 
 
I read a news report that it was being built.

/ 
 
3. What was the best part of your job? 

Answer: 
 
I loved working at MOTB! I got to spend every day telling guests about the Bible: what it is, where it came from, and why it matters. Every day, I was blessed to meet with people from around the world who wanted to know more about the Bible. It doesn't get much better than that! 

/
 
4. What was your favorite artifact in the museum? 
Answer: 
 
There are so many. . . it's hard to choose! Here are a few: 
 
• A stone from the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. It was thrown down by the Roman Army in AD 70, just as Jesus had foretold. I love that we are allowed to touch it! 

• Fragments of the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls, including the earliest known copy of Genesis 1:1. It contains the plural name of God "Elohim." 

• The Magdala Stone, which was present in the Magdala synagogue during the lifetime of Jesus.  

•The Tel Dan Stele, from the 9th century BC, which contains the earliest extrabiblical proof of the kingship of David. 

• The Megiddo Mosaic. It is the floor of the earliest known Christian church, built in AD 230 when Christianity was illegal in the Roman Empire. I wish I could have met the Christians who gathered there. Someday I believe I will. I'll tell them that I showed their gift to hundreds of guests and shared their story.

/
 
5. What is one of your best memories while being on staff? 

Answer: 
 
I love how we would pray together as a team at the beginning of our meetings and sometimes before our tours.

/
 
6. What do you plan to do in your retirement? 
Answer: 
 
My husband, Greg, and I plan to spend our first year of retirement in Israel. We have been accepted to Jerusalem University College for its master's certificate program in Biblical History and Geography. We'll move to Jerusalem in August before classes begin. 
/ 

7. If you had to take a guess, how many tours do you think you’ve given at MOTB? 
 
Answer: 
 
I've probably led about 700 to 800 tours for guests from various nations, faiths, and cultures. My role has been leading tours for VIPs, so I've led tours for Olympians, theologians, royalty, pastors, musicians, members of Congress, presidential cabinet members, ambassadors, prime ministers, presidents, entrepreneurs, grandparents, moms, dads, and children. Some come with faith, some come with doubts, and most come with questions. No matter what their station in life, God gave each one of them the same gift—their own precious soul and a book to guide them. So, they come. They're usually quiet when the tour begins, but after the first few artifacts their questions and comments start spilling out. When the tour ends they almost always ask for extra time. Sometimes they'll hug me and sometimes they'll cry happy tears. It's never about me though, it's about this amazing place and the knowledge and insight it brings into God's Word. It touches sincere hearts.

/

8. What encouragement or advice would you give to someone who is going to see Museum of the Bible for the first time? 

Answer: 
 
Plan to spend a day or two and definitely take a tour.

/

9. Briefly summarize your legacy story. 
 
Answer:  
 
The Green Family blessed all of us with this great storehouse of Bible treasures and history, and then they blessed me with the opportunity to share it with others. It's been a life-changing experience.

The Megiddo Mosaic: Foundations of Faith

With the support of the Women of Legacy, The Megiddo Mosaic: Foundations of Faith, which hosts the mosaic floor from the oldest-known site dedicated specifically to Christian worship, continues to be an impactful exhibition at the museum since its opening in July 2025. The inscriptions reveal individuals—including five women—linked to this early place of worship as well as the earliest archaeological evidence of Jesus being called God.

Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition

Since late November of last year, Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition has been open to the public for guests to explore the scrolls. In partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority, this significant exhibition provides a unique opportunity for people to see these ancient copies of Scripture, documents from the community at Qumran, the Magdala Stone, and other artifacts that provide a special look into the world of the Second Temple period.

Revealing the Hidden: Byzantine Icons from Thessaloniki and Patmos

This November, the museum will open Revealing the Hidden: Byzantine Icons from Thessaloniki and Patmos, featuring 24 icons created between 1200 and 1600 that showcase the exquisite craftsmanship of the workshops in Thessaloniki, Constantinople, and Patmos. They will highlight how icons as venerated objects depicting biblical scenes and persons take on deep meaning within the practices and beliefs of the Greek Orthodox Church.

The Bible & America 250

In celebration of America’s 250th, three new exhibits at the museum will highlight the ways in which the Bible has shaped the formation of our country. From the Vault: Art About America, which opened in the beginning of May, displays never-before-seen objects from our collection. Through rare early colonial portraiture and printed propaganda, including early portraits of George Washington and paintings of the Pilgrims as they sailed for the New World, the exhibition provides a look into how Scripture and civic duty were linked. On the first floor will be Sacred Liberty, which will explore how the Bible shaped and inspired the founding generation during the Revolutionary period, with artifacts such as the Aitken Bible, known today as the “Bible of the Revolution.” In The Bible in Times of War, guests will have the opportunity to see how the Bible has been a constant presence in the US military despite changing geopolitical circumstances.

In May, the museum reached a milestone of four million guests who’ve walked through our doors since opening in 2017! A couple guests, Ramon and Maria, came from Maryland to celebrate Maria’s birthday, not knowing they would also be celebrated as the museum’s four millionth guests! It was an honor to welcome Ramon and Maria, who both serve at a local nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction, and surprise them with gifts and an all-expenses-paid trip to the biblical lands.  

These special guests are among the millions we have had the privilege of serving, and we are grateful to both our guests and those who have helped make the museum what it is today. 

We invite you to join us as we endeavor to be a light to our nation and a beacon to the world in Washington, DC. Your generous gift reflects your love for God’s Word and your commitment to future generations. Please support Museum of the Bible as we invite all people to engage with the Bible’s transformative power.