news article
The BibleKing Ladies: A whopper of a Bible study
October 20, 2025 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Eight years ago, three women from Oswego: Trinity United Methodist Church hesitated to join a traditional Bible study. “They felt that they didn’t know enough,” recalls longtime member and SPRC Chair of Oswego: Trinity UMC, Sheila Buske. “I responded that I would be willing to run a class for just the three of them, so that they would feel comfortable and not intimidated.”
When Sheila asked what they’d like to study, their response surprised her: “The whole Bible.”
So, in 2017, the small group began meeting every Wednesday morning at their local Burger King for breakfast and Bible discussion. They tackled five to seven chapters each week, starting with Genesis 1–6. After seven years of faithful study, the group completed the entire Bible in early 2024. But even then, they weren’t ready to stop.
Now affectionately known around town as “The BibleKing Ladies,” the group continues to meet weekly, diving into topics like Biblical geography, comparative religions, and most recently, Robin Wall Kimmerer’s The Serviceberry.
What began as a small, private gathering has become a joyful public ministry. “We’ve grown to five regular attendees,” says Sheila, “and the workers at Burger King treat us like family. Other customers often ask us questions and appear to be learning a bit while eating and listening in.”
Their lighthearted nickname has even caught on beyond the restaurant. “We have matching t-shirts with various sayings and colors,” Sheila adds with a smile. “Many members of our church and neighboring churches have ordered similar t-shirts—but that’s another story entirely!”
For Sheila, who also serves as Oswego Trinity’s Lay Member to Annual Conference and Witness Committee Chair, the BibleKing gatherings are an extension of her calling to teach. “As a retired science teacher, I find teaching—whether it be children’s Sunday School, Confirmation Class, Adult Bible Studies, or our BK classes—very rewarding. I feel that teaching others about God and God’s love for us is what I’ve been called to do.”
Other members echo that sense of purpose and joy.
Pam shares, “I love that we're meeting in a public space. Sometimes we see customers or staff reading our United Methodist T-shirts or listening in on what we are studying. We're spreading the Word without really trying! We’ve had wonderful discussions on a wide variety of subjects, like comparing world religions and learning about Native American culture and finding scriptures that mirror them.”
LaDonna sums it up simply: “I think it’s great!!!”
And Connie, who joined as a first-time participant in Bible study, adds, “It’s my first time doing a Bible study. I enjoy going to Burger King—it’s great fellowship!”
From humble beginnings over breakfast sandwiches to becoming a beloved local ministry, the BibleKing Ladies have shown that sacred study can thrive anywhere—even at a corner booth with a cup of coffee and an open Bible.